Gall Anonymous

Gall Anonymous, anonymous called Gall

Author of the first Polish chronicle, living at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. Most likely a Benedictine monk. His name and origin are unknown. Traditionally, he is referred to as Gallus Anonymus, according to the concept that he was a brother from one of the French abbeys, most likely the community of Saint Giles in St. Gilles. Currently, a large part of the scientific community advocates a competing theory that the chronicler came rather from northern Italy.

Anonymous came to Poland, presumably, from Hungary in 1113, during the reign of Bolesław the Wrymouth. He became a protégé of chancellor Michał of the Awdaniec family, in whose environment he began to create Chronicle and deeds of princes, i.e. Polish rulers , referred to in short as Polish Chronicle or Chronicles of Gallus Anonymus. Work on the book probably lasted until 1116. The work was not finished. Its oldest surviving manuscript dates back to the 14th century.