Crusading and Chronicle Writing on the Medieval Baltic Frontier ─ A Companion to the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia

The Chronicle of Henry of Lovonia was written by a missionary priest in the late 1220s to record the history of the crusades to Livonia (now Latvia) and Estonia around 1186-1227 to convert the heathen. It is one of the most vivid examples of the crusading ideology in practice during the early 13th century, a period when it became tightly integrated into the political and religious culture of Europe. The Chronicle also serves as the founding narrative of the new bishopric of Riga, seeking to establish its legitimacy and identity. Medievalists and church historians comment on it from perspectives of representations, practices, and appropriations. The text itself is not included. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Marek Tamm, Tallinn University, Estonia, Linda Kaljundi, Tallinn University, Estonia, and Carsten Selch Jensen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark