Johannes Trithemius (a latinised name from Trittenheim, his native town; his surname at birth was Heidenberg) was a German lexicographer, cryptographer and occultist. He is also credited with the invention of steganography (the practice of concealing a message within another message, or within a physical object). He was abbot of the German houses of Sponheim and Wurzburg, and a prolific writer of history, though was often noted to have invented some of his sources.

The present work is a history of the Franks up to the end of the Merovingian dynasty in 751. It was published in 1515, shortly before Trithemius’ death. Its magnificent frontispiece is by the artist and engraver Hans Springinklee (d.c.1540), a pupil of Albrecht Dürer, and shows the Bishop of Wurzburg receiving the book from Trithemius, while its publisher, Johann Haselberg, presents what is probably the printing licence. The printer was Johann Schöffer, whose colophon is notable for its retelling of the history of the art of printing, attributing it to Johann Füst and Pieter Schöffer (rather than Johann Gutenberg).