(Un)faithful Subjects of (Un)faithful Rulers

This article focuses on the role loyalty played in relationship between rulers and their subjects earliest Central European chronicles, written at beginning of twelfth century: Gesta principum Polonorum by Gallus Anonymous, Chronica Boemorum Cosmas Prague, twelfth-century historiographical tradition Hungarian Royal court, which survived as a part fourteenth-century century compilation called The Illuminated Chronicle. In comparative study those works aims to analyze how authors works, closely connected ruling elites recently Christianized polities, imagined bonds subjects, analyzing questions about its unilateral or mutual nature, accompanying responsibilities consequences breaking it. Answering reveals common ideological underpinnings concepts used narrative sources, present vision primarily reciprocal bond characterized negative content. highlights message consensual lordship, coexists narratives next strong ideas divine origins dynastic authority, constituting important feature political cultural development Europe historical region.