Digital resources in the Social Sciences and Humanities OpenEdition Our platforms OpenEdition Books OpenEdition Journals Hypotheses Calenda Libraries OpenEdition Freemium Follow us

WORKSHOP PAPER | Ronald Kurt Salzer: Castles for Credit. Context, Script, and Codicology of the “Gedenkbücher” Nos. 2 and 2b


This paper discusses a hitherto neglected but truly fascinating source regarding Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519), the so-called “Gedenkbücher” Nos. 2[1] and 2b[2]. They are housed in the archival collection “Alte Hofkammer” of the “Finanz- und Hofkammerarchiv” in the Austrian State Archives in Vienna and should not be confused with Maximilian’s “Gedenkbücher” (memorial books), which contain notes for his personal use, written by several authors and partly even by himself, and are preserved in the Austrian State Archive[3] and the Austrian National Library[4]. Behind the misleading name “Gedenkbuch” lies a series of chancery books of the Viennese “Hofkammer” (Court Chamber or Treasury) that overall comprises 518 volumes spanning the era from Maximilian I to Maria Theresia (1717–1780), or more precisely from 1498 to 1750/62. Of those, only a total of 20 volumes date from Maximilian’s reign, of which the majority of 14 volumes (Nos. 4–17) are protocols of the original bookkeeping of the “Hofkammer”. They are identified in the manuscripts as the work of Nicasius Hackeney (ca. 1460–1518) and Jakob Villinger (1480–1529), who served as heads of the accounts of the “Hofkammer” from 13 February 1498 to 31 August 1503 and from 1 September 1503 to the end of January 1514, respectively.[5]

The remaining six volumes (Nos. 1, 2, 2b, 3a, 3b and 18) bear no relation to these account books and were misleadingly included in the series of “Gedenkbücher” due to primarily superficial similarities. Yet they share the characteristic of being copy books – which was probably the archival reason why they were grouped with Hackeney’s and Villinger’s “Gedenkbücher” – containing a heterogeneous range of matters, whose origin and function in most cases cannot be determined in more detail. The only exceptions are the “Gedenkbücher” Nos. 2 and 2b, which uniquely specify their own function, time, and place of origin.[6] They also stand out because, strictly speaking, they are actually post-Maximilian, as the preface to “Gedenkbuch” No. 2 explicitly attributes its compilation to an order by Archduke Ferdinand I (1503–1564), Maximilian’s grandson and successor.[7] In this mandate, issued in Graz on 25 August 1521 and copied verbatim immediately after the preface, Ferdinand – seeking knowledge (“wissen”) and an overview of the numerous princely dominions pawned mainly under his predecessor Maximilian – commanded all holders of pledges in his five ‘Lower Austrian lands’ – Lower and Upper Austria, Styria, Carinthia, and Carniola – to send the original charters documenting their claims to his wife Anna (1503–1547) and the Lower Austrian “Hofrat” (Aulic Council) within three months, so that they could subsequently be registered in his Lower Austrian chancery.[8] The preface nevertheless provides a slightly modified version, asserting that the pawnees’ documents were registered and copied ‘word by word’ from the originals in the “Raitkammer” (Chamber of Accounts). This small contradiction between Ferdinand’s mandate and the preface, as well as a few factual problems – the Lower Austrian “Hofrat” received its instruction nearly two months afterwards on 15 October 1521[9], the Lower Austrian “Raitkammer” was only established on 18 August 1522[10] and did not start work before 1 January 1523[11] – is indeed puzzling. Thus, this may best be explained by Friedrich Walter’s assumption that, on the one hand, the collection, registration, or at least copying of the deeds of pledge extended well beyond the original deadline, and, on the other hand, that at the beginning of Ferdinand’s reign, things were still very much in a state of flux.[12] However, since the Viennese “Raitkammer” had been de facto dissolved by Maximilian in 1516/17[13], and the “Raitkammer” in Innsbruck was then also responsible for the Lower Austrian territories until Ferdinand’s reform, it is  possible that these two “Gedenkbücher” volumes were, at least partly, already created there.

The two “Gedenkbücher” Nos. 2 and 2b are cartularies that contain over 500 deeds of mainly pledged – and in a few cases enfeoffed or sold – Habsburgian dominions from the five ‘Lower Austrian lands’[14], ranging from 1355 to 1524. These of course encompass charters issued by Maximilian’s predecessors[15] and successors (Ferdinand I and Charles V) as princes of the aforementioned Habsburgian territories. However, the lion’s share of the documents dates from Maximilian’s time, yet they do not always feature Maximilian as the issuer, but also include some documents issued by his officials, right down to receipts. Both volumes are accompanied by an index volume (No. 2a) for “Gedenkbuch” No. 2, created by M. Donner in 1841.[16] The “Gedenkbuch” No. 2 is the main volume with 655 pages, comprising copies of charters from 1355–1521, whereas the “Gedenkbuch” No. 2b is considerably leaner, containing copies of charters from 1435–1524 on 155 folios.

The structure of the “Gedenkbuch” No. 2 is as follows: It begins with an index (pp. 1–24), which also marks the commencement of the twentieth-century stamped pagination. The index is arranged alphabetically by the name of the pledged property, with a separate page reserved for each letter. Every register entry contains the name of the pledge and a folio indication, yet some subject terms also appear, for example the tithe around Celje (p. 3). This index must have been created close to the time when the cartularies were compiled, since the core set of the entries – which also includes, under its own heading,[17] the counterparts belonging to the other ‘twin’ volume, “Gedenkbuch” No. 2b (referred to as the ‘book with [the letter] B’), – was written by the principal scribe of both volumes in an exquisite German cursive (Kurrent). This already hints at the fact that the “Gedenkbuch” volumes Nos. 2 and 2b were originally labelled with the letters ‘A’ and ‘B’, a contemporary differentiation that was, until recently, also reflected in the archival catalogue.[18] Only the index letters B, D, I/J, L and Q (which has no entries at all) lack references to the “Gedenkbuch” No. 2b. The letter U is – typically for the period – subsumed under the letter V; the letters X and Y are absent altogether, although it is unclear whether the two missing pages (pp. 22–23), probably reserved for these letters and located between the letters W (p. 21) and Z (p. 24), are genuinely lost or – more likely – were simply omitted during digitisation because they were blank.

The index already offers a wealth of information on the manuscript’s function and period of use, as it was updated with amendments and marginal notes by different hands from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, the most recent perhaps added in the context of Donner’s compilation of the separate index volume (No. 2a). For instance, the crosses potent next to all four entries mentioning the name of Siegmund von Dietrichstein (1480/84–1533) – the first two under the letter F[19], one by the principal, one amended by a later scribe, the other two under the letter S[20], again one by the principal scribe and one by a later hand – signifying his death, provide a terminus post quem of 19 May 1533.[21] Another interesting example is a remark on the redemption of a pledge, added to the respective entry[22] still by the principal hand, which suggests that this occurred either already before or relatively soon after the index was created and that such relevant information was processed quickly. Furthermore, a rather peculiar find is the significantly later marginal note next to an entry regarding Rogaška Slatina (Slovenia), praising the famous local mineral water so highly cherished in Vienna. The note, dated 1780, can be ascribed to Johann Florian Baumberg (1730–1801), archivist and later director of the “Hofkammerarchiv”, as his paraph clearly shows.[23]

The index is succeeded, after ten probably blank pages (pp. 25–34), by the preface (pp. 35–37). Written in fine Fraktur display script, it informs the reader about the genesis and provenance of this volume, recounting that a decree issued by Ferdinand required the “Raitkammer” to register the documents on pledged dominion of his five territories – submitted within the three months and afterwards – and to transcribe them verbatim into this book.[24] As proof, following three more presumably blank pages[25] (pp. 38–40), the manuscript presents a verbatim copy of Ferdinand’s mandate (pp. 41–42), which coincides with the start of its contemporary foliation.[26] This already serves as a precursor to the layout of the rest of the cartulary: A header on top of the page conveys a brief digest of the content, while the charter’s text below is written by the same hand in a very elaborate German cursive, beginning with a large stylised initial.

Next comes the corpus of copied documents, chiefly dealing with pawns, and, in rare cases, also enfeoffments or sales of princely dominions (pp. 43–655), arranged by territory rather than chronology: The sequence begins with the copied charters pertaining to dominions in Lower Austria (pp. 43–78), followed by Upper Austria (pp. 79–124), Styria (pp. 127–382), Carinthia (pp. 385–544), and finally Carniola (pp. 545–655), with each section introduced by an explanatory heading.[27] Within these sections no systematic arrangement – such as by pledgees – is discernible; nonetheless charters referring to the same pawned object are grouped together, usually in chronological order. Hence the need – and practical value – of an index to ensure the volume’s usability.

This cartulary illustrates the great effort given to emulate the design and layout of the original charters copied therein. As in the preceding sections of the manuscript, all copied deeds of pledge – apart from the attractive Fraktur font used in the first line of the header with a short digest – are composed in a highly qualitative German cursive, typical for contemporary charters and other high-quality documents of Maximilian’s chancery. This impression is completed by elongated flourished initials and extended ascenders in the first line of the charter, as well as emphasised majuscule letters throughout the text. The copyist even sought to imitate the chancery notes at the end of the charters, including Maximilian’s ‘small hand sign’, “Commissio”-remarks, registration notes, or the signatures of his secretaries. In addition, for closed letters the address on the back of the original was inserted after the text. Besides, the supplementary remarks so typical of Maximilian – usually placed between the dating clause and the chancery notes, and presumably transcribed directly from Maximilian’s own dictation onto the original after the fair copy of the document text had already been finished – are likewise copied in meticulous detail. A particularly fine example is Maximilian’s mandate for Leonhard von Ernau, a closed letter which features both the supplementary remark by Maximilian, clearly separated by paragraphs between the dating clause and the chancery notes, as well as the address at the bottom of the page.[28] The grand endeavour to reproduce the documents as authentically as possible, even in their outward appearance, seems to go hand in hand with the reason why the documents were not merely registered but copied word for word in the first place.[29] For Ferdinand and his advisers, this may have been crucial in light of the substantial legal weight of these deeds and the fact that the pledge charters entail not only standard clauses,[30] which can be found in almost every document, but also highly individual provisions that varied from castle to castle and from dominion to dominion.[31]

A few clues provide insight into the compilation process of the cartulary: For example, a copied charter of Maximilian from 1493 concerning the pledge of Rastenberg Castle (Lower Austria) to Martin von Neudegg and his four sons – one of the few pieces not written by the principal scribe, but by a different, contemporary hand – was annotated by the same scribe with a critical remark below the copied document, stating that this transcribed charter had been signed by neither the Emperor [sic!] or the chancellor, nor by any secretary or registrar.[32] Consequently, the corresponding entry in the index was crossed out.[33] Moreover, another document has a rare collation note in the top left-hand margin.[34]

Many marginal notes throughout the cartulary show that it remained in continuous use for decades and was repeatedly updated. For instance, a deed[35] by Maximilian about the sale with the right of repurchase of the bailiwick of Himmelberg (Carinthia) to the brothers Siegmund and Wolfgang von Keutschach was later crossed out and annotated by a different hand with a marginal note dated 1551, which informed that the bailiwick had been pledged by Ferdinand to Christoph Khevenhüller, Governor of Carinthia, on 1 January 1551 in Augsburg.[36] The latest marginal note with a date stems from the year 1564, which states that the charter[37] issued by Maximilian on the sale with the right of repurchase of Dürnstein Castle (Styria) to his councillor Balthasar Tannhauser had been revoked in that year.[38] This demonstrates that the cartulary was in use throughout Ferdinand’s entire reign.

The second discussed “Gedenkbuch” volume (No. 2b) is organised in the following manner: As with its counterpart (No. 2), it is preceded by an index (ff. IIr–VIIv)[39] of the same composition, except that – presumably to economise space – two letters of the alphabet are assigned to each leaf side. The core set of the index entries in No. 2b, which are also identical to the references in the index of No. 2, was written by the principal scribe of both “Gedenkbuch” volumes, but in contrast to the latter exhibits a considerably greater number of additions made by other hands.

The primary part of the manuscript with the copies of the charters (ff. 1r–148v) has no chapters based on territories nor any other recognisable intrinsic structure. The only exception is a special section towards the end (ff. 127r–140r), which – according to the heading[40] – contains charters relating to the Order of Saint George, founded by Maximilian’s father in 1469 and heavily promoted by his son.[41] Compared with its ‘sister’ cartulary, Lower Austrian dominions are represented far more extensively here, and although the aforementioned principal scribe is likewise responsible for the vast majority of the copied documents, several other, slightly later hands appear more often. This lends support to the suspicion that at least some of the documents that, according to the preface, had arrived at the “Raitkammer” after the original three-month deadline were presumably entered here. This volume, too, remained in use for several decades, as shown by the marginal notes with corrections and updates found here as well, dating up to 1564.[42]

In conclusion, the “Gedenkbücher” Nos. 2 and 2b are cartularies containing mainly – though not exclusively – pledge deeds of Maximilian’s era, commissioned by Ferdinand I in 1521 and written in the (Lower Austrian) “Raitkammer” – at least in its fair copy – from 1521/23 onwards. Their most distinctive feature is the remarkable care devoted to mirroring the formal features of the copied documents. Both volumes were written predominantly by a single scribe, with a few contributions from other hands, especially in volume No. 2b, possibly to record charters filed after the original deadline. Furthermore, they remained in active use and continued to be updated until the end of Ferdinand’s reign – not least because the practice of pledging continued unabated under Maximilian’s successor.

Ronald Kurt Salzer


[1] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2. For conservation reasons, this volume is currently not available for examination at the archive. See the digital facsimile online at: https://www.archivinformationssystem.at/detail.aspx?ID=231761 (9.12.2025).
[2] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2b. For conservation reasons, this volume is also currently unavailable for examination at the archive. As a digital facsimile is not available yet, a microfilm had to be consulted. See: https://www.archivinformationssystem.at/detail.aspx?ID=231763 (9.12.2025).
[3] OeStA, HHStA, HS B 376 (“Memoriale oder Gedenkbuch Kaiser Maximilians I.”, 1502).
[4] ÖNB, Cod. ser. n. 2645 (Second “Gedenkbuch“, 1505–1508); ÖNB, Cod. 2900 (Third “Gedenkbuch”, 1509– 1513); ÖNB, Cod. ser. n. 2626 (Fourth “Gedenkbuch”, 1508–1515). See for a concise overview of Maximilian’s memorial books Maximilian I. 1459–1519. Ausstellung, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Kunsthistorisches Museum (Waffensammlung), 23. Mai bis 30. September 1959, ed. Franz Unterkircher (Vienna, 1959), pp. 33–35.
[5] F. Walter, “Die sogenannten Gedenkbücher des Wiener Hofkammerarchivs”, Archivalische Zeitschrift 42/43 (1934), 137–158, at pp. 137–150.
[6] Walter, “Gedenkbücher des Wiener Hofkammerarchivs”, pp. 150–152.
[7] OeStA, FHKA AHK GB 2, p. 35–37.
[8] OeStA, FHKA AHK GB 2, p. 41–42 [ff. 1r–1v].
[9] E. Rosenthal, “Die Behördenorganisation Kaiser Ferdinands I. Das Vorbild der Verwaltungsorganisation in den deutschen Territorien. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des Verwaltungsrechts”, Archiv für österreichische Geschichte 69 (1887), p. 155; Walter, “Gedenkbücher des Wiener Hofkammerarchivs”, pp. 51–316, at p. 151.
[10] Rosenthal, “Behördenorganisation”, p. 176; Walter, “Gedenkbücher des Wiener Hofkammerarchivs”, p. 151; W. Kögl, “Die Entstehung der niederösterreichischen Rechenkammer”, Archivalische Zeitschrift 71/1 (1975), pp. 26–41, at pp. 26–27.
[11] Rosenthal, “Behördenorganisation”, p. 176.
[12] Walter, “Gedenkbücher des Wiener Hofkammerarchivs”, p. 151. In the archival information system of the Austrian State Archives, however, it is assumed that both “Gedenkbücher” volumes originated not in the “Hofkammer”, but possibly in the Lower Austrian regiment. See: https://www.archivinformationssystem.at/detail.aspx?ID=231761 (9.12.2025).
[13] M. Hollegger, “Die Maximilianeischen Reformen”, in: Verwaltungsgeschichte der Habsburgermonarchie in der Frühen Neuzeit, vol. 1: Hof und Dynastie, Kaiser und Reich, Zentralverwaltung, Kriegswesen und landesfürstliches Finanzwesen, ed. M. Hochedlinger et al. (Vienna, 2019), pp. 375-420, at pp. 403–404.
[14] Albeit this also includes dominions from neighbouring territories such as Gorizia, or Forchtenstein Castle and Eisenstadt in Western Hungary.
[15] Starting already with three charters by Frederick the Fair, two from 1317 and one from 1328, entailed in a vidimus charter issued by Abbot Herman of Rein in 1464. OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, pp. 604–608 [ff. 282v–284v] (Rein, 23 April 1464). A notable exception is a charter issued by King Vladislaus II of Hungary involving the Hungarian castle of Forchtenstein, later pledged by Maximilian. OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2b, f. 8r–8v (23 November 1491).
[16] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2a. For conservation reasons, this volume is currently not available for examination at the archive either. See the digital facsimile online at: https://www.archivinformationssystem.at/detail.aspx?ID=231762 (9.12.2025).
[17] The headings are not identical word for word, but vary only slightly. An illustrative example is: “Die hernach volgundt phandtbrief sein registrirt in das puech mit B bezaichent” (Translation: The following deeds of pledge are registered into the book labelled B); OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 1. Interestingly, the consistent use of the word ‘to register’ seems to imply the meaning of copying the whole document in this context.
[18] Walter, “Gedenkbücher des Wiener Hofkammerarchivs”, pp. 150–152.
[19] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 6.
[20] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 18.
[21] Die Inschriften der Stadt Wiener Neustadt, ed. R. Kohn (Vienna, 1998: Die Deutschen Inschriften 48, Wiener Reihe 3, Die Inschriften des Bundeslandes Niederösterreich 2), No. 164, pp. 111–113.
[22]Pillichgrätz, Casper von Lamberg, fol. 278. Ist abgelöst”; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 15.
[23]NB: Daher trinken wir zu Wien den so berühmten schmakhaften Rohitscher Sauerbrunn 1780. Bberg.” OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 17. The same author’s hand – albeit undated and unsigned – also left a short marginal note next to an entry concerning Hainburg Castle a few pages later; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 21.
[24]Auff bevelch unnsers genedigistn herrn und lansfurstn Ferdinandn printzen in Hispanien, ertzhertzogn zu Osterreich, hertzogen tzu Burgundi etc., welcher bevelh von wort zu wort hernach geschribn steet, sein all abschriften der versetzten und verpfandtn herschaftn seiner f(ürstlichen) g(naden) funff lannd Ósterreich under der Enns, Ósterreich ob der Enns, Steir, Kernndtn und Crain in seiner f(ürstlichen) g(naden) raitcamer in halt seiner f(ürstlichen) g(naden) bevelh in den dreýen moneten furbracht, auch nach ausgang der dreier monat, so etlichn frist geben worden ist, registrirt und in dises puech, wie die rechtn original von wort zu wort vermógen, geschriben worden, wie hernach volgt.”; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, pp. 35–37.
[25] Further apparently blank pages are pp. 125–126 [ff. 43r–43v], 220 [f. 90v], 262 [f. 111v], 320 [f. 140v], as well as 383–384 [ff. 172r–172v].
[26] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, pp. 41–42 [ff. 1r–1v].
[27] The relative predominance of Styria with 42.21 % of all pages dedicated to dominions of this territory –followed by Carinthia with 26.32 % and Carniola with 18.21 % – compared to the meagre representation of Lower and Upper Austria (with 5.79 % and 7.45 %. respectively) is striking and still awaits an explanation.
[28] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 190 [f. 75v] (Trostberg, 12 November 1518).
[29] Nevertheless, the ‘Upper Austrian’ “Raitkammer” in Innsbruck under Maximilian was already familiar with verbatim copies of charters relating to other matters, albeit with varying degrees of detail. N. Krajicek, “Die Kopialbücher der oberösterreichischen Kammer unter Maximilian I.“, in: “Per tot discrimina rerum – Maximilian I (1459–1519), ed. M. Debertol et al. (Vienna and Cologne, 2022), pp. 333–348.
[30] These included, for example, keeping the castle open for the sovereign, refraining from starting or engaging in a war without prior orders, and handing the castle back immediately after the pledge had been redeemed.
[31] Examples of this would be specific building instructions, interest and official salary payment terms, or the determination of hunting rights, the latter being particularly important for the passionate hunter Maximilian.
[32]Dieser abgeschribner brief von khayser Maximilian ist weder vom kayser, canntzler noch secretarii auch dhainen registrator unnderschriben”; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 78 [f. 19v] (Innsbruck, 24 August 1493).
[33]Herrschafft Rastennberg halbn verschreibung, der von Neydeckh, fol. 19”; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 17.
[34] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 124 [f. 42v].
[35] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, pp. 452–454 [ff. 206v–207v] (Strasbourg, 24 February 1507).
[36]Dises ambt Himelberg hat di Römisch khaiserliche m(ajestä)t dem herrn lanndshaubtman in Khernndtn herrn Cristoffen Keuenhüler auf ein ewigen z(e/u?) widerkhauff verschriben laut der verschreibung drüber gfertigt der datum stet Augspurg am erstn Januarij anno etc. 1551 etc.”; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 452 [f. 206v].
[37] OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, pp. 514–515 [ff. 237v–238r] (Salzburg, 9 December 1506).
[38]Dieser kaufbrief ist hernach anno 1564 cassirt worden“; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 514 [f. 237v]. The marginal note idem on the following charter, also involving Dürnstein Castle and Tannhauser, clearly references the marginal note on the previous deed; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 516 [f. 238v] (Augsburg, 28 March 1510).
[39] The microfilm of the manuscript lacks the first folio (ff. Ir–Iv), along with several others (ff. 63v–64v, 83v, 84v–88v, 105r–110v, and 123v–126v).
[40]Abschriften der kaiserlichn brieff sandt Jörgen orden zugehörig”; OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2b, f. 127r. However, contrary to the headline’s wording, this section includes not only charters issued by Emperors Frederik III and Maximilian, but also by Herman II, Count of Celje, and the Austrian Land Marshal Christoph von Liechtenstein.
[41] I. Wiesflecker-Friedhuber, “Kaiser Maximilian und der St. Georgs-Ritterorden”, in “Per tot discrimina rerum – Maximilian I (1459–1519), ed. M. Debertol et al. (Vienna and Cologne, 2022), pp. 117–128.
[42] See e. g. OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2b, ff. 14r and 29v.


Header Image Credits: Extract from “Gedenkbuch” No. 2. OeStA, FHKA AHK, GB 2, p. 43 [f. 2r].


OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Ronald Salzer (December 17, 2025). WORKSHOP PAPER | Ronald Kurt Salzer: Castles for Credit. Context, Script, and Codicology of the “Gedenkbücher” Nos. 2 and 2b. Managing Maximilian (1493-1519) - A blog on Persona, Politics, and Personnel through the Lens of Digital Prosopography at the time of Maximilian of Habsburg. Retrieved February 8, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/15d60


You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.