Magnus of Reichersberg (died 12 April 1195[1]) was an Augustinian canon and historian who worked at Reichersberg Abbey from the 1160s.[2]
He wrote a Latin chronicle of Reichersberg covering the years 1167–1195. This was a continuation of the annals of Gerhoh of Reichersberg, whose political and ecclesiastical ideas are reflected in Magnus' work.[2] Although he was a supporter of Pope Alexander III, he was not ill-disposed to the Emperor Frederick I, Alexander's chief rival.[3] He is an important source for Frederick's participation in the Third Crusade (1189–1190). He incorporated into his chronicle the diary of Tageno, a copy of which was sent to him from the Holy Land; a letter from Bishop Diepold of Passau; an anonymous letter to the master of the Knights Hospitaller in Italy, Archembald, about the battle of Hattin; and a letter by Terricus, preceptor of the Knights Templar, and a survivor of Hattin. He also made use of an early draft of the History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick.[4]
Continuations added to his chronicle after his death bring it down to 1279.[2] The first continuator records Magnus' date of death.[4]
References
edit- ^ Norbert Kössinger (2016), "Magnus of Reichersberg", in Graeme Dunphy and Cristian Bratu (eds.), Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle, Brill Online.
- ^ a b c Ludwig Holzfurtner (1987), "Magnus von Reichersberg", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 15, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 671–672; (full text online).
- ^ Wilhelm Wattenbach (1884), "Magnus von Reichersberg", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 20, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, p. 75.
- ^ a b Graham Loud, ed. (2010), The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa: The History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick and Related Texts, Ashgate, pp. 4–5.