Celebrating the Translation of the Oldest Book in the Peace Collection of the UN Library & Archives Geneva

In 2023, we celebrated the translation of the oldest book in the peace collection of the UN Library & Archives Geneva: the 1504 publication entitled Fedus Christianum by Ambrosius Alantsee.

This translation from Medieval Latin into English, made possible through a generous donation from the Angelini Foundation, is part of the Library’s efforts to make its historic collection more accessible to interested readers and researchers worldwide and to continue to explore knowledge of peace and multilateralism as it has evolved through the ages. 

The UN Library & Archives Geneva has worked to build research and international understanding since its founding in 1919 as the Library of the League of Nations. Today, it houses more than five million print items – and many more electronic and digital resources – in the fields of law, politics, social sciences and multilateralism. 

And it continues to hold the collection of the former Library of the League, including several notable books on peace spanning from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. Fedus Christianum belongs to this collection and was purchased as part of a selection of resources exploring pacifist ideals over time. 

Joining us for this session were: 

Speakers

Gianluigi DE PALO, Director, Angelini Foundation 
Dominic FARRELL, Professor of Philosophy, Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
Barbara FLEITH, Professor of German Literature at UNIGE   
Sigrun HABERMANN, Chief, Library Services Section, UN Library & Archives Geneva 
Natalya KAHN, former intern at UN Library & Archives Geneva and translator of the book
Francesco PISANO, Director, UN Library & Archives Geneva 

Moderator

Cristina GIORDANO, Library Services Section, UN Library & Archives Geneva

Related Resources: 

Download a digital copy of the book, "A Treatise Entitled A Christian Covenant / Published for an Unending and Indissoluble Covenant and Peace Among Christians (Fedus Christianum, 1504)".

Original version: Tractatus qui intitulatur Fedus Christianu(m) : editus pro interminabili et indissolubili federe ac Christianorum pace. - United Nations (exlibrisgroup.com)

Translated English version: A Treatise Entitled A Christian Covenant Published for an Unending and Indissoluble Covenant and Peace Among Christians (Fedus christianum, 1504) - United Nations (exlibrisgroup.com)