Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum
The Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum is a medieval chronicle written mainly by Simon of Kéza around 1282–1285. It is one of the sources of early Hungarian history. It is also known as the Gesta Hungarorum , the "" indicating its status as an expansion of the original Gesta Hungarorum.
The work is dated to 1282–1285 as it includes the Battle of Hódtó but does not mention the Tatar invasion in 1285.
The work combines Hunnish legend with history. It consists of two parts: the Hunnish legend, expanded with Hungarian oral tales; and a history of the Kingdom of Hungary since the original Gesta Hungaronum.
Simon of Kéza was a court cleric of King Ladislaus IV of Hungary. He travelled widely in Italy, France and Germany and culled his epic and poetic materials from a broad range of readings.
By Kéza's own admission, he used contemporary German, Italian and French chronicles, but it has been proved that he freely used Hungarian sources also.
The Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum was edited and translated in 1999 by László Veszprémy and Frank Schaer for the Central European University.
