The Chronicle of Michael of Carynthia (Early Sixteenth Century)

Abstract This article discusses the Chronicle of Michael of Carynthia, an early sixteenth-century text that tells the story of the origins and development of the Franciscan Order in Central Europe. The author, Michael of Carynthia, acted as a secretary and provincial custodian in Moravia. The chronicle, written around 1510, is a typical example of a miscellaneous historical genre and reflects the order’s roots, identity, and desire to provide moral edification to its readership. The study shows how the chronicle uses biographical typology, normative exposition, and regional focus to highlight the role of individual vicarii and their relations with the papacy, the Conventuals, and the local communities. The article also discusses how the chronicle integrates historical, spiritual, and political facts, as well as miraculous events, to create a coherent and instructive account of the Observant past and present. It suggests that the author of the chronicle used the idealized image of John of Capistrano as a model for other biographies of Observant personalities in an effort to shape the local Franciscan identity.