Helmold

Helmold of Bosau (* around 1120 in the area of Goslar; † after 1177 in Bosau, Holstein ) was a chronicler and ecclesiastic.

Life

Helmold occurred at 1134 in the monastery was founded for mission purposes Segeberg, whose convent was moved back in 1137 after an attack Pribislaws to Neumünster. He continued his education, probably 1139-1142, in Braunschweig by the later bishop Gerold, Director of the seminary of St. Blaise. After his return to Neumünster Helmold was ordained a deacon in 1150. Since about 1156 he was pastor in Bosau, the mission base Vizelins and Gerold.

Chronica Slavorum

Helmold wrote, probably at the suggestion of the Bishop Gerold von Oldenburg, probably around 1167 a chronicle in Latin, the Chronica Slavorum ( Slavic chronicle ). The work describes the eastern settlement and missionary work among the Slavs from Charlemagne. It is primarily concerned with the rule of formation, settlement and mission in East Holstein, Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, Pomerania, and Scandinavia. Helmold used as sources especially Adam of Bremen, the vitae Willehads and Ansgar, supplemented by oral tradition and personal experience. Helmold Slavs Chronicle considered the most important source font Lower Germany of the 12th century. Arnold of Lübeck continued the chronicle of 1171 continued until 1209. Ernst von Kirchberg she transferred 1378/1379 in High German rhyme. The earliest edition was published by Schorkel (Frankfurt 1556 ).

Editions and translations

• . Bernhard Schmeidler ( Eds.): Scriptores rerum Germanicarum in usum scholarum separatim editi 32: Helmold slave Chronicle ( Helmoldi Presbyteri Bozoviensis Cronica Slavorum ) Hannover 1937 ( Monumenta Historica Germaniae, digitized )
• Helmold: Chronica Slavorum. New transfer and explained by Heinz Stoob. In: Selected sources on German history of the Middle Ages. ( FSGA 19), 7th edition 2008 ( unaltered reprint of the 6th, opposite the fifth a supplement expanded edition 2002), University Press, Darmstadt, 2008.