Ardüser’s notes begin in the year 1572 and end in 1614. His
chronicle is considered an important source of political and social
life in the "Alt Fry Rätien" of the time. Not until the 1870s was
Hans Ardüser’s chronicle discovered and published by cantonal
high school principal J. Bott from Grisons. A large part of the
chronicle consists of reports about political events at the end of
the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. In his work
Ardüser also mentions crimes and the execution of witches; among
other things he reports about extraordinary weather events and
consequent crop failures. From his autobiographical nots, which are
recorded in the "Rätische Chronik" (Raetian chronicle) as well, it
becomes clear that Ardüser was a gifted reader. We can conclude
that he obtained his knowledge about all of these topics from
written sources such as parish registers, circulating news
bulletins, official publications and personal contacts to
officials, returning mercenary soldiers or traveling merchants.
Rights
e-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland
