Matthew of Edessa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Second half of 11th century |
| Died | 1144 Edessa |
| Occupation | Chronicler |
| Known for | Chronicle |
Matthew of Edessa (Armenian:Մատթէոս Ուռհայեցի,romanized: Mattʿēos Uṙhayecʿi; late 11th century – 1144) was anArmenian historian in the 12th century from the city ofEdessa. Matthew was the superiorabbot ofKarmir Vank, near the town ofKaysun, east ofMarash (Germanicia), the former seat ofBaldwin of Boulogne. He relates much about theBagratuni Kingdom of Armenia, the earlyCrusades, and the battles betweenByzantines andArabs for the possession of parts of northernSyria and easternAsia Minor.[1]
Matthew was born inEdessa sometime in the second half of the 11th century and was a member of theArmenian Apostolic Church. He was a determined opponent of both theGreek church and theLatin church. Matthew was especially bitter againstFrankish settlers, whose avaricious and imperious rule and ingratitude he condemns in his work. He was probably slain during thesiege of Edessa byZengi,atabeg ofMosul, in 1144.[1]
Matthew's work,Zhamanakagrutyun (Ժամանակագրութիւն, which he probably began writing in 1113 and completed before 1140,[2] is rather chronological, covering two centuries starting in the second half of the tenth and continued byGregory the Priest through the second half of the twelfth.[3] In an article published in 1971 by Armenian academician Levon Khachikyan, the author established that one of the sources Matthew used to write his work was an 11th-centuryvardapet named Hakob ofSanahin.[4]
He remains the only primary source of certain information about the political and ecclesiastical events of his time and area. The literary and historical knowledge of Matthew was limited, and some of his chronological data is disputed by modern scholars.[citation needed] Matthew was also a fervent Armenian patriot, lamenting the martyrdom of his people and exalting their heroic deeds. To him, scholars and readers are indebted for the record of two documents of importance — a letter from theByzantine EmperorJohn I Tzimisces, toBagratuni kingAshot III and a discourse delivered in the cathedral ofHagia Sophia,Constantinople, in the presence of the EmperorConstantine X Ducas byGagik II, the exiledBagratuni king, concerning the doctrinal divergence between the Greek andArmenian churches.
According to some scholars, Matthew was intolerant towards both Greeks and Latins,[5] as well as unsympathetic towardsSyrians, judging by allusions made byGregory Bar Hebraeus (Abu l-Faraj) at a later date.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Medieval Armenian historians and chroniclers | ||
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