Chronicle of 754 facts for kids
The Chronicle of 754 is an old history book written in Latin. It is also known as the Mozarabic Chronicle. An unknown Mozarab (Christian) writer from Al-Andalus (parts of Spain ruled by Arabs) created it. This book has 95 sections and tells us about events up to the year 754. It is special because it is one of the first Latin texts to mention "Europeans" (europenses). It says these "Europeans" beat the Saracens (a term for Arabs/Muslims) at the Battle of Tours in 732.
Contents
Who Wrote This History?
The person who wrote the Chronicle of 754 is a mystery! We only know they were a Christian living under Arab rule in the Iberian peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal). For a long time, people thought a bishop named Isidorus Pacensis wrote it. However, experts now agree this was a mistake. There was no such bishop.
There is also some debate about where the Chronicle was written. Some historians thought it was Córdoba. Others believed it was Toledo. A newer study suggests it was a smaller city in what is now southeastern Spain.
What Does the Chronicle Cover?
The Chronicle of 754 tells the story of the years from 610 to 754. It starts with the rule of Emperor Heraclius. This book is very important because it is one of the best sources for understanding the Umayyad conquest of Hispania. This was when Arab armies took over much of Spain.
The Chronicle gives us a detailed look at what happened after the Visigothic kingdom fell. It also describes the Arab conquest of Spain and Septimania (a region in France). Historians like Roger Collins have used it a lot to understand this period. It also has the most detailed account of the famous Battle of Poitiers-Tours.
How Was It Written?
The style of the Chronicle is similar to an earlier historian named John of Biclar. It talks about rulers, rebellions, wars, the church, and even plagues. The writer gives more details than earlier works. The writing style can be a bit unusual, which sometimes makes it hard for modern scholars to understand.
The Chronicle focuses on three main areas:
- The Byzantine Empire (the eastern Roman Empire).
- Visigothic Spain (the kingdom in Spain before the Arab conquest).
- The Umayyad conquest (the Arab takeover of Spain).
Where Can We Find It?
Only three copies of the Chronicle still exist today. The oldest copy is from the 800s. Parts of it are kept in the British Library in London. Other parts are in the Biblioteca de la Real Academia de la Historia in Madrid, Spain. The other two copies are from the 1200s and 1300s.
The Chronicle was first fully published in 1615 in Pamplona, Spain. It has been translated into Spanish and English, so more people can read this important historical text.
