Prophets and Prophecies in the Old Polish “History of the Three Kings” (Historyja Trzech Kroli)

Abstract The aim of this article is to provide a source-based and linguistic (syntactic and stylistic) analysis of the prophecies quoted in Historyja Trzech Kroli (“History of the Three Kings”). This is an Old Polish apocryphal work from the 15th century, known from the so-called Codex of Wawrzyniec of Łask from the 16th century. It tells the story of the journey of the biblical Magi from the east, and of their subsequent cult. The Polish writer primarily translates the Latin text Historia Trium Regum by John of Hildesheim. However, he introduces certain changes, either for functional reasons or due to specific characteristics of the Polish language. The article focuses on showing what sources the Polish-speaking author of the text used and how he used them. In addition, attention is drawn to linguistic indicators typical of prophecies, which increase their illocutionary potential.