Chronica Polonorum

The ''Gesta principum Polonorum'' (; "''Deeds of the Princes of the Poles''") is the oldest known medieval chronicle documenting the history of Poland from the legendary times until 1113. Written in Latin by an anonymous author, it was most likely completed between 1112 and 1118, and its extant text is present in three manuscripts with two distinct traditions. Its anonymous author is traditionally called Gallus (a name which means "Gaul"), a foreigner and outcast from an unknown country, who travelled to the Kingdom of Poland via Hungary. Gesta was commissioned by Poland's then ruler, Boleslaus III Wrymouth; Gallus expected a prize for his work, which he most likely received and of which he lived the rest of his life.

The book is the earliest known, written document on Polish history. It gives a unique perspective on the general history of Europe, supplementing what has been handed down by Western and Southern European historians. It pre-dates the '' Gesta Danorum'' and the next major source on the early history of Poland, the ''Chronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae'', older by roughly a century.

The oldest known copy of the work is currently owned by National Library of Poland in Warsaw.

Title

The title intended for or originally given to the work is not clear. In the initial capital of the text in the Zamoyski Codex, a rubric styles the work the ''Cronica Polonorum'', while in the same manuscript the preface of Book I opens with ''Incipiunt Cronice et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum'' (" erebegins the chronicles and deeds of the dukes or princes of the Poles"). The incipit for Book II entitles the work ''Liber Tertii Bolezlaui'' ("Book of Boleslaus III"), and that for Book III ''Liber de Gestis Boleslaui III'' ("Book of the Deeds of Boleslaus III"). These however are not reliable as such things are often added later.

The latest editors and only English translators of the text style it ''Gesta principum Polonorum'' ("the deeds of the princes of the Poles"), primarily to acknowledge its faith with the ''gesta'' genre (and the likely authenticity of this part of the title) and to avoid confusion with the later work known as the '' Chronica principum Poloniae'' ("chronicle of the princes of Poland").. ''Gesta Principum Polonorum'', p. xxiv, & n. 20.

Author

The author of the ''Gesta'' is unknown, but is referred to by historiographic convention as "Gallus", a Latin word for a "person from France or Gaul" (though also, potentially, a forename). Author's anonymity though, was done on purpose due to his\hers (as mentioned in the work) desire to dedicate the work to God only- a notion widely popular in the medieval times. When Polish bishop- Marcin Kromer completed his work- Folio 199, he left a footnote in it that credited Gallus as the author of Gesta which he brought up in the work. It roughly read: This work is by Gallus, I reckon he was a French monk, the one who lived during the times of ''Boleslaus III.'' It was the very first time when the author was referred to as "Gallus".. ''Gesta Principum Polonorum'', p. xxv

In Gottfried Lengnich's printed edition, Lengnich named the author as "Martin Gallus" based on a misreading of Jan Długosz, where Gallus was conflated with Martin of Opava. Martin Gallus became the standard name in German scholarship for some time to come, though this identification is now rejected by most historians. Historian Maximilian Gumplowicz identified the author as Baldwin Gallus, allegedly Bishop of Kruszwica, though likewise this theory has failed to gain general acceptance.

There have been frequent attempts to identify Gallus' origins from clues in the text . Marian Plezia and Pierre David both argued that Gallus came from Provence in what is now southern France, and was closely connected with the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Gilles. Another historian, Karol Maleczyński, argued that the evidence suggests a connection with Flanders, while Danuta Borawska and Tomasz Jasiński have argued based on stylistic evidence that he was connected with Venice and that he authored an anonymous ''translatio'' of St Nicholas. Marian Plezia argued in 1984 that his writing style suggests an education in one of the schools of central France, likely Tours or Orléans

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