### The ancient gesta
In Hungarian chronicle research this expression refers to the text of a chronicle, which did not survive in an independent form, but it used to exist sometime undoubtedly, and the medieval Hungarian historiography in the Latin language grew out of this. Some experts put the date of birth of this chronicle to Andrew I's age (1046-1060), and it is attributed to Nicolas, bishop of Veszprém, the composer of the Letter of Foundation of Tihany. Others say that the first Hungarian historical work was written in King Salamon's age, or in King Ladislaus's age. In the latter case the author could be Bishop Koppány from the Rád clan, who is mentioned in King Ladislaus's charters as the court chaplain; he died in King Coloman's Kiev campaign. The latest possible date of birth of this chronicle is King Coloman's age, when Czech and Polish chronicle writing started. This piece of work was enlarged several times during the 12th century. It tells the historic events in details till the year 1152, so it is the most important source of early Hungarian history. The main aim of the author was to support the interests of the ruling line of the ruling family, and emphasise the results of the Christian faith. It tried to put Hungarian history into the context of the history of Salvation (e.g.: as the descendants of Japhet, he tried to find a place for the Hungarians on the family tree of the Old Testament, and their role was to help God in punishing). The assumption that he described the ancient history of the Hungaians negatively cannot be accepted. His continuous history might have started with the 1030s, his sources being his own oral information and one of the products of western annales-literature (Annales Altahenses mariores). The ancient gesta was slightly recomposed during the 11-12th centuries. Latest in the last third of the 13th century it gained the form in which it is contained in a 14th century chronicle collection, so apart from minor stylistic changes it can be read in the original form today. SzK