Das Preßburger Protocollum Testamentorum, Band 1

The Bratislavian "Protocollum testamentorum", a late medieval manuscript, contains mainly testamentary dispositions; the creation of a specific book to serve that purpose represents the development of the city`s administration - at the beginning of the 15th century Bratislava has been the second most important city in the Hungarian kingdom and one of the imperial residences of emperor Sigismund. The contact with the imperial administration and the example of the neighbouring city Vienna were responsible for the distinguished literality in Bratislava. For medieval Hungary this type of source is unique: almost nowhere else such substantial and specific town registers are to be found. Roughly one third of all existing medieval Hungarian testaments are embodied in the "Protocollum". The present volume is the first part of the edition in two volumes of the "Protocollum testamentorum" and contains the entries of the years 1410 to 1487. The protocol allows a wide range of analysis, not only for legal history, but for social, cultural and religious histories as well. The edition is completed by an extensive introduction and a list of testators; indexes of persons and subjects and a gazetteer for all entries will be part of the second volume.