Chronicle of the Dismas Fraternity in Ljubljana, 1689 - 1801

The Chronicle of the Dismas Fraternity in Ljubljana, 1689 - 1801 contains illustrations of the coats of arms of its members of the Dismas Fraternity. The society was formed by Sir Wolf Sigmund von Kunpach and Sir Franz Jakob von Erberg to preserve Christian faith and to encourage noble and honest virtues. The 500-hundred page Chronicle contains curriculum vita and 186 full-page miniature paintings and illustrations of the coats of arms of the society's members which were commissioned whenever a noble joined the society. Its members included prominent members of the elite of Slovenian regions of the Austro-Hungarian empire, which also encompassed areas of present day Austria, Italy and Croatia. The Chronicle contains the work of several painters of the period, including Anton Trost, Bartholomeus Ramschissl, Matthias Greyscher and Simon Thaddeus Grahovar, as well as some unknown illustrators.
 

Franz Anton Freiherr von Moschkon, imperial and royal True Treasures, enrolled under the name of "The Steadfast One" and the motto "The Unerring Spirit in a Restless World", Fol. 137. Painted by S. W. Grahovar.	Johann Anton Thalnitscher von Thalberg, Dean of Ljubljana cathedral, enrolled on November 28th 1689 under the name of "The Conscerated One" and the motto "Only to God" Fol. 23/22. Anonymous.

The following are example plates depicting the coat of arms of some of the members of the Fraternity. Click on any of the images below to view an enlarged image of the same.
 

The book is available to examine at the Archive of the Republic of Slovenia. The book is beautifully bounded in dark blue leather with metal hinging, including a lock on the open end of the book. The page edges are gold, and the illustrations in the book are beautifully rendered. The staff of the Archive of the Republic of Slovenia were very helpful. It is recommended that if you examine the book, you should have a pair of cotton gloves, although they may have a pair available with the book.

Sources

1. Archive of the Republic of Slovenia
2. Slovenian Genealogy Society - Slovenian Heraldic Sampler - Ljubljana
3. The Album of the Ljubljana Noble Society of St. Dismas - 1688 to 1801, (ISBN 961-6242-39-3) Books of Slovenia

by David M. Cvet
Societas Heraldica Slovenica
February 2005

About the author:  , born in Canada, son of Slovenian parents, is director of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (RHSC), president of the Toronto Branch of the RHSC, president and founder of the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts in Toronto, and is also the founder of the Societas Heraldica Slovenica. During his study, research and reconstruction of medieval martial arts, he discovered heraldry had played a significant part in medieval history, and has expanded his research and study to include heraldry of Slovenia.