Personennamen des Mittelalters: PMA : Namensformen für 13,000 Personen gemäss den Regeln für die alphabetische Katalogisierung (RAK)

At the beginning of the year 2000, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek is presenting the second, considerably augmented edition of Personal Names of the Middle Ages (PMA). In addition to personal names from Europe the work also comprises a large number of non-European names, amounting to a total of 13,000 individuals in all. Persons who died after 500 and before 1501 are considered as medieval. Thanks to the systematic exploitation of relevant reference works (including e.g. the Lexikon des Mittelalters, the Verfasserlexikon as well as specific reference works aiding the cataloguing of manuscripts), the number of names has been increased considerably. Each of the 13,000 entries contains the following information: • standardized form of the name – formulated in the language in wich the person has mostly written • biographical dates and further notes for identification • indication of reference works used • list of diverging name variants also used by or for this person • references to diverging name variants Unifying all personal names of the Middle Ages and listing all name variantson the basis of the internationally accepted, German rules for Alphabetical Cataloguing (RAK) and thus ensuring the identification of individuals, Personal Names of the Middle Ages will truly alleviate any librarian’s task. The value of this edition in book form lies in facilitating the reading of name entries in a sequence that allows comparisons and contextual surveys. Structured by names of persons, the work presents a geographically and thematically universal view of the scientific, theological, literary, artistic and legislative activities of the medieval world. The volume is an indispensable tool for anybody involved in academic research on the Middle Ages – ranging from the cataloguing of manuscripts to the compilation of encyclopedias, registers and indices.