Melis Stoke

Melis Stoke (* 1235, † 1305 ) was a Dutch historian of the 13th century.

Melis Stoke was probably born in 1235 in Zeeland, and stood as a clerk in the service of Count II in January of Holland and Count William III of Holland. He is, together with an anonymous author, the author of a chronicle of the County of Holland in rhyme.

Works

The written in Middle Dutch - language rhyming chronicle of Melis Stoke was one of the first chronicles in the Netherlands and is therefore only called " The Dutch rhyming chronicle ".

The rhymed chronicle, in today's tradition, originated in several stages. The first books of rhyming chronicle treat the history of Holland 366-1205 and come from an anonymous author, who stood as a clerk in the service of Florens V. In the years 1301-1305 Melis Stoke wrote a continuation of the Chronicle, which he had thus start long before his birth in 1205. These books probably based on the " Egmonder Chronicle " ( Chronicle in Egmond Abbey ) and have little value as sources. The last, ranging from 1290 to 1305, telling its own memory and give the Chronicle the value of an eyewitness report.

The rhymed chronicle contains very eventful and varied years of Dutch history. For example, it contains a report of the murder of Florens V. ( 1296 ), and views of the German Reich history. As one of the earliest historiographical works of Holland it is also an important object of study for the linguist of the Middle Dutch.

The first printing of the rhyming chronicle was made in 1591 in Amsterdam.