The Concept of Space in the Chronicle of Gallus Anonymus, the Mental Geography of Its Author, and Their Significance for the Controversy on His Place of Origin

Abstract

The paper deals with the question of geographical imaginations of so-called Gallus Anonymus, as prevalent in his chronicle. The author sought to reconstruct the chronicler’s mental map of Europe, especially of Sclavonia (Slavonic countries), or, precisely, the concept of space (Raumkonzept) of his work, and the possible sources of his imaginations and knowledge. The author takes under consideration the possibilities of using the geographical data from the Chronicle in solving the controversy on Gallus’s place of origin. The conclusion is that, contrary to often-held opinions, the data itself does not allow us to indicate any specific place or region of Gallus’s birth and/or education.