A case of chivalric biography in Late Medieval Greece

What is it about?

The so-called "Chronicle of the Toccos" is a poem written in Greek in the early 15th century, dedicated to the deeds of Carlo Tocco, an Italian prince who established a territorial principality in northwestern Greece (Ionian Islands, Epirus, NW Peloponnese). The poem is anonymous, and its original title is unknown. It has been classified into various literary genres, such as family chronicle, local chronicle, and vernacular chronicle.

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Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash

Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Until now, the text has primarily been studied as a historical source, with little attention given to its literary aspects. Notably, no investigation has been conducted into the origin and validity of the title assigned by modern scholarship, nor into the literary genre to which it belongs. My research reveals, first and foremost, that the title is not original and was, in fact, assigned by the editor. However, it is misleading because, in my opinion, the text is neither a chronicle nor specifically about the Toccos. The main focus is clearly on the character of Carlo Tocco, making the text a biography, which should be titled "The Life of Carlo Tocco." My research then focuses on the model followed by the author. In Byzantium, the biographical genre was primarily represented by Lives of saints and emperors. In searching for parallels, I discovered that biographies of knights and territorial princes were widespread in France during the same period. Carlo Tocco even had connections with some historical figures, such as Marshal Boucicaut and John the Fearless, future Duke of Burgundy, who were subjects of such biographies. A comparison of the Tocco poem with these Western texts reveals many commonalities, but also highlights distinct features of the Greek text, shaped by its geographical location. Thus, my paper is crucial for understanding the so-called "Chronicle of the Toccos," as it demonstrates that the text should be regarded not as a chronicle, but as a "chivalric biography," with the title "The Life of Carlo Tocco." More broadly, it illustrates how Late Medieval Greece was open to cultural exchanges, and how Greek authors were capable of creating original works by adapting foreign forms to their own context.

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