Annals are records which represent historical events in chronological order. Such annals are regarded as an early form of historiography and are already documented in the Orient as well as in the West, and can also be found in Roman antiquity. In ancient Rome, the Pontifex maximus – the highest priest – (Epidemics, omens, lunar and solar eclipses, etc.) every year on white tablets, which can be regarded as the first forerunner of the annalistic genre. Such annals serve as an important source for classifying historical events. However, very often the truth and myth are blurred in the presentation, so that such texts should always be compared with other sources. Nowadays, however, the term is also used for many historical works, annual reports and as titles of (non-historical) journals.
Term
The term is derived from the Latin name for yearly books called annales libri. Accordingly, this original word sequence clearly points to what is at stake: namely, books that were the most important events of the year. The word annales goes back to the noun annus, which can be translated with year and libri goes back to liber for book.
The Latin name, ie annales libri, can be found in German-language texts from the 16th century onwards. It was not until the eighteenth century that the German analogy of the term, Annalen, became popular, and was almost exclusively used. In addition, the term in German is only in the plural, which is why it is a plural aetantum.
History of Annals
The annalistics can be traced back to Roman and Greek antiquity, which is regarded as an early form of historiography and can also be found in the Orient. Such annals are now regarded as an important source of historical science, although historical representations are sometimes mixed with myths and legends.
Around 400% The Pontifex maximus wrote the essential events of the year on white tablets. Such panels were also used for public announcements and referred to as an album. These tables were enlarged by 130% By Publius Mucius Scaevola, a jurist, in 80 books under the title Annales maximi. Moreover, in ancient times the distinction between annals, the past (historiae) and the annals, which recollected the events of the time, were distinguished.
This tradition was then continued in the Middle Ages, where monasteries, residences and bishops were the first to hold the annual events, but also the rulers and empires made their own annals, such as the Annales regni Francorum, a written list of events of the 8th and 11th centuries 9th century in the Franconian Empire. The authors of these Frankish Reichsannalen are not surrendered, and their content must always be questioned critically, since they appear in part as retroactive justifications (eg for political acts or warfare).
As a result, annals, chronicles, and histories merged. Chronicles tend to provide a chronologically ordered historical overview, and are not just an annually series of annals, just like the Annals. Nevertheless, today’s ebendieses annalistic principle is also needed, in order to illustrate, for example, the simultaneity of events.
Known annals (examples)
Ancient (Roman, Greek)
Annales of Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Annales of Virius Nicomachus Flavianus (not preserved)
Medieval (European)
Annales regni Francorum (time: 741 to 829)
Metzer Annals (678 to 805)
Annals of St. Bertin (741 and 882)
Annales Fuldenses (714-901)
Annales Vedastini (874-900)
Steinerburg Annals (1000 and 1195)
Annals of Tigernach (807 BC to 360/489 to 1178)
Quedlinburg Annals (984 to 1025)
Lorscher annals (703 to 803)
Salzburg Annals (various writings, 830 to 1327)
Annals of Niederaltaich (708 and 1073)
Pöhlder Annalen (0 to 1182 [?])
Sindelfinger Annals (1261 to 1477)
Annals of the Four Masters (5200 BC to 1616)
Annals of Inisfallen (433 to 1450 [?])
Annals of Loch Cé (1014 to 1590)
Annals of Ulster (431 to 1541)
Annals of history
In addition, there is a winged word that is based on the concept: the annals of history. Those who enter into the annals of history were thus captured by the Annalists and were thus involved in a significant event.
If this word sequence is used nowadays, it actually means the same thing: namely, that a person has done important things and thus – sometimes also in joking.
