Chronicon Pictum

Chronicon Pictum

The first page of the Chronicon Pictum. King Louis I on the throne, below the Hungarian Anjou and the Hungarian coat of arms.
Author	Mark of Kalt
Illustrator	Miklόs Meggyesi
Language	Latin
Subjects	History of the Hungarians
Genre	Chronicle
Published	1358
Publication place	Kingdom of Hungary
Media type	Illuminated manuscript
Pages	146

The Chronicon Pictum or Illuminated Chronicle (Hungarian: Képes Krónika, Slovak: Obrázková kronika, German: Ungarische Bilderchronik, also referred to as the Illustrated Chronicle, Chronica Hungarorum, Chronicon Hungarie Pictum, Chronica Picta or Chronica de Gestis Hungarorum) is a medieval illustrated chronicle from the Kingdom of Hungary from the 14th century. It represents the artistic style of the royal court of King Louis I of Hungary. The codex is a unique source of art, medieval and cultural history.

The chronicle's full name is: Chronicon Pictum – Marci de Kalt Chronica de Gestis Hungarorum (Illustrated Chronicle – Mark of Kalt's Chronicle About the Deeds of the Hungarians).

History of the chronicle

King Louis the Great as depicted in the Secretum Secretorum (Secret of Secrets)

King Louis I of Hungary commissioned the Chronicon Pictum and the Secretum Secretorum, which were both produced in a Hungarian workshop. Miklόs Meggyesi, son of Hertul the court painter of Louis, has traditionally been identified as the illuminator, though there is no real evidence for this. The Illuminated Chronicle was written by Mark of Kalt (Latin: Marci de Kalt, Hungarian: Kálti Márk) in 1358 in Latin, with the last of the illuminations being finished between 1370 and 1373.

According to historian Bálint Hóman, the original source of all extant Hungarian chronicles was the lost Gesta Ungarorum, which was written in the time of King Saint Ladislaus. The basic premise of the Hungarian medieval chronicle tradition states that the Huns, i.e. the Hungarians, came out twice from the regions of Scythia, the guiding principle being the Hun-Hungarian continuity.

The chronicle was given by the Hungarian king Louis I to the French king Charles V, when the daughter of Louis, Catherine, was engaged to Charles's son Louis I, Duke of Orléans in 1374. The chronicle was later given to Serbian despot Đurađ Branković as a gift from the French king Charles VII. The chronicle was then copied in 1462. Between 1458 and 1490, it was kept in Hungary, in the court of King Matthias Corvinus. It was later lost, possibly spending some time in the possession of the Ottomans. There is evidence to suggest that in the second half of the 15th century the chronicle was again in Hungary, as it contains several handwritten Hungarian and Latin entries from the period. In three places researchers also found Turkish writing which make various comments regarding Hungary. Because of this, the researchers concluded that sometime between the 15th and 17th century the manuscript was owned by a Hungarian who knew Turkish very well. The chronicle may have been present in Vienna during the infamous Ottoman siege of the 16th century as from at least the 17th century, it belonged to the royal archives in Vienna. Sebastian Tengnagel mentions it in the manuscript catalog of the court library from 1608 to 1636, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the Vienna Illuminated Chronicle. As a result of the Venice Cultural Convention, the chronicle was returned to Hungary in 1934. The manuscript is now kept in the National Széchényi Library in Budapest, Hungary.

Illuminations

The 147 pictures of the chronicle represent a large source of information on medieval Hungarian cultural history, costume and court life, they're also the most important records extent of Hungarian painting practices in the 14th century. The artistic value is quite high, and the characters are drawn with detail and by artists with a knowledge of anatomy. The chronicle contains 147 miniatures: 10 larger images, 29 images in columns, smaller images painted in medallion shapes at the bottom of 4 pages, 99 images enclosed in initials, and 5 initials without images. In addition, there are 82 pieces of ornamental art painted in the margins.

The images are listed in the same order as their appearance in the chronicle.

Page	Illumination	Description
Page 1	King Louis on the Throne	King Louis on the Throne King Louis I is seated at the center within a vine- and leaf-decorated frame, on a raised throne adorned with mosaic decoration, a canopy, and small turrets. His crowned head tilts slightly to the right, and his face is difficult to discern due to the wear of the miniature around the mouth and chin. He holds a sceptre in his right hand and an orb in his left, wearing a white glove. A hermine-lined mantle covers his reddish-brown striped garment. On his right side stands a group of armoured knights in Western attire, carrying swords and shields, while on his left is a group of figures in Eastern dress, wearing long robes and carrying bows, arrows, and sabres as weapons. Saint Catherine of Alexandria In the initial "A", the attributes of Saint Catherine of Alexandria are depicted: a palm branch and a broken wheel. The royal couple, King Louis I and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, are shown kneeling in prayer before the saint.
Page 2	The Historiographer	The Historiographer Mark of Kalt, the author of the Illuminated Chronicle. The robe worn by the storyteller in the image is not strictly monastic in appearance, but more ornate, as it is decorated with a gold border. A bearded man sits in front of a mosaic-decorated lectern, writing in a codex. He holds a writing instrument in his right hand, while his left hand presses down the sheet of parchment with a knife. His ink pots are attached to the edge of the lectern.
Page 4	The Miraculous Deer	Raiding and Hunting Warriors In a rocky, wooded landscape, three groups of warriors are depicted. At the center, two warriors hunt a bear with the aid of dogs and long spears, while armed men standing on either side of the scene scan the distance. The illustration evokes the chronicle's account of Scythia, which, according to the text, was explored by the Huns, the ancestors of the Hungarians, through "subtle cunning" and was renowned for its forests, abundant vegetation, and diverse wildlife.
Page 5	The Miraculous Deer	The Miraculous Stag The hunt for the Miraculous Stag. A hunting party accompanied by dogs is depicted, with a prominent leader in the foreground, identified as Hunor or Magor. In the left background, a forest can be seen, toward which a hind is moving.
Page 7	The First Arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia	The First Arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia Castles and residential towers standing on mountain peaks are visible in the background. The Huns, considered by the chronicle to be the ancestors of the Hungarians, are shown entering from the right in the foreground: armoured horsemen, among them a richly dressed leader figure. One of the warriors holds in his right hand a flag extending beyond the frame of the image, bearing the Turul, the legendary bird of the Hungarians. The miniaturist depicts it as a black bird resembling a falcon or eagle on a red background. In the center, men and women follow them, carrying sack-like bundles and children on their backs. Behind them, women and children travel in wagons covered with tarpaulins, followed by warriors riding camels, who bring up the rear of the procession.
Page 9	Attila's Battle With the Romans at Zeiselmauer	Attila's Battle With the Romans at Zeiselmauer The image depicts the legendary Battle of Zeiselmauer, in which, according to the chronicle, the Huns conquered Pannonia from the Romans. Two groups of horsemen are engaged in fierce combat, while the ground is covered with the bodies of fallen warriors, their blood staining the battlefield red. On the right side of the image, one soldier carries a red-and-white striped shield, while at the center of the composition another warrior bears a golden banner adorned with a Turul bird, seemingly emerging from the miniature itself.
Page 10	King Attila on the Throne	King Attila on the Throne Attila as the first Hungarian king, seated on a throne and dressed in royal attire, holding the symbols of kingship: a crown, orb, and scepter.
Page 11	King Attila	King Attila In the initial "P", King Attila.
Page 13	King Attila	King Attila King Attila as the first Hungarian king in the Illuminated Chronicle. He is shown wearing a crown, holding a sabre in his right hand and an orb in his left. The warrior king who "makes nations flee".
Page 14	Attila is Besieging Aquileia	Attila is Besieging Aquileia The Huns, led by Attila, are besieging Aquileia. One Hun warrior carries a shield decorated with a lion, while another bears a Turul flag.
Page 14	King Attila with the Turul bird in his shield	King Attila King Attila with a crown, sword, and the Turul bird in his shield.
Page 15	Foundation of Venice	Foundation of Venice King Attila of the Huns besieged Aquileia. Aquileian inhabitants wearing Italian-style clothing flee by boat across the sea. The city depicted in the background may be Aquileia, but it is more likely to represent Venice, built on lagoons near the coast. According to the text, the inhabitants of Aquileia first fled to a sea island and later founded Venice on the island of Rialto.
Page 16	King Attila and Pope Leo	King Attila and Pope Leo Attila is meeting Pope Leo. The armored Attila sits on a white horse among his soldiers and looks at the figure floating above his head.
Page 17	King Attila and Pope Leo	The Death of Attila A heavily blurred and barely visible miniature. According to the chronicle, Attila died from a nosebleed on the wedding night of his marriage to Micolt. In the image, Attila is already lying dead, while Micolt sits beside him on the bed, announcing the king's death to those standing nearby.
Page 21	The Arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia	The Arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia According to the chronicle, the second arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia, the event now known as the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin. The image depicts several scenes simultaneously. In the center, Árpád, surrounded by the Hungarians who are shouting the name of God three times, tastes the water of the Danube from a drinking horn, to his left stands Kusid, holding a flask. On the left side, Prince Svatopluk, seated on his throne, receives Kusid, the envoy of the Hungarians. Beside him, a kneeling groom wearing a fur cap holds a white horse with a golden saddle by its bridle. In the center-right, Árpád is shown on a white horse, accompanied by the six chieftains and armored warriors carrying spears. In the right foreground, a group of women and children emerges from a sunken road. The entire background of the image is filled with a rocky mountainous landscape with castles, while shepherds drive cattle among the rocks. Előd, Hungarian Chieftain In the initial "D", the Hungarian chieftain Előd, father of Álmos, is depicted holding a spear in his right hand and resting his left hand on a shield decorated with a representation of the Turul. (Based on the text, it is not entirely clear whether the chieftain portrayed is Előd or Árpád). Álmos, Hungarian Chieftain In the initial "A", the Hungarian chieftain Álmos is depicted holding a sword and a shield decorated with the Turul. (It is not entirely clear whether the chieftain portrayed is Álmos or Árpád).
Page 21	The Arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia The Arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia (Detail)	The Arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia According to the chronicle, the second arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia, the event now known as the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin. The image depicts several scenes simultaneously. In the center, Árpád, surrounded by the Hungarians who are shouting the name of God three times, tastes the water of the Danube from a drinking horn, to his left stands Kusid, holding a flask. On the left side, Prince Svatopluk, seated on his throne, receives Kusid, the envoy of the Hungarians. Beside him, a kneeling groom wearing a fur cap holds a white horse with a golden saddle by its bridle. In the center-right, Árpád is shown on a white horse, accompanied by the six chieftains and armored warriors carrying spears. In the right foreground, a group of women and children emerges from a sunken road. The entire background of the image is filled with a rocky mountainous landscape with castles, while shepherds drive cattle among the rocks. In the year of 677 after the incarnation of the Lord, 104 years after the death of King Attila of Hungary, in the time of Emperor Constantine III and Pope Zachary - as it is written in the Roman chronicle - the Hungarians came out the second time from Scythia. — Mark of Kalt: Chronicon Pictum
Page 21	Előd, Hungarian Chieftain	Előd, Hungarian Chieftain The Hungarian chieftain Előd, father of Álmos, is depicted holding a spear in his right hand and resting his left hand on a shield decorated with a representation of the Turul. (Based on the text, it is not entirely clear whether the chieftain portrayed is Előd or Árpád).
Page 21	Álmos, Hungarian Chieftain	Álmos, Hungarian Chieftain The Hungarian chieftain Álmos is depicted holding a sword and a shield decorated with the Turul. (It is not entirely clear whether the chieftain portrayed is Álmos or Árpád). Ügyek's son Előd, fathered a son by the daughter of Eunodubilia in Scythian land, whose name was Álmos, because a bird in the shape of a falcon appeared in his mother's dream when she was pregnant, a rushing stream sprang from her womb, it grew, but not in its own land, and from this it was prophesied that glorious kings would come from her loins. Because dream is "álom" in our language, and the birth of that boy was prophesied by a dream, that's why he was called Álmos. — Mark of Kalt: Chronicon Pictum
Page 23	The Seven Captains	The Seven Captains The seven chieftains of the Hungarians are depicted in armor. Árpád, the Grand Prince of the Hungarians, stands in the middle, wearing a princely hat and a shield bearing the Turul.
Page 23	Árpád, the First Captain	Árpád, the First Captain Árpád, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, is depicted wearing a princely hat and holding a sword and a shield bearing the Turul. And this Captain Árpád had a special dignity in Scythia, it was the custom of his clan, according to the Scythian law and tradition, that he went alone before those who went to war and those who retreated, saying, therefore he was the first to enter this land before the other captains going to Pannonia. — Mark of Kalt: Chronicon Pictum
Page 25	Szabolcs, the Second Captain	Szabolcs, the Second Captain Szabolcs, one of the Seven chieftains of the Hungarians, stands holding a spear and shield.
Page 25	Gyula, the Third Captain	Gyula, the Third Captain Gyula, one of the Seven chieftains of the Hungarians, stands in armor and a helmet, holding a spear.
Page 26	Kund, the Fourth Captain	Kund, the Fourth Captain Kund, one of the Seven chieftains of the Hungarians, stands in armor with a spear and a shield on his back.
Page 26	Chieftain Lehel	Lehel, the Fifth Captain Lehel, one of the Seven chieftains of the Hungarians, holding a sabre and a shield without a coat of arms.
Page 26	Chieftain Bulcsú	Bulcsú, the Sixth Captain Bulcsú, one of the Seven chieftains of the Hungarians, is depicted wearing a pointed hat.
Page 26	Chieftain Örs	Örs, the Seventh Captain Örs, one of the Seven chieftains of the Hungarians, stands holding a sword and shield.
Page 28	Count Deodatus	Count Deodatus Count Deodatus opens the series of guest lineages depicted in the chronicle. He is shown wearing an open-faced helmet, holding a sword, and carrying a shield turned away from the viewer.
Page 28	Héder	Héder Héder, the ancestor of the Héder or Hédervári family, is depicted bearing a six-pointed golden star accompanied by a crescent moon on his clothing, shield, and banner. This, however, is actually the coat of arms of the Hont clan. The illuminator was presumably unfamiliar with the Hédervári family's paly coat of arms and therefore used the arms of the Hont kindred instead.
Page 29	Vencellin	Vencellin Vencellin, ancestor of the Ják kindred.
Page 29	Hont	Hont Hont, the forefather of the Hont-Pázmány kindred. The illuminator mistakenly painted a dog's head on his coat of arms and banner, presumably based on the identification of the name Hunt with the German word Hund "dog". On the previous page, the illuminator mistakenly depicted the coat of arms of the Hont kindred as the coat of arms of the knight Héder.
Page 29	Poth	Poth Poth, who according to the text is the ancestor of the Bót kindred, is depicted with a bird with white legs on his shield and banner.
Page 30	Oliver and Rátold	Oliver and Rátold Oliver and Rátold are depicted with a golden linden leaf on their coat of arms.
Page 30	Herman	Herman Herman the German, with a golden dragon on his shield.
Page 30	Buzád	Buzád Buzád the ancestor of the Buzád kindred is depicted, with a red horned frontal bone on his shield. The coat of arms of the Buzád kindred should correctly have featured an ox head. However, the depiction in the chronicle resembles a chamois more closely.
Page 31	Keled	Keled Keled, the ancestor of the Keled kindred.
Page 31	Simon and Michael	Simon and Michael Simon and Michael, ancestors of the Martonfalvi kindred, are depicted. Melinda, the wife of Bánk, was a descendant of the kindred that migrated from Spain, first known as Martonfalvi and later as Bojót.
Page 32	Three Knights	Three Knights Three knights are in full armor.
Page 32	The Arrival of Different Clans to Hungary	The Arrival of Different Clans to Hungary A mountainous, wooded landscape is depicted, with castles in the background. In the foreground, figures in different types of clothing are marching, presumably representing various ethnic groups, although these cannot be identified more precisely.
Page 33	Grand Prince Taksony	Grand Prince Taksony Grand Prince Taksony, a Turul bird is on his shield, a spear is in his hand.
Page 33	The Hungarians Are Destroying Bulgaria	The Hungarians Are Destroying Bulgaria On the left, a group of Hungarian horsemen with their leader. On the right, a mountainous landscape with two castles and a walled settlement.
Page 34	Captain Lehel and Bulcsu Front of the German Emperor	Captain Lehel and Bulcsú Front of the German Emperor The story of Lehel's Horn. On the left, the emperor is sitting on a bench. In front of him, Lehel is on the right, behind him there are Bulcsú and German soldiers. Lehel strikes the emperor's head with a long golden horn, so its blood drips down his face. According to the chronicle, Lehel was captured after the Battle of Lechfeld in 955, Lehel asked his horn at his last wish, striking the German emperor to death. According to the chronicle, he was Emperor Conrad. At that place the famous captains, Lehel and Bulcsú were also captured, and taken in front of the emperor. When the emperor asked, why they are so cruel against the Christians, they replied: "We are the revenge of the highest God, sent to you as a scourge. You shall imprison us and kill us when we cease to chase you." Then the emperor called them: "Choose the type of death you wish." Then Lehel replied: "Bring me my horn, which I will blow, then I will reply." The horn was handed to him, and during the preparation to blow it, he stepped forward of the emperor, and hit the forehead of the emperor so strongly that the horn is broken and the emperor died instantly from this one strike. Then Lehel said to him: "You will walk before me and you will be my servant in the other world!", as it is a common belief within the Scythians, that whoever they killed in their lives will serve them in the other world. — Mark of Kalt: Chronicon Pictum
Page 36	Duel of Botond and the Greek Warrior in Front of the Gates of Constantinople	Duel of Botond and the Greek Warrior in Front of the Gates of Constantinople On the left, a group of Hungarian cavalry soldiers, led by leader Apor on a white horse. In the middle, a duel between Botond and a Greek warrior is in front of the walls of Constantinople. Botond and his horse are blurred. Botond, getting off his horse stabs his sword in the chest of the declining Greek. Emperor Constantine VII and his wife, Helena Lekapene watch mourning the events. In front of the city gate is a fragment of the wall overturned by Botond.
Page 36	Captain Apor	Captain Apor Captain Apor, leader of the Hungarian army, bears the Turul bird as his coat of arms on both his banner and shield.
Page 37	Birth of King Stephen	Birth of King Stephen On the right, we can see into a room of a palace, in the background of the room is a curtain woven with gold. In the foreground, Sarolt, Stephen's mother holds the naked baby in her lap, the baby Stephen has a halo around his head. Sarolt has a crown on her head, she accepts a golden crown from the martyr Saint Stephen with her right hand. According to legend, the Saint Stephen prophesied to Sarolt that a son would be born who would become king. The illustrator obviously deliberately depicted the two scenes far apart in time in one picture. A group of noble women stand in the background on the right. On the left, in the hall connected to the room, men and women are waiting in groups.
Page 38	Grand Prince Géza	Grand Prince Géza Géza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, sits on a green marble throne, holding an orb and scepter in his hands, and wearing a red princely cap on his head.
Page 38	The Decapitation of Koppány	The Decapitation of Koppány On the left, King Saint Stephen is riding on a white horse with a halo, he is accompanied by knights. On the right, a group of soldiers, Vencellin had just beheaded Koppány, Duke of Somogy who revolted against Stephen.
Page 39	King Saint Stephen in military ornament	King Saint Stephen in Military Ornament King Saint Stephen is depicted in military attire. The warrior king, in the prime of his life, stands on rocky ground against a blue background. He wears brown greaves decorated with golden dots, while his coat of mail is covered by a surcoat bearing the red-and-white Árpád stripes. A royal crown rests upon his head, with a halo around it. In his right hand he holds a banner, and in his left a shield, both bearing the coat of arms with the double cross on a triple mount, symbolizing his status as an Apostolic King.
Page 40	King Saint Stephen captures Gyula	King Saint Stephen Captures Gyula King Saint Stephen captures his uncle, Gyula, the ruler of Transylvania. On the right, front of the rocky-forested mountains, King Saint Stephen is sitting on a white horse with the double cross coat of arms on his chest, and a royal crown and halo on his head. He points with a warning and commanding gesture to the captured and handcuffed Gyula, whose hand is bound by a knight. On the left, knights of Stephen are chasing Gyula's warriors. After when Saint Stephen had been deemed worthy, and won the crown of the royal majesty by divine order, he waged a famous and profitable war against his maternal uncle named Gyula, who at that time ruled the entire Transylvanian country with his own power. — Mark of Kalt: Chronicon Pictum
Page 40	King Stephen on the Throne	King Saint Stephen on the Throne King Saint Stephen of Hungary sits upon a green marble pedestal adorned with royal regalia, with a halo encircling his head.
Page 41	The Victory of King Stephen over Kean, Duke of the Bulgarians and Slavs	The Victory of King Stephen over Kean, Duke of the Bulgarians and Slavs At the center stands the haloed Hungarian King Saint Stephen, wearing a coat of mail adorned with a coat of arms bearing the double cross, with both feet on the body of the fallen Duke Kean, who lies on the ground holding a bow in his hand. One of the king's soldiers holds the reins of his horse, equipped with a Western-style knightly saddle, as well as his shield decorated with the double cross. In the background, Hungarian warriors pursue fleeing Bulgarian warriors dressed in Eastern-style clothing.
Page 41	King Stephen in Royal Regalia	King Stephen in Royal Regalia King Saint Stephen is depicted in royal regalia. On his chest is the Hungarian coat of arms with the double cross, he wears a crown and a halo, holding a scepter in his right hand and an orb in his left.
Page 42	The Foundation of Saints Peter and Paul Church of Óbuda	The Foundation of Saints Peter and Paul Church of Óbuda The kneeling King Saint Stephen and Queen Gisela hold the scaled-down copy of the church of Peter and Paul of Óbuda as a symbol of the founding of the church. The rocky soil adorned with trees and flowers.
Page 44	Prince Emeric's Funeral and the Blinding of Vazul	Prince Emeric's Funeral and the Blinding of Vazul In the foreground, two men place the body of Prince Saint Emeric, dressed as a prince, in a marble coffin. King Saint Stephen standing in front of the coffin rests his right hand on his face, he expresses his pain with this regretful gesture. While Queen Gisela watches the scene unfolding in the background, where the bound Vazul lies in the mountains, on a rocky terrain decorated with a castle in the background. Vazul's hand is held by a soldier sitting on his leg, and Sebös, Queen Gisela's emissary, pushes out his eyes. On the left, three hooded figures are riding: the emissaries of King Stephen, who are coming to free Vazul.
Page 44	King Stephen Encourages Prince Andrew, Béla and Levente to Flee	King Stephen Encourages Prince Andrew, Béla and Levente to Flee King Saint Stephen lies ill in bed, raising his right hand in a warning gesture toward the three princes standing beside his bed: Andrew, Béla, and Levente.
Page 46	King Stephen's Funeral	King Stephen's Funeral The funeral of King Saint Stephen. Two young men place the king's body in a marble coffin. Four bishops perform the ceremony. The praying Queen Gisela stands at the foot of the coffin. From the right, some mourners.
Page 47	King Peter	King Peter King Peter Orseolo, clad in armor, holds a sword in his right hand and a royal crown.
Page 47	King Peter Is Driven Away by Samuel Aba and His Soldiers	King Peter Is Driven Away by Samuel Aba and His Soldiers Samuel Aba and his Hungarian horsemen pursue King Peter Orseolo, who is holding a crown in one hand.
Page 48	King Samuel Aba	King Samuel Aba King Samuel Aba, wearing a chainmail hauberk, wields a sword in his right hand while holding the royal crown in his left.
Page 50	Battle of Ménfő: Victory of Emperor Henry III Over King Samuel Aba	Battle of Ménfő: Victory of Emperor Henry III Over King Samuel Aba Battle of Ménfő in 1044, the Germans are on the right side led by Emperor Henry III, the Hungarians on the left side led by King Samuel Aba. A group of Hungarian warriors, the supporters of King Peter leave him. The Hungarian flag with Árpád stripes falls to the ground with the broken rod, while the winning German flag flies high decorated with the German eagle. On the right side of the picture Emperor Henry III, gives thanks for victory, on the left a soldier executes King Samuel Aba.
Page 50	Battle of Ménfő: Killing of King Samuel Aba	Battle of Ménfő: Victory of Emperor Henry III Over King Samuel Aba (Detail) King Samuel Aba reaches towards the crown, while a soldier stabs his heart.
Page 50	King Aba's Envoy Delivers a Letter Written in Favor of Peace to the German Emperor	King Aba's Envoy Delivers a Letter Written in Favor of Peace to the German Emperor An envoy of King Samuel Aba of Hungary delivers a letter seeking peace to Holy Roman Emperor Henry III. (The event depicted in this miniature precedes the Battle of Ménfő shown in the previous illustration).
Page 53	King Peter Gives Hungary as a Vassal to the German Emperor	King Peter Gives Hungary as a Vassal to the German Emperor On the right, King Peter Orseolo gives a gilded spear to Emperor Henry III who sit on the throne, acknowledging him as his overlord. Five noble youths bring gifts.
Page 54	Prince BéLa's Duel With the Pomeranian	Prince Béla's Duel With the Pomeranian Prince Béla knocks his Pomeranian opponent from his horse with his lance. Of the three princes – Andrew, Béla, and Levente – who fled from Hungary first to Bohemia and then to Poland, Béla fights in place of the Polish duke and his sons against the ruler of the Pomeranians, who had refused to pay the annual tribute, and emerges victorious.
Page 59	King Peter's Blinding, Prince Andrew Takes the Crown	King Peter's Blinding, Prince Andrew Takes the Crown In a wooded area, a soldier in full armor kneels on the body of King Peter Orseolo lying on the ground and gouges out his eyes. Next to Peter's head is the fallen crown. Bishop Beneta is standing on the left and holds out the crown to Prince Andrew.
Page 60	Coronation of King Andrew	Coronation of King Andrew The coronation of King Andrew I of Hungary (1046). King Andrew is seated on the throne in ceremonial attire, holding a scepter in his left hand. Two bishops place the royal crown upon his head, while a third bishop presents him with a sword. (The presence of three bishops in the scene is likely explained by the chronicle's account that, following Vata's pagan uprising, only three bishops survived.)
Page 61	The Destruction of Emperor Henry's Ships at Pozsony	The Destruction of Emperor Henry's Ships at Pozsony Siege of Pozsony (1052). Holy Roman Emperor Henry III launched his fifth campaign against the Kingdom of Hungary and unsuccessfully besieged Pozsony (now Bratislava, Slovakia). The Hungarians sank the imperial supply ships on the Danube, depriving the besieging army of its provisions. Knight Zotmund (Kund the Diver) was a soldier in the army of King Andrew I of Hungary, he swam beneath the German ships, scuttling and sinking them one after another. The miniature depicts Emperor Henry III below the castle of Pozsony, standing on the Danube in a leaking boat with two knights as it fills with water. Beside them, another boat, also deliberately holed and sinking, carries two desperate men.
Page 64	The Scene of Várkony: The Crown and Sword The Scene of Várkony: The Crown and Sword	The Scene of Várkony: The Crown and Sword At the time of the expulsion of King Peter Orseolo from Hungary in 1046, the Hungarians invited back the sons of Vazul to take the throne in his place. Of the returning brothers, Andrew and Levente, Andrew came to power. Béla returned to Hungary only later, in 1048, at his brother's request. Sharing his rule with him, the king entrusted Béla with the governance of one-third of the country, thereby establishing the institution of the duchy. According to the chronicle, Andrew also declared his younger brother to be his heir. The peaceful relationship between the two brothers changed toward the end of Andrew I's reign, when he concluded peace with King Henry IV of Germany. To strengthen the agreement, the Hungarian king's five-year-old son, Solomon, was married to Henry's sister, Judith. Shortly afterward, the child Solomon was crowned king as well. This harmed Béla's interests, and he openly expressed his opposition. At the end of 1059, King Andrew summoned Duke Béla to Várkony Castle, located on the banks of the Tisza River, and demanded that he declare his intentions: would he accept the newly crowned Solomon as his successor, or, according to their earlier agreement, did he intend to rule after Andrew's death? The ill king had both the symbols of royal and ducal authority – the crown and the sword – placed beside him. He then offered Béla a choice: "If you desire the kingdom, take the crown. If you desire the duchy, take the sword." However, Andrew had no intention of leaving Béla's decision to chance. He instructed his trusted men that if Béla chose the crown, they were not to let him leave. As the duke entered the hall, Ispán (Count) Miklós quietly warned him: "If you wish to live, choose the sword." Béla therefore chose the sword, the symbol of the duchy. Immediately afterward, he fled with his family to Poland, intending to return later with military assistance. The miniature depicts two scenes: On the right, Duke Béla stands before the doorway while Ispán Nicholas advises him to choose the sword. On the left, inside the chamber, Duke Béla stands at the foot of King Andrew's sickbed. The ill king lies in bed, with two of his leading nobles and his young son Solomon, wearing the crown, standing behind him. On the step of the bed lie the sword and the crown: the sword symbolises the duchy, while the crown represents the kingship.
Page 67	Prince Béla Wins the Crown	Prince Béla Wins the Crown On the left, two noblemen remove the crown from Solomon's head. On the right stands King Béla, holding the orb in his left hand. An elderly nobleman presents him with the sword, while another places the crown upon his head.
Page 69	German Emperor Henry IV Brings Solomon Back to Hungary	German Emperor Henry IV Brings Solomon Back to Hungary German invasion of Hungary; The cathedral of Székesfehérvár with its four towers is on the left in the background. On the right, Emperor Henry IV is at the head of an army of soldiers, with the royal crown in his right, and his brother-in-law Solomon in his left. He leads Solomon by the arm.
Page 71	King Solomon and His Younger Brother Prince David	King Solomon and His Younger Brother Prince David On the left is King Solomon of Hungary, depicted wearing a crown and holding a scepter and an orb, while on the right is his younger brother, Prince David, shown wearing a princely cap and carrying a shield and a sword.
Page 72	Prince Ladislaus Is Fighting a Duel With a Cuman Warrior Who Kidnapped a Girl Prince Ladislaus Is Fighting a Duel With a Cuman Warrior Who Kidnapped a Girl	Prince Ladislaus Is Fighting a Duel With a Cuman Warrior Who Kidnapped a Girl In the foreground, Saint Ladislaus, distinguished by his halo, is engaged in combat with the Cuman warrior, behind whom stands the abducted maiden wearing a crown. In the background, set against a rocky mountainous landscape, the Hungarians pursue the retreating Cumans, while King Solomon of Hungary and Prince Géza are depicted in the center. The Hungarian flag bearing the double cross projects beyond the frame of the miniature.
Page 74	The Capture of Belgrade and the Distribution of the Spoils of War	The Capture of Belgrade and the Distribution of the Spoils of War The Siege of Belgrade (1071). In the background, the fortress of Belgrade, besieged by the Hungarians, rises atop rocky cliffs. The fortress is set on fire by a Hungarian girl held captive within its walls, who uses a torch to ignite it. In the foreground, the distribution of the spoils of war is depicted: seated at a table is Count Vid, chief advisor of King Solomon of Hungary, dividing the booty into four shares. Standing beside the table are King Solomon and Princes Géza and Ladislaus, the latter depicted with a halo.
Page 78	The Feud Between King Solomon and Prince Géza	The Feud Between King Solomon and Prince Géza King Solomon is enthroned with a crown and scepter in a room closed with a brown carpet hung in front of a pedimental of a building. To his right stands Count Vid, who stirs up strife. He holds two swords in a scabbard. On the right, Prince Géza stands in the background, to whom three ambassadors hand over the Greek emperor's sealed letter. This also increases Solomon's envy. He encouraged him not to delay, but rather to hasten the matter, and excited the king with this proverb: "Just as two sharp swords cannot fit in one scabbard, so you two cannot rule the same country." Count Vid's angry words seduced the king, causing hatred and strife to boil within him. — Mark of Kalt: Chronicon Pictum
Page 78	The People of Niš Pay Homage to King Solomon and Prince Géza	The People of Niš Pay Homage to King Solomon and Prince Géza The Hungarians seized the Byzantine city in 1072. King Solomon and Prince Géza receive gifts from the locals at Niš.
Page 81	Prince Géza and Abbot Villermus	Prince Géza and Abbot Villermus The abbot of the monastery of Szekszárd, Villermus, is depicted putting on a knight's disguise over his bare upper body. In the same scene, he is shown leading a saddled horse as he stands before Prince Géza, waking him from his sleep and urging him to flee. Behind the head of the reclining prince stand the two traitors, Petrud and Bikás.
Page 81	Escape of Prince Géza	Escape of Prince Géza The Battle of Kemej (1074). Prince Géza is depicted fleeing with his soldiers. Some distance behind him follow his two disloyal knights, Petrud and Bikás. As a sign of their treachery, they raise their shields, however, the soldiers of King Solomon of Hungary, not recognizing the signal, cut them down.
Page 83	The Vision of Prince Ladislaus	The Vision of Prince Ladislaus Prince Géza is shown on a white horse as a descending angel places a crown upon his head. Prince Ladislaus, likewise mounted on a white horse, gazes upward with outstretched arms at the heavenly vision. According to the chronicle, only Ladislaus sees the vision and recounts it to his brother Géza, who vows that, if the vision is fulfilled, he will build a church on that very spot.
Page 85	The Battle of Mogyoród	The Battle of Mogyoród Battle of Mogyoród in 1074, the warriors of Prince Géza are on the right side led by Prince Ladislaus, he has a halo around his head. King Solomon leads his warriors on the opposite side. Prince Ladislaus covers Prince Géza, his lance reaches the breastplate of King Solomon.
Page 87	The Vision of King Géza and Prince Ladislaus	The Vision of King Géza and Prince Ladislaus The miniature on page 83 of the Illuminated Chronicle depicts the vision of Prince Saint Ladislaus, in which a descending angel places a crown upon Géza's head, foreshadowing his coronation as king. After they defeated their cousin, King Solomon of Hungary, at the Battle of Mogyoród, Géza was crowned king, and he then visited with his brother the place where the vision had occurred. In the miniature, on the banks of the Danube at Vác, King I Géza of Hungary is shown holding the orb, while Prince Saint Ladislaus holds a battle axe, the two stand embracing each other. Among the trees appears a stag with burning candles on the tips of its antlers. According to the chronicle, they are deciding where to build the church they had vowed to erect in the event of their victory. At the place where the stag, identified as the Angel of God, set down its feet, Géza founded the church.
Page 89	King Solomon Again Asks for Help From the German Emperor	King Solomon Again Asks for Help From the German Emperor Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV sits enthroned, wearing a crown and holding a sceptre in his left hand. Kneeling before him, King Solomon of Hungary grasps with both hands the outstretched right hand of Emperor Henry IV, the brother of his wife, Judith. In the foreground, the royal crown lies on the ground.
Page 91	The Escape of King Solomon	The Escape of King Solomon In the background stands Pozsony Castle, with warriors looking down from its walls. In the left foreground is King Géza I of Hungary, beside whom Prince Saint Ladislaus leads his warriors on a white horse. He holds a shield bearing the Hungarian double cross in his left hand and a sword in his right. Above his haloed head, an angel hovers, wielding a flaming sword. On the right, King Solomon of Hungary is depicted fleeing on horseback while looking back at his pursuers. He holds a sword in his right hand and a red-and-white Árpád-striped shield in his left.
Page 92	The Coronation of Ladislaus the First	The Coronation of Ladislaus the First King Saint Ladislaus is standing in an ermine-lined cloak, with a sword in his right hand, and an orb in his left hand. Two angels place the crown on his head, which is held by two bishops. The coronation of King Saint Ladislaus was in 1077.
Page 93	King Saint Ladislaus, the Knight King	King Saint Ladislaus, the Knight King King Saint Ladislaus of Hungary, is depicted with a halo and a crown, clad in full knightly armor. On his breast is the Hungarian coat of arms bearing the double cross. He holds a battle axe in his right hand and an orb in his left.
Page 98	The Ruthenians Pledge Allegiance to King Ladislaus	The Ruthenians Pledge Allegiance to King Ladislaus Seated on his throne, King Saint Ladislaus is surrounded by his warriors. Before him kneel several Ruthenians wearing caps, their hands raised in supplication. At their head is their prince, who has placed his cap at the king's feet.
Page 98	Siege of Kraków	Siege of Kraków In the background stands Kraków Castle on the bank of the Vistula River. In the left foreground, King Saint Ladislaus leans with his left hand on a shield bearing the Árpád-striped coat of arms while holding a sword in his right hand. In the right foreground, a soldier pours flour from his greave onto a pile of earth, while another soldier behind him carries more flour in the same manner. According to the chronicle, the defenders of the castle, seeing that the besieging army still had an abundant supply of food, voluntarily surrendered the fortress.
Page 99	Construction of the Nagyvárad's Church	Construction of the Nagyvárad's Church On the bank of the Körös River, King Saint Ladislaus, depicted with a halo and raising his hand, stands before the church under construction at Nagyvárad.
Page 99	King Ladislaus Receives Ambassadors	King Saint Ladislaus Receives Ambassadors The left side of the image depicts King Saint Ladislaus accompanied by two attendants. On the right, four foreign envoys approach him, the foremost presenting a letter in a gesture of homage. According to the chronicle, the envoys came to invite Ladislaus to assume command of the First Crusade.
Page 101	Funeral of King Saint Ladislaus	Funeral of King Saint Ladislaus The image depicts a scene that is not mentioned in the text of the chronicle but appears in every known version of the legend of King Saint Ladislaus: a wagon without horses carries the king's body toward the place of burial he had chosen, the church in Nagyvárad. The body of King Ladislaus lies on a four-wheeled wagon, with a crown and halo on his head and a scepter and orb in his hands. The wagon pole extending out of the image clearly indicates that no horses are harnessed to the wagon. On the right, a group of astonished onlookers can be seen, while in the background stands the church in Nagyvárad built by Ladislaus.
Page 101	The Coronation of Coloman	The Coronation of Coloman The Coronation of King Coloman the Learned (1095). A bishop places the crown upon the head of King Coloman of Hungary, who is depicted as a hunchback and in simple attire, in accordance with the tradition preserved in medieval Hungarian chronicles.
Page 105	King Coloman and Prince Álmos in Front of the Church of Dömös	King Coloman and Prince Álmos in Front of the Church of Dömös In front of the Dömös monastery founded by the prince, the hunchback King Coloman and his younger brother Prince Álmos extend their hands to each other as a sign of reconciliation, and a priest places his two hands in blessing on their arms.
Page 105	The Hunt in Csór	The Hunt in Csór In a rocky landscape, in a forest, Prince Álmos is riding with two attendants who are followers of King Coloman. At his horse's feet, a hawk is holding a crow by the neck, and a barking dog is running towards them. The king let the prince go in peace to hunt in the Bakony. He sent two of his serfs with him under the pretext of honoring him, but he secretly trained them to carefully probe the prince's soul: to report to the king if the prince was intrigued against him. The prince arrived in Csór, released his falcon, and it caught a crow. The prince then said to the serfs with a simple spirit: "What if the crow swore to the hawk that it would not caw again if the hawk let it go?" But they answered thus: "Even if the crow were to swear, the hawk wouldn't let him go, but the crow couldn't swear either, because he's a foolish animal." The prince's words were reported to the king that night. The prince went to Bakony to hunt, but immediately left them and ran to Passau again to ask for help from the German king. — Mark of Kalt: Chronicon Pictum
Page 106	The Blinding of Prince Álmos and His Little Son Béla	The Blinding of Prince Álmos and His Little Son Béla Seated on his throne, King Coloman orders two soldiers to blind Prince Álmos and his son Béla, and to castrate the boy. In the background on the right, Prince Álmos lies on the ground while a soldier gouges out his eyes. In front of him lies the blinded child Béla, however, the soldier kneeling beside him castrates a dog instead of the boy. Later, Coloman's son, King Stephen II, remained childless, so he arranged the marriage of his blinded cousin Béla. Béla had at least six children, thereby ensuring the continuation of the Árpád dynasty's royal bloodline.
Page 106	King Coloman Wants to Capture Prince Álmos	King Coloman Wants to Capture Prince Álmos In the foreground, the seriously ill King Coloman orders Benedek to capture Prince Álmos. In the background, Prince Álmos seeks refuge at the altar of the church in Dömös, from where Benedek still wants to drag him away. On the side, three monks stand with swords in their hands to prevent Prince Álmos from being taken away.
Page 108	The Coronation of Stephen II, Coloman's Son	The Coronation of Stephen II, Coloman's Son Two bishops crown the young King Stephen II, the son of King Coloman. He holds the orb in one hand and the scepter in the other. His coronation took place in 1116.
Page 113	The Assembly of the Realm of Arad	The Bloody Assembly of the Realm at Arad The blind King Béla II of Hungary was crowned at Székesfehérvár in 1131. Shortly afterwards, a royal assembly (Diet) was held near Arad, where, at the urging of Queen Helena, Béla's supporters massacred the 68 magnates whom they held responsible for the king's blinding in childhood. The miniature depicts King Béla II and his wife, Queen Helena, seated on the throne. The queen orders the execution of the magnates who had advised the blinding of the young Béla during the reign of King Coloman of Hungary. On the right are the magnates who have already been executed and those awaiting execution, behind them, a soldier, his enormous sword raised high, is about to strike.
Page 114	King Béla II	King Béla II the Blind King Béla II with the crown, scepter, and orb.
Page 117	Coronation of King Géza II	Coronation of King Géza II The coronation of King Géza II of Hungary (1141). Two bishops place the crown upon Géza's head, while a young man – presumably Géza's eldest younger brother, Prince Ladislaus, the future usurper – wearing a princely cap, leads a white horse by the reins and presents the royal sword to Géza.
Page 117	King Géza II in Royal Regalia	King Géza II in Royal Regalia Standing figure of King Géza II, wearing a hauberk and a crown, holding a scepter in his left hand and resting his right hand on his shield.
Page 119	German Emperor Konrad III and French King Louis VII March through Hungary with Their Crusader Army	German Emperor Konrad III and French King Louis VII March through Hungary with Their Crusader Army The route of the Second Crusade through the Kingdom of Hungary. There are rocky mountains, in the background there is a forest on the left, a church surrounded by a wall on the right. In the foreground, Emperor Conrad III of Germany is marching on horseback with an imperial crown, he holds a shield with a single-headed eagle coat of arms in his left hand. King Louis VII of France is riding behind him with a crown at the head of his crusaders. On the right, there are Hungarian warriors on horseback on a deep road, led by an archer who is ready to shoot.
Page 120	King Géza II of Hungary and King Louis VII of France	King Géza II of Hungary and King Louis VII of France On the left is King Louis VII of France, wearing a crown, on the right is King Géza II of Hungary, attired in royal regalia. The joint depiction of the two rulers symbolizes the cordial relations between them, which the Illuminated Chronicle emphasizes by contrasting it with the truculent behavior of the German crusaders.
Page 121	The Coronation of Stephen III	The Coronation of Stephen III King Stephen III is sitting on the throne with the orb, a bishop places the crown on the head of the king. On the right, a Hungarian magnate with a pointed hat gives the sword of the country to the king. There is a pyramid-shaped mountain in the background. King Stephen III is depicted as an adult man in the chronicle, however he was only 15 years old when he was crowned. The coronation of King Stephen III was in 1162.
Page 121	Prince Ladislaus, the Usurper of the Throne and the Stealing of the Crown	Prince Ladislaus, the Usurper of the Throne and the Stealing of the Crown On the left, Prince Ladislaus, son of King Béla II is sitting, a courtier whispers something in his ear. Two bishops are standing in the middle, one of them holds a royal crown in his hand. In the background, a figure is riding also holding a crown in his hand.
Page 122	The Usurper Prince Stephen	The Usurper Prince Stephen Prince Stephen, the son of King Béla II, is depicted wearing a princely cap and a crimson mantle, holding a sword in his left hand. He later became the anti-king Stephen IV.
Page 122	King Béla III	King Béla III King Béla III is depicted wearing a royal crown and chain mail, holding an orb in his right hand and a red-and-white striped flag bearing the Árpád stripes in his left hand.
Page 122	Coronation of King Emeric	Coronation of King Emeric The coronation of King Emeric in 1196. Emeric is enthroned holding a scepter and an orb, while two bishops place the crown upon his head.
Page 123	King Emeric	King Emeric King Emeric is depicted with a crown, a scepter, and an orb.
Page 123	Coronation of King Ladislaus III	Coronation of King Ladislaus IIII A bishop places the crown upon Ladislaus's head. Although King Ladislaus III was only five years old at the time of his coronation, the illuminator depicts him as a mature man. Because the chronicler did not refer to the rival king Ladislaus as Ladislaus II, he presents this Ladislaus as the second of that name, even though he is the third in the sequence of Hungarian kings.
Page 123	King Ladislaus III	King Ladislaus IIII King Ladislaus III, with crown, sceptre, and orb.
Page 123	Coronation of King Andrew II	Coronation of King Andrew II One of the two bishops places the crown on the head of King Andrew II, who is seated on the throne. To the right stand the king's daughter, Saint Elizabeth, distinguished by a halo, and two of his sons, most likely the future King Béla IV and Prince Coloman.
Page 124	King Andrew II	King Andrew II King Andrew II of Hungary in royal regalia, holding the orb and the Hungarian flag bearing the double cross.
Page 124	King Andrew II at the Head of His Crusader Army	King Andrew II at the Head of His Crusader Army King Andrew II rides along a rocky riverbank at the head of his warriors. One of them carries a red banner bearing the Hungarian coat of arms with the double cross. King Andrew led the Fifth Crusade in 1217–1218.
Page 125	Coronation of King Béla IV	Coronation of King Béla IV The coronation of King Béla IV of Hungary (1235). Seated on the throne, Béla IV is crowned by a bishop, while his younger brother, Prince Coloman, presents him with the Sword of State.
Page 125	The First Arrival of the Mongols	The First Arrival of the Mongols In a rocky landscape, six Tatars on horseback chase King Béla IV, who is fleeing with his men. The Tatars are dressed Cuman clothes with sabers.
Page 126	The Fight of King Béla IV of Hungary with King Ottokar II of Bohemia	The Fight of King Béla IV of Hungary with King Ottokar II of Bohemia The Battle of Kressenbrunn (1260). A cavalry battle between the armies of King Ottokar II of Bohemia and King Béla IV of Hungary. At the center, Béla IV is depicted riding a white horse, wearing armor and a crown.
Page 126	King Béla IV	King Béla IV King Béla IV in a royal regalia.
Page 126	Flagellants	Flagellants Flagellants in 1263, according to the chronicle. Rocky landscape with churches in the background. In the foreground are four flagellants, two of whom are scourging themselves bloody.
Page 127	Coronation of King Stephen V	Coronation of King Stephen V The Coronation of Stephen V of Hungary as Junior King (1246, from 1262, he used the title "Junior King" as his royal title). In the miniature, Stephen V stands on the right, while his elderly father, King Béla IV of Hungary, places the crown upon his head. On the left, behind him, stands his wife, Queen Maria Laskarina.
Page 128	King Ladislaus IV	King Ladislaus IV King Ladislaus IV, also known as Ladislaus the Cuman. He is wearing the clothes of his favorite Cumans. His mother, Queen Elizabeth, was the daughter of a Cuman chieftain
Page 128	The Second Mongol Invasion	The Second Mongol Invasion Second Mongol invasion of Hungary, battle between Tatars and Hungarians on a gold background. On the left, there are two female figures among the Cumans, and on the right, a third one is seeking protection from a Hungarian knight.
Page 129	Bishop Philip of Fermo, the Papal Legate Is Coming to Hungary	Bishop Philip of Fermo, the Papal Legate Is Coming to Hungary Bishop Philip of Fermo, the papal legate, dressed in cardinal's robes, rides a white horse, accompanied by a mounted soldier.
Page 129	The Murdered King Ladislaus the Cuman and His Murderers	The Murdered King Ladislaus the Cuman and His Murderers The body of the murdered King Ladislaus IV lies in a tent decorated with Hungarian coats of arms. On the left, the two murderers look back as they leave: Cumans holding swords.
Page 130	Prince Andrew Is Brought to Hungary	Prince Andrew Is Brought to Hungary Prince Andrew rides wearing a princely cap, in 1290, he is crowned King Andrew III.
Page 131	The Child Charles Robert Is Brought to Hungary	The Child Charles Robert Is Brought to Hungary The future King Charles I of Hungary is depicted wearing a princely cap and riding a white horse, accompanied by two noblemen.
Page 132	Prince Wenceslaus Arrives in Hungary	Prince Wenceslaus Arrives in Hungary Prince Wenceslaus, son of King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, comes to Hungary accompanied by two noblemen.
Page 133	King Wenceslaus returns to Bohemia	King Wenceslaus Returns to Bohemia From left, King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia is depicted riding a white horse. Beside him is his son, King Wenceslaus of Hungary, wearing a princely cap. As the name Wenceslaus was not commonly used among the Hungarians, King Wenceslaus was called Ladislaus.
Page 134	The Priests of Buda Curse the Pope	The Priests of Buda Curse the Pope According to the chronicle, papal legate Nicola Boccasini (the future Pope Benedict XI) came to Hungary to support Charles Robert (the future King of Hungary), but he was unable to carry out his mission successfully. Upon his departure, he placed the citizens of Buda under an ecclesiastical interdict. In protest, some priests of Buda excommunicated the Pope. In the miniature, two priests from Buda stand in front of a church with a bell tower. One holds a burning candle and rings a bell, while the other points with his hand toward Cardinal Nicola of the Dominican Order seated on the ground.
Page 135	Recovery of the Lost Crown	Recovery of the Lost Crown According to the chronicle, Duke Otto of Bavaria obtained the Holy Crown of Hungary from Wenceslaus, who had returned to Bohemia, and brought it to Hungary. Fearing his enemies, he concealed the Crown inside a wooden drinking vessel. During the journey, the vessel was lost, but it was eventually found. In the miniature, the already crowned Otto, King of Hungary, is depicted on the right, riding a white horse. One of his attendants picks up the wooden drinking vessel from the road, in which the Crown had been hidden, and with his other hand is already handing the Crown to the King.
Page 136	Cardinal Gentile Arrives in Hungary	Cardinal Gentile Arrives in Hungary The papal legate, Cardinal Gentile, rides a white horse, wearing the habit of the Franciscan Order and a cardinal's hat. He is accompanied by a priest and two men in secular dress.
Page 137	Battle of Rozgony	Battle of Rozgony The Battle of Rozgony (1312). The battle was the most significant engagement of King Charles I of Hungary's campaign to reunify Kingdom of Hungary. In this battle, fought on the field near Rozgony (now Rozhanovce, Slovakia) close to Kassa (now Košice, Slovakia), the king defeated the army of the family of Palatine Amade Aba. The Illuminated Chronicle describes it as the fiercest battle fought since the Mongol invasions of Hungary. Although the royal army also suffered heavy losses, King Charles Robert's decisive victory brought an end to the Aba family's dominance in northeastern Hungary, weakened his most powerful internal rival, Matthew Csák, the magnate who ruled northwestern Hungary, and firmly consolidated Charles Robert's reign throughout the kingdom. Through his maternal line, Charles Robert was one of the heirs of the ruling House of Árpád, which had only recently become extinct in the male line. In the miniature, the battle is depicted taking place in a valley between two rocky hills, with the castle of Kassa standing on the heights. In the foreground lie the bloodied bodies of fallen warriors. On the right, King Charles Robert rides a white horse in full armor, wearing a crown and a visored helmet adorned with the crest of the Hungarian Angevins. His breastplate bears the Hungarian coat of arms with the double cross. His similarly decorated banner lies on the ground in the hand of his fallen standard-bearer, Györke. In his left hand, the king carries a shield displaying the fleur-de-lis of the House of Anjou, while in the background, beneath the royal Hungarian Angevin banner, the relieving army arrives to support him. On the left, the opposing commander – presumably one of Aba Amadé's sons – also wearing a closed helmet, is shown engaged in single combat with the king.
Page 138	King Charles Robert	King Charles Robert King Charles I is depicted in full armor, wearing the royal crown over his kettle hat. He holds the orb in his right hand and a lowered shield bearing the royal Hungarian Angevin coat of arms in his left.
Page 139	The First Wife of King Charles Robert, Mary Is Placed in a Coffin	The First Wife of King Charles Robert, Mary Is Placed in a Coffin A man places the body of Queen Mary, the first wife of King Charles I, into a coffin, while two bishops officiate at the funeral rites.
Page 139	The Wedding of King Charles Robert With Elizabeth, the Daughter of the Polish King Władysław	The Wedding of King Charles Robert With Elizabeth, the Daughter of the Polish King Władysław The royal wedding (1320). Elizabeth, daughter of Władysław I Łokietek, King of Poland, and the third wife of Charles Robert of Hungary. On the left, two elderly figures lead the richly dressed Elizabeth, wearing a golden crown. On the right, facing her, the king extends the queen's crown toward her. At the far right, two heralds blow trumpets from which hang royal banners bearing the Hungarian Angevin coat of arms.
Page 140	Queen Elizabeth With Her Children	Queen Elizabeth With Her Children In the center is Queen Elizabeth, the consort of King Charles Robert, surrounded by her five children. On the left stand two boys wearing royal crowns: the future King Louis I and his younger brother, Prince Andrew, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Naples. On the right are three boys wearing princely caps: Stephen, Duke of Slavonia; Charles, who died in infancy; and Ladislaus, who died at the age of five. According to another interpretation, the two figures on the right represent the royal couple's daughters: Catherine, Duchess of Świdnica, and Elizabeth.
Page 140	The Founding of the Monastery in Lippa	The Founding of the Monastery in Lippa Kneeling opposite each other, King Charles Robert of Hungary and Queen Elizabeth hold a miniature model of the church at Lippa (now Lipova, Romania). in their hands as a symbol of its foundation.
Page 140	Saint Louis of Toulouse	Saint Louis of Toulouse Saint Louis of Toulouse (Louis of Anjou, Bishop of Toulouse) is depicted with a halo. The clasp fastening his liturgical cope across his chest bears the Hungarian Angevin coat of arms. The saint was a maternal descendant of the House of Árpád: his mother was Mary, daughter of King Stephen V of Hungary. He raises his right hand in blessing, while the royal crown lies at his feet, symbolizing his renunciation of the Kingdom of Naples when he chose an ecclesiastical vocation.
Page 140	Birth of King Louis	Birth of King Louis King Charles I of Hungary's son was born in 1326 and was named Louis after the king's paternal uncle, Saint Louis of Toulouse, who was canonized in 1317. Queen Elizabeth is depicted lying in bed, wearing a crown, while one of the three female attendants presents the crowned infant Louis to his mother.
Page 141	Birth of King Louis	The Burning of the Coronation Basilica at Székesfehérvár This scene depicts the 1327 burning of the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Székesfehérvár, the largest and most important church of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Flames rise from three of the four towers and the lead-covered roof of the Romanesque basilica. According to the accompanying text, the fourth tower, which stood above the sacristy, did not burn down because the holy relics were kept there.
Page 141	Felician Záh's Assassination Against the Royal Family	Felician Záh's Assassination Against the Royal Family The 1330 assassination attempt. In one of the chambers of the royal palace in Visegrád, King Charles Robert and Queen Elizabeth are seated at a table lavishly set with dishes and tableware. The elderly Felician Záh wounds the queen's right hand with his sword as she attempts to shield the king. However, John, the royal carver, rushes in and stabs the assassin from behind. Meanwhile, on the left, a servant is just entering the room carrying a platter of food.
Page 143	The Defeat of King Charles in the Campaign Against Basarab	The Defeat of King Charles in the Campaign Against Basarab Battle of Posada in 1330. From above, the Vlachs, who are wearing sheep fur cloth and fur caps, roll rocks and shoot arrows at the Hungarian army marching in a rock gorge between high mountains, so part of the Hungarian army dies with Dezső Hédervári, who wore the king's armor and a crowned, ostrich-headed helmet to cover his escape. King Charles I escapes with two faithful men in the foreground. The painter depicts the fleeing king on a white horse with a crown on his head and a shield with a crest.
Page 144	King Charles Receives the Envoy of Voivode Basarab	King Charles Receives the Envoy of Voivode Basarab King Charles I is depicted wearing armor. Before him stands a messenger with long hair and a long robe, holding a helmet in his left hand while presenting a letter from Voivode Basarab to the Hungarian king. (The event depicted in this miniature precedes the Battle of Posada shown in the previous illustration).
Page 146	Victory of Basarab Over the Royal Army	Victory of Basarab Over the Royal Army Battle of Posada in 1330. The repetition of the theme is shown on page 143. The Vlachs are dressed in sheep fur, roll rocks and shoot arrows at the Hungarian army marching in a rock gorge between high mountains. On the right in the foreground, King Charles I escapes on horseback with his soldiers.

See also

• List of Hungarian chronicles
• Gesta Hungarorum
• Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum
• Buda Chronicle
• Chronica Hungarorum – Thuróczy Chronicle
• Epitome rerum Hungarorum
• Nádasdy Mausoleum
• Hunor and Magor
• Seven chieftains of the Magyars
• Turul
• Árpád dynasty
• Principality of Hungary
• Kingdom of Hungary (1000–1301)

External links

• Kalt, Marci (1358). Chronicon Pictum (PDF) (in Latin). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-04.
• M. Florianus, ed. (1883). Chronica Hungarorum: Chronicon Pictum Vindobonense (in Latin). Lipsiae (Leipzig). pp. 100–302.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Podhradczky, József (1838) [1365]. Chronicon Budense (in Latin). Buda. – A more readable Latin text, with notes in Latin
• Geréb, László; Dercsinyi, Dezső; Csapodiné Gárdonyi, Klára; Mezey, László (1964). Képes Krónika [Illuminated Chronicle] (PDF) (in Hungarian). Budapest: Magyar Helikon.
• Geréb, László (1993). Képes Krónika [Illuminated Chronicle] (in Hungarian). Magyar Hírlap and Maecenas Kiadó. ISBN 963-8164-07-7.