RE: Are Eastern and/or Central Europe a relatively blind spot?
cvetkakocj@rogers.com > 15-08-2021, 08:16 PM
I am surprised how little attention this discussion was given to this topic, just as I am surprised that the Austrian researchers never explored Slovenian (Windish) language, which in the Middle ages was definitely spoken in Carinthia and Carniola, part of Hungary and part of Northern Italy (where it was called Sciavo).
Up to the 15th century, Carinthian princes and dukes were installed in colourful Slovenian ritual and in Slovenian language, as described in Saschen Spiegel and other sources. Slovenians had the right to defend themselves in Slovenian language, and they had the right to practice Slavic law where women had more rights. The last duke to be installed in Slovenian language was Ernest the Iron, the Son of Habsburg Leopold II of Austria and Viridis Visconti, a daughter of Bernabo Visconti, Lord of Milan. (Viridis Visconti died in Slovenia and is burried in the Cistercian monastery in Stična. Beautiful medieval manuscripts were produced there. The son of Ernest the Iron, who succeeded him as the Duke of Carinthia, was Frederick, who became Holy Roman Empire.
The language spoken in the present day Slovenia, was called Carniolan. Carniola used to be Carinthian march which was elevated to Duchy by Rudolf IV, when he proclaimed himself the Archduke of Austria. Slovenian was also spoken in parts of Styria, where in the 15th century, the Slovenian Counts of Cilli (Celje) were competing with the Habsburg Dynasty for the dominance. Slovenian was also spoken in large area of the Patriarchate of Aquileia.
Carthusians were very active in the region of present day Slovenia. In Seitz (Žiče), first Carthusian monastery outside Italy and France was established in the 12th century. At the time of the Western Schism, it replaced Charthreuse and function as Grand Carthusia for over 6 decades.. In 1415, the four Slovenian Carthusian monasteries formed a Brotherhood, which means cooperation in promoting Slovenian language as the calls for liturgy in national languages was becoming stronger. This Charterhouse had second largest library in Europe at the time VM was being written. Close to this monastery, the second oldest apothecary in Europe was located.
Because most of the nobility in Slovenia was foreign (Because of the intermarriages, the secular language of administration was German), peasants and commoners spoke Slovenian. Those under the religious authority of the Patriarchate of Aquileia were allowed to use Glagolitza in liturgy, but since Glagolitic priests were mostly Croatian, it would be reasonable to assume that there was a need for written Slovenian language. Only a few pages of Slovenian text written in Latin exists.
And for those who thing this region is not important, I would also like to mention the Luxemburg-Celje Connection, since Sigismund of Luxemburg was married to Barbara of Celje.
When I started researching VM in 2016, there was very few scanned documents and manuscripts available, but now, more material is available. It is also true that most of the manuscripts produced in Slovenian monasteries had ended in foreign archives.
These are just a few ideas that clearly show Rhenish-Austrian-Bohemian-Italian - Slovenian (Slavic) connection.