The Chronicon Faventinum [1] is a Latin chronicle of the city of Faenza and the region of Emilia-Romagna from 20 BC until AD 1236. [2] It was begun by a Faentine native, Tolosanus, [3] a deacon, magister and later secular canon of Faenza Cathedral. [4] He brought the record down to 1218. [5] The chronicle was subsequently continued for a decade by at least two other anonymous writers, probably canons of the cathedral. [6]
Tolosanus was born in the mid-12th century. [2] He was a rhetorician active in municipal politics and in the local church. [5] He had a biblical and classical education, an understanding of juridical procedure and good Latinity. [7] He died on 5 April 1226. [5]
The Chronicon is the earliest piece of urban historiography from Emilia-Romagna. [7] it is divided into 153 chapters, each headed by a rubric. [7] It begins with the mythical founding of the city by the Romans, which Tolosanus dates to 20 BC. [2] Tolosanus quotes extensively from Virgil and the bible. [7] His work is largely legendary until the period of the communes (11–12th century). [7] While for the earlier period, his chronology is based on the succession of bishops of Faenza, for the communal period it is based on the succession of magistrates. [2]
Ideologically, the Chronicon has Guelph (i.e., pro-papal) sympathies. [8] The solidarity of the commune, the clergy and the bishop is stressed. [9] Tolosanus was imbued with a crusading spirit and he glorifies the urban militia. [10] Imola, Forlì and Ravenna are portrayed as Faenza's traditional enemies. [10] Faenza was always a member of the Lombard League, and the Chronicon often rises above local history to cover the wider conflict between the league and the Holy Roman Empire. [11] It records how the city sent 27 knights to fight for the pope against the emperor during the War of the Keys (1228–1230). [12]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)