The Oldest Legend: Acts of the Canonization Process, and Miracles of Saint Margaret of Hungary(8 Central European Medieval Texts - CEU Press)

This bilingual volume (Latin text with English translation) is the second in the series presenting hagiographical narratives from medieval Central Europe. It contains the most important hagiographical corpus of medieval Hungarian history: that of Saint Margaret (1242–1270), daughter of King Béla IV, who lived her life as a Dominican nun. Margaret’s cult started immediately after her death and the demand to examine her sanctity was first formulated in 1272. The canonization process recommenced in 1276, followed by further initiatives across the centuries. Margaret was eventually canonized only in 1943. Besides the full Latin text and the English translation of her oldest legend, written between 1272 and 1275, this volume contains the acts of the 110 testimonies of the papal investigation concerning her sainthood, recorded between July and October 1276 and prepared from existing source editions. In addition, the editors include a series of recently discovered documents, including a petition by the bishop of Várad (Oradea) to promote the cause, and the notarial records of a set of miracles that occurred at Margaret's grave in the second half of the fifteenth century. The annotated bilingual text is complemented by a select bibliography on Saint Margaret and her hagiography.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments I. Introduction: Saint Margaret—Royal and Female Sanctity Gábor Klaniczay Preface: The Formation of the Texts Recording Margaret’s Miracles Ildikó Csepregi  II. Legenda Vetus – The Oldest Legend Vita eatae Margaritae de Hungaria – Life of the Blessed Margaret of Hungary ca. 1273–1275 III. Acts of the Canonization Process Inquisitio super vita, conversatione et miraculis beatae Margarethae virginis—Inquisition on the life, behavior and miracles of the blessed virgin Margaret 26 June–12 October 1276 IV. Correspondence Relating to Margaret’s Medieval Canonization Attempts Introduction: The survival of the sources Bence Péterfi 1 Mandate of Pope Gregory X Ordering the Examination of Margaret’s Miracles [May 4, 1272] 2 Mandate of Pope Innocent V to the CanonsUmberto Bianchi and de la Corra [May 14, 1276] 3 Mandate of Pope Innocent V to the Canons Umberto Bianchi and de la Corra [May 25, 1276] 4 Letter from Umberto Bianchi and de la Corra to Pope John XXI [ca. 1276] 5 Letter of Rudolf of Habsburg, King of the Romans to the Pope [1277] 6 Petition of Emeric, Bishop of Várad, to the Holy See [ca. 1305–1314] 7 Mandate of Pope Urban VI for a New Inquest on Margaret of Hungary[June 1, 1379] 8 Letter of King Mathias to Pope Pius II [1462–1464] 9 Letter of King Matthias to the collegium of Cardinals [1462–1464] V. A New Series of Miracles at the Tomb of Blessed Margaret Introduction to the Charters Bence Péterfi 1–11 Charters of the Chapter of Buda, 1460–1467 Select Bibliography Select Hagiography of Saint Margaret of Hungary Index of Proper Names Index of Places

About the Author :
Bence Péterfi is researcher at the Institute of History at the Research center of the Humanities of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Ildikó Csepregi is a historian of religion, trained as a classicist and medievalist at CEU. Gábor Klaniczay is University Professor of Medieval Studies at the Central European University.

Review :
"The volume will be of interest not only to scholars of medieval hagiography, but also those interested in the insights into everyday life in the cloister, in towns and villages, and in general life in thirteenth century Hungary. Besides translating the known important sources, the editing and translating of hitherto unknown documents gives the volume an added value." "Sale a la luz un proyecto que arrancó en la década de 1980, pero que, por diversas circunstancia no ha podido culminarse hasta fechas recientes, como apunta Gábor Klaniczay, y cuya demora, sin embargo, ha hecho posible la incorporación de un material inédito. Se trata de un valioso y bello libro que brinda la posibilidad de acercarse a unas fuentes que ilustran el interesante y prolongado proceso de canonización de la princesa Margarita de Hungría." "Le long délai dans la gestation de l’ouvrage a eu un avantage: dans l’intervalle, B. Péterfi, un étudiant de G. Klaniczay, a découvert, en 2011, dans les Archives de la famille Orsini, trois documents médiévaux inédits intéressant le dossier de canonisation de Marguerite. Ceux-ci ont été intégrés au volume, à côté d’autres actes significatifs déjà publiés. L’intérêt de ces Actes, outre leur valeur documentaire intrinsèque, est aussi d’illustrer le choc culturel que constitua le nouvel idéal religieux incarné par Marguerite, aux antipodes de celui de la communauté traditionnelle et aristocratique qui l’hébergeait. On le voit: ce volume – pourvu d’une bibliographie, d’un index, et d’une annexe relative aux textes hagiographiques écrits en l’honneur de Marguerite –, a peut-être mis du temps à paraître, mais cela valait la peine de patienter."