
The Oldest Legend
Acts of the Canonization Process, and Miracles of Saint Margaret of Hungary
Central European University Press
Published on 10. January 2018
Book
Hardback
854 pages
978-963-386-218-6 (ISBN)
Description
This bilingual volume (Latin text with English translation) is the second in the series presenting hagiographical narratives from medieval Central Europe. It contains the most important hagiographical corpus of medieval Hungarian history: that of Saint Margaret (1242-1270), daughter of King Bela IV, who lived her life as a Dominican nun. Margaret's cult started immediately after her death and the demand to examine her sanctity was first formulated in 1272. The canonization process recommenced in 1276, followed by further initiatives across the centuries. Margaret was eventually canonized only in 1943. Besides the full Latin text and the English translation of her oldest legend, written between 1272 and 1275, this volume contains the acts of the 110 testimonies of the papal investigation concerning her sainthood, recorded between July and October 1276 and prepared from existing source editions. In addition, the editors include a series of recently discovered documents, including a petition by the bishop of Varad (Oradea) to promote the cause, and the notarial records of a set of miracles that occurred at Margaret's grave in the second half of the fifteenth century. The annotated bilingual text is complemented by a select bibliography on Saint Margaret and her hagiography.
Reviews / Votes
"The volume will be of interest not only to scholars of medieval hagiography, but also those interested in the insights into everyday life in the cloister, in towns and villages, and in general life in thirteenth century Hungary. Besides translating the known important sources, the editing and translating of hitherto unknown documents gives the volume an added value." * Hungarian Historical Review * "Sale a la luz un proyecto que arranco en la decada de 1980, pero que, por diversas circunstancia no ha podido culminarse hasta fechas recientes, como apunta Gabor Klaniczay, y cuya demora, sin embargo, ha hecho posible la incorporacion de un material inedito. Se trata de un valioso y bello libro que brinda la posibilidad de acercarse a unas fuentes que ilustran el interesante y prolongado proceso de canonizacion de la princesa Margarita de Hungria." * Medievalia * "Le long delai dans la gestation de l'ouvrage a eu un avantage: dans l'intervalle, B. Peterfi, un etudiant de G. Klaniczay, a decouvert, en 2011, dans les Archives de la famille Orsini, trois documents medievaux inedits interessant le dossier de canonisation de Marguerite. Ceux-ci ont ete integres au volume, a cote d'autres actes significatifs deja publies. L'interet de ces Actes, outre leur valeur documentaire intrinseque, est aussi d'illustrer le choc culturel que constitua le nouvel ideal religieux incarne par Marguerite, aux antipodes de celui de la communaute traditionnelle et aristocratique qui l'hebergeait. On le voit: ce volume - pourvu d'une bibliographie, d'un index, et d'une annexe relative aux textes hagiographiques ecrits en l'honneur de Marguerite -, a peut-etre mis du temps a paraitre, mais cela valait la peine de patienter." -- Francois DE VRIENDT * Analecta Bollandiana *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Budapest
Hungary
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Academic
Edition type
Annotated edition
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 54 mm
Weight
1512 gr
ISBN-13
978-963-386-218-6 (9789633862186)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Bence Peterfi | Ildiko Csepregi | Gabor Klaniczay
The Oldest Legend
Acts of the Canonization Process, and Miracles of Saint Margaret of Hungary
E-Book
01/2018
Central European University Press
€139.99
Available for download
Persons
Gabor Klaniczay is University Professor of Medieval Studies at the Central European University.
Bence Peterfi is researcher at the Institute of History at the Research center of the Humanities of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Ildiko Csepregi is a historian of religion, trained as a classicist and medievalist at CEU.
Bence Peterfi is researcher at the Institute of History at the Research center of the Humanities of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Ildiko Csepregi is a historian of religion, trained as a classicist and medievalist at CEU.
Content
AcknowledgmentsI. Introduction: Saint Margaret-Royal and Female SanctityGabor Klaniczay Preface: The Formation of the Texts Recording Margaret's Miracles Ildiko Csepregi II. Legenda Vetus - The Oldest Legend Vita eatae Margaritae de Hungaria - Life of the Blessed Margaret of Hungary ca. 1273-1275III. Acts of the Canonization Process Inquisitio super vita, conversatione et miraculis beatae Margarethae virginis-Inquisition on the life, behavior and miracles of the blessed virgin Margaret 26 June-12 October 1276IV. Correspondence Relating to Margaret's Medieval Canonization Attempts Introduction: The survival of the sources Bence Peterfi 1 Mandate of Pope Gregory X Ordering the Examination of Margaret's Miracles [May 4, 1272] 2 Mandate of Pope Innocent V to the CanonsUmberto Bianchi and de la Corra [May 14, 1276] 3 Mandate of Pope Innocent V to the Canons Umberto Bianchi and de la Corra [May 25, 1276] 4 Letter from Umberto Bianchi and de la Corra to Pope John XXI [ca. 1276] 5 Letter of Rudolf of Habsburg, King of the Romans to the Pope [1277] 6 Petition of Emeric, Bishop of Varad, to the Holy See [ca. 1305-1314] 7 Mandate of Pope Urban VI for a New Inquest on Margaret of Hungary[June 1, 1379] 8 Letter of King Mathias to Pope Pius II [1462-1464] 9 Letter of King Matthias to the collegium of Cardinals [1462-1464]V. A New Series of Miracles at the Tomb of Blessed Margaret Introduction to the Charters Bence Peterfi 1-11 Charters of the Chapter of Buda, 1460-1467, Select Bibliography, Select Hagiography of Saint Margaret of Hungary, Index of Proper Names, Index of Places.