Caesar: Opera
The codices donated by Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1877 to the Hungarian university youth were rebound before the donation in uniform red, white and green bindings after the removal of the original.
The codex contains the so-called Corpus Caesarianum with two authentic works of Julius Caesar (100–44 BC) and supplements by other unknown authors. Bellum Alexandrinum was probably written by Hirtius, as well as the 8th book of Commentarii de bello Gallico. The Corpus in this form was probably finalised after Livy but before Suentonius.
The front of the codex is only fragmentarily preserved; the title-page that supposedly was decorated with King Matthias’s coat of arms, is missing. It is only the gilded and painted edges with leaf-motives, typical of the Buda workshop, that prove that the codex once belonged to the royal library. The manuscript originally belonged to Marino Tomacelli who spent several years in Florence as ambassador of Ferdinand I of Aragon, King of Naples. (Edina Zsupán)
For a detailed codex description see:
Dániel Pócs, Corpus Caesarianum …, in: Edina Zsupán (ed.), “Az ország díszére”. A Corvina könyvtár budai műhelye, kiállítási katalógus, Budapest, OSZK 2020, Kat.-No F13, 329-332.
DATA SHEET
Shelfmark: Cod. Lat. 11.Country: Hungary
City: Budapest
Keeper location: University Library, Eötvös Loránd University
Author: C. Julius Caesar – Hirtius – Unknown authors(s)
Content: Corpus Caesarianum (Caesar: The Gallic War, with the supplement by Hirtius; The Civil War; [Hirtius]: On the Alexandrine War; Unknown author: On the African War; Unknown author: On the Hispanic War)
Writing medium: parchment
Number of sheets: I + 212 fol.
Sheet size: 324 × 230 mm
Place of writing: Florence or Naples
Date of writing: 1460–1470
Scriptor: Angelus
Place of illumination: Florence
Date of illumination: 1460–1470
Crest: The front of the codex is only fragmentarily preserved; the title-page that supposedly was decorated with King Matthias’ coat of arms, is missing.
Possessor, provenience: The manuscript originally belonged to Marino Tomacelli (1419-1515) who spent several years in Florence as ambassador of Ferdinand I of Aragon, King of Naples. King Matthias Hunyadi; Ottoman sultans; it was returned to Hungary as a present of Abdul Hamid, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1877.
Entries: "Marinus Tomacellus scribi fecit amicis aeque ac sibi." "Angelus scripsit" (f. 212r) - Marginal notes by Marino Tomacelli (cf. Pócs 2020, see above)
Binding: 19th-century, paper board, red Turkish leather binding. Originally violet velvet binding; the title on the Buda-style edge reads: COMMENTARIA CESARIS
Language of corvina: Latin
Condition: Restored (NSZL, Mrs. László Ballagó, 1989)