Kaiserchronik (Imperial Chronicle)

The main work in the vernacular legends and historiography besides the "Rolandslied" by the priest Konrad is the German "Kaiserchronik". The fragment, held in 17,283 verses, was probably created in Regensburg in the 40s of the 12th century and depicts the history of the Roman Empire from Caesar to the Hohenstaufen Emperor Konrad III. (1093/94-1152).

Exemplary stories illustrate the personality of a ruler and the quality of his government. While the Roman emperors mainly used legend literature, the German part is dominated by chronical sources and the episodic character of the literature fades accordingly into the background. The focus is on the Augustinian idea of the God state, which is in permanent opposition to the earthly state. The "translatio imperii ad Francos" is dealt with in detail. The Bavarian part of the Reich's history is emphasised in particular.

The "Kaiserchronik" is the most extensively preserved German text of all 12th century vernacular works. This manuscript offers the oldest version, albeit only up to the reign of Emperor Lothar II. The text stops with the crusade sermon by Bernhard of Clairvaux (1090-1153).

To the digitised copy