The Codex Manesse (also Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift or Pariser Handschrift) is a ''
Liederhandschrift
''Liederhandschrift'', German for ''Manuscript of the Songs'', is the German term for a manuscript containing lieder (songs) of the German Middle Ages, dating from the late 12th to the 15th centuries. Of particular importance are the Minnesang manu ...
'' (manuscript containing songs), the single most comprehensive source of
Middle High German
Middle High German (MHG; german: Mittelhochdeutsch (Mhd.)) is the term for the form of German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High German and into Early New High German. High ...
''
Minnesang
(; "love song") was a tradition of lyric- and song-writing in Germany and Austria that flourished in the Middle High German period. This period of medieval German literature began in the 12th century and continued into the 14th. People who wr ...
'' poetry, written and
illustrated
An illustration is a decoration, interpretation or visual explanation of a text, concept or process, designed for integration in print and digital published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, video ...
between c. 1304 when the main part was completed, and c. 1340 with the addenda.
The codex was produced in
Zürich
Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
, for the
Manesse family.
The manuscript is "the most beautifully illumined German manuscript in centuries"; its 137
miniatures are a series of "portraits" depicting each poet.
Contents
The Codex Manesse is an anthology of the works of a total of about 135 minnesingers of the mid 12th to early 14th century.
For each poet, a portrait is shown, followed by the text of their works.
The entries are ordered approximately by the social status of the poets, starting with the Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI, Kings
Conradin
Conrad III (25 March 1252 – 29 October 1268), called ''the Younger'' or ''the Boy'', but usually known by the diminutive Conradin (german: link=no, Konradin, it, Corradino), was the last direct heir of the House of Hohenstaufen. He was Duke ...
and
Wenceslaus II
Wenceslaus II Přemyslid ( cs, Václav II.; pl, Wacław II Czeski; 27 SeptemberK. Charvátová, ''Václav II. Král český a polský'', Prague 2007, p. 18. 1271 – 21 June 1305) was King of Bohemia (1278–1305), Duke of Cracow (1291–1 ...
, down through dukes, counts and knights, to the commoners.
Most of the poems are ''
Minnesang
(; "love song") was a tradition of lyric- and song-writing in Germany and Austria that flourished in the Middle High German period. This period of medieval German literature began in the 12th century and continued into the 14th. People who wr ...
'', but there are also other genres, including fables and didactic poems.
The oldest poets represented in the manuscript had been dead for more than a century at the time of its compilations, while others were contemporaries, the latest even late additions of poems written during the early 14th century.
In the portraits, some of the nobles are shown in full armour in their heraldic colors and devices (therefore with their faces hidden), often shown as taking part in a
joust
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two horse riders wielding lances with blunted tips, often as part of a tournament. The primary aim was to replicate a clash of heavy cavalry, with each participant trying to strike the opponent w ...
, or sometimes in single combat with sword and shield, and sometimes in actual battle.
Some images are motivated by the biography of the person depicted, but some designs just draw their motif from the poet's name (thus, Dietmar is shown riding a mule, since his name can be interpreted as meaning ''people's horse''), while others draw on imagery from their lyrics (
Walther von der Vogelweide
Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170c. 1230) was a Minnesänger who composed and performed love-songs and political songs (" Sprüche") in Middle High German. Walther has been described as the greatest German lyrical poet before Goethe; his hundr ...
is shown in a thoughtful pose which exactly matches the description of himself in one of his most famous songs).
List of poets
#6r:
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI (German: ''Heinrich VI.''; November 1165 – 28 September 1197), a member of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was King of Germany ( King of the Romans) from 1169 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 until his death. From 1194 he was also King of S ...
(1165–1197)
#7r:
King Conrad the Young (1252–1268)
#8r: "King Tyro of Scotland and Fridebrant his son" (not the name of a singer, but the title of an epic poem, dated to the first half of the 13th century)
#10r:
King Wenceslaus of Bohemia (Wenceslaus II, king of Bohemia and Poland, 1271–1305)
#11v:
Herzog
''Herzog'' (female ''Herzogin'') is a German hereditary title held by one who rules a territorial duchy, exercises feudal authority over an estate called a duchy, or possesses a right by law or tradition to be referred to by the ducal title. ...
Heinrich von Breslau (Henry IV, 1258–1290)
#13r:
Margrave
Margrave was originally the medieval title for the military commander assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border provinces of the Holy Roman Empire or of a kingdom. That position became hereditary in certain feudal families in the Emp ...
Otto von Brandenburg (Otto IV, 1266–1308)
#14v: Margrave
Heinrich von Meißen (Henry III, 1215–1288)
#17r: the
Duke of Anhalt
The Duchy of Anhalt (german: Herzogtum Anhalt) was a historical Germany, German duchy. The duchy was located between the Harz Mountains in the west and the river Elbe and beyond to the Fläming Heath in the east. The territory was once ruled by ...
(Henry I, c. 1170–1252)
#18r:
John, Duke of Brabant (John I, 1252/1253–1294)
#20r:
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Rudolf von
Neuenburg (either Rudolf II, died 1192, or his nephew Rudolf I, died 1258)
#22v: Count Kraft von
Toggenburg
Toggenburg is a region of Switzerland. It corresponds to the upper valley of the river Thur and that of its main tributary, the Necker. Since 1 January 2003, Toggenburg has been a constituency (''Wahlkreis'') of the canton of St. Gallen ( ...
(probably Kraft III of Toggenburg, died 1339)
#24r: Count Konrad von
Kirchberg (either Konrad II, fl. 1275–1326, or his cousin Konrad III, 1281–1315)
#26r: Count Friedrich von
Leiningen (probably Friedrich II, died 1237)
#27r: Count
Otto von Botenlauben
Otto von Botenlauben or Botenlouben (1177, Henneberg – before 1245, near Bad Kissingen), the Count of Henneberg from 1206, was a German minnesinger, Crusader and monastic founder.
Otto von Botenlauben was the fourth son of Count Poppo VI ...
(died 1244)
#29r: Margrave von
Hohenburg (either Diepold V. von Vohburg, fl. 1205–1225, or his son Bertold IV, died 1256).
#30r:
Herr Heinrich von Veldeke
Heinrich von Veldeke (aka: , Dutch Hendrik van Veldeke, born before or around 1150 – died after 1184) is the first writer in the Low Countries known by name who wrote in a European language other than Latin. He was born in Veldeke, which was a ...
(died after 1184)
#32v: Herr
Gottfried von Neifen
Gottfried von Neifen (fl. 1234–1255) was a German ''Minnesänger'' (lyric poet).
Gottfried was born to an '' Edelfrei'' famly of Swabia. He was associated with the court of King Henry VII of Germany (1220–1235) and is mentioned in documents be ...
(died 1279)
#42r: Count
Albrecht von Haigerloch
Albrecht II (or Albert II) of Hohenberg-Rotenburg (c. 1235 – 17 April 1298) was Count of Hohenberg and Haigerloch and imperial governor of Lower Swabia. He was a member of the house of Zollern-Hohenberg, a branch of the Swabian House of Hohenzol ...
(Albrecht II of
Hohenberg, died 1298)
#43v: Count
Wernher von Homberg Wernher von Homberg (also ''Werner''; ''Hohenberg'', 1284 – 21 March 1320) was a knight in the service Emperor Henry VII, and later of Frederick the Fair. His Minnesang poems are recorded in the ''Codex Manesse''.
Wernher's father was Ludwig o ...
(died 1320)
#46v: Herr Jakob von
Warte (died 1331)
#48v: Brother Eberhard von
Sax (fl. 1309)
#52r: Herr
Walther von Klingen
Walther von Klingen (died 1 March 1284) was a nobleman from the Thurgau area who donated to and founded monasteries, and later became a close associate and supporter of King of Germany Rudolf von Habsburg. Some of his poetry, which belongs to the ...
(fl. 1240–1280s)
#54r: Herr Rudolf von
Rotenburg Rotenburg may refer to:
*Rotenburg (district), Lower Saxony, Germany
*Rotenburg an der Wümme, capital of the district
*Rotenburg an der Fulda, near Kassel in Hesse
*Rothenburg ob der Tauber, in the Franconia region of Bavaria
*Hersfeld-Rotenburg, ...
(fl. 1287)
#59v: Herr Heinrich von
Sax (probably Henry II, 1235–1289)
#61v: Herr Heinrich von
Frauenberg (fl. 1284–1305)
#63r:
Der von Kürenberg
Der von Kürenberg or Der Kürenberger (fl. mid-12th century) was a Middle High German poet and one of the earliest Minnesänger. Fifteen strophes of his songs are preserved in the Codex Manesse and the Budapest Fragment.
Life
Since his given name ...
(12th century)
#64r: Herr
Dietmar von Aist
Dietmar von Aist (c. 1115 – c. 1171) was a Minnesinger from a baronial family in the Duchy of Austria, whose work is representative of the lyric poetry in the Danube region.
Life
One Dietmar von Aist is mentioned by name from about 1139 onwards ...
(fl. 1140–1160s)
#66v: Der von Gliers (perhaps Wilhelm von Gliers, fl. 1267–1317)
#69r: Herr Wernher von Teufen (fl. 1220)
#70v: Herr Heinrich von Stretlingen (either Henry II, fl. 1250s, or his son Henry III, died 1294)
#71v: Herr Kristan von Hamle (probably an author of 13th-century
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
, otherwise unknown)
#73r: Herr
Ulrich von Gutenburg (fl. 1170s)
#75v: Herr Heinrich von der
Mure (fl. 1223–1263, a Dominican friar, prior at Eichstätt and later at Augsburg)
#76v: Herr
Heinrich von Morungen
Heinrich von Morungen or Henry of Morungen (died c. 1220 or 1222) was a German Minnesinger.
Life
Almost nothing about his life can be deduced from Heinrich's songs. Possibly he is identical with the ''Hendricus de Morungen'' who is documented in T ...
(fl. 1210s)
#82v: Der
Schenk
Schenk is a Jewish (Ashkenazic) and German occupational surname derived from ''schenken'' (to pour out or serve) referring to the medieval profession of cup-bearer or wine server (later also to tavern keeper). At one time, only Jews were allowed t ...
von
Limpurg (either Walther I, fl. 1230–1240s, or one of his sons, Walther II or Konrad I)
#84v: Schenk
Ulrich von Winterstetten
Ulrich von Winterstetten ( 1241–1280) was a German nobleman, priest and ''Minnesänger'' (lyric poet).
Life
Ulrich belonged to the Tanne–Waldburg family of imperial ''ministeriales'' (unfree nobility) in the Duchy of Swabia. His father was Co ...
(fl. 1250–1270s)
#98r: Herr
Reinmar der Alte (fl. late 12th century)
#110r: Herr Burkart von
Hohenfels (fl. 1220–1230s)
#113v: Herr
Hesso von Reinach (1234–1275/76)
#115r:
Burgrave
Burgrave, also rendered as burggrave (from german: Burggraf, la, burgravius, burggravius, burcgravius, burgicomes, also praefectus), was since the medieval period in Europe (mainly Germany) the official title for the ruler of a castle, especial ...
von
Lienz
Lienz (; Southern Bavarian: ''Lianz'') is a Town privileges, medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol (state), Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz (district), Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality a ...
(fl. early 13th century)
#116v: Herr
Friedrich von Hausen
Friedrich von Hausen (Middle High German: Friderich von Hûsen) was a medieval German poet, one of the earliest of the Minnesingers; born sometime between 1150–60; d. 6 May 1190. Life
His name is mentioned frequently in legal documents, for the ...
(died after 1188)
#119v:
Burgrave von Rietenburg (either Henry IV. fl 1174–1184, or Otto III, fl. 1154–1185)
#120v: Herr
Meinloh von Sevelingen (mid-12th century)
#122r: Herr Heinrich von
Rugge (f. 1170s)
#124r: Herr
Walther von der Vogelweide
Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170c. 1230) was a Minnesänger who composed and performed love-songs and political songs (" Sprüche") in Middle High German. Walther has been described as the greatest German lyrical poet before Goethe; his hundr ...
(c. 1170 – c. 1230)
#146r: Herr Hiltbold von
Schwangau
Schwangau is a municipality in the district of Ostallgäu in Bavaria, Germany. The village lies 4 km from the larger town of Füssen and just 1.5 km from Hohenschwangau, a collection of tourist-oriented facilities adjacent to the major ...
(fl. 1221–1254)
#149v: Herr
Wolfram von Eschenbach
Wolfram von Eschenbach (; – ) was a German knight, poet and composer, regarded as one of the greatest epic poets of medieval German literature. As a Minnesinger, he also wrote lyric poetry.
Life
Little is known of Wolfram's life. There are ...
(c. 1170 – c. 1220)
#151r: Von Singenberg, Seneschal of
St. Gallen
, neighboring_municipalities = Eggersriet, Gaiserwald, Gossau, Herisau (AR), Mörschwil, Speicher (AR), Stein (AR), Teufen (AR), Untereggen, Wittenbach
, twintowns = Liberec (Czech Republic)
, website ...
(probably Ulrich von Singenberg, fl. 1220s)
#158r: Der von Sachsendorf (unknown; possibly mentioned by Ulrich von Lichtenstein as serving
Frederick II of Austria
Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 25 April 1211 – 15 June 1246), known as Frederick the Quarrelsome (''Friedrich der Streitbare''), was Duke of Austria and Styria from 1230 until his death. He was the fifth and last Austrian duke from the Hou ...
)
#160v: Wachsmut von Künzingen (unknown, perhaps from
Clemency, Luxembourg
Clemency ( lb, Kënzeg, german: Küntzig) is a town and a former commune in south-western Luxembourg. Since 2012, it is part of the commune of Käerjeng. It is part of the canton of Capellen, which is part of the district of Luxembourg.
, the t ...
)
#162v: Herr Wilhelm von Heinzenburg (near
Bad Kreuznach
Bad Kreuznach () is a town in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is a spa town, most well known for its medieval bridge dating from around 1300, the Alte Nahebrücke, which is one of the few remaining bridges in th ...
; probably William III fl. 1264–1292)
#164v: Herr Leuthold von
Seven
7 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
7 or seven may also refer to:
* AD 7, the seventh year of the AD era
* 7 BC, the seventh year before the AD era
* The month of
July
Music Artists
* Seven (Swiss singer) (born 1978), a Swiss recording artist ...
(fl. 1218)
#166v: Herr Walther von Metze (died before 1276, otherwise unknown)
#169v: Herr Rubin (unknown, mid-13th century)
#178r: Herr
Bernger von Horheim
Bernger von Horheim was a Rhenish Minnesänger of the late twelfth century. He wrote in the tradition of courtly love and was influenced by Friedrich von Hausen.
Bernger may originate from Horrheim in Vaihingen an der Enz. Another possibility ...
(late 12th century)
#179v: Der von Johansdorf (Albrecht, fl. 1172–1209)
#181v: Herr Engelhardt von
Adelnburg (either fl. 1200 or 1220s, perhaps father and son of the same name)
#182v: Herr
Bligger von Steinach
Bligger von Steinach was the name of a series of feudal lords of Steinach, today Neckarsteinach in Hesse, Germany. Collectively the noble family was known as the ''Edelfreien von Steinach''. The family was influential, having close connections to ...
(probably Bligger II, fl. late 12th to early 13th century)
#183v: Herr Wachsmut von Mühlhausen (fl. 1267)
#184v: Herr
Hartmann von Aue
Hartmann von Aue, also known as Hartmann von Ouwe, (born ''c.'' 1160–70, died ''c.'' 1210–20) was a German knight and poet. With his works including ''Erec'', '' Iwein'', ''Gregorius'', and ''Der arme Heinrich'', he introduced the Arthurian ...
(c. 1160 – c. 1210)
#188r: Herr
Reinmar von Brennenberg (fl. 1270s)
#190v: Johann von
Ringgenberg
Ringgenberg (sometimes also written as ''Ringgenberg BE'' in order to distinguish it from other "Ringgenbergs") is a village and a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Besides th ...
(probably Johann I, 1291–1350)
#192v:
Albrecht Marschall von Rapperswil
Albrecht von Rapperswil (also ''Raprechtswil'', fl. ca. 1280) is one of the Minnesingers featured in the ''Codex Manesse''. He was a '' ministerialis'' in the service of the counts of Rapperswil, in the rank of a '' marchschal''. Albrecht is dep ...
(fl. c. 1280)
#194r: Herr Otto vom Turne (of
Lucerne
Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic German, High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label=Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking po ...
, a late addition, fl. after 1300)
#197v: Herr Goesli von Ehenhein (of Strasbourg; otherwise unknown)
#201r: Der von Wildonie (probably Herrand II, married to a daughter of Ulrich of Lichtenstein)
#202v: Von Suonegge (probably Konrad von Suonegge, fl. 1220–1230s)
#204r: Von Scharpfenberg (of
Ratschach, mid-13th century)
#205r: Herr Konrad, der Schenk von Landeck (of
Thurgau
Thurgau (; french: Thurgovie; it, Turgovia), anglicized as Thurgovia, more formally the Canton of Thurgau, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of five districts and its capital is Frauenfeld.
Thurgau is part ...
, 1271–1306)
#213r: "Der Winsbeke" (purported author of the accompanying father-son didactic poem; it is unclear whether Winsbeke is a historical or a fictional character)
#217r: "Die Winsbekin" (purported author of the accompanying mother-daughter didactic poem; it is unclear whether Winsbekin is a historical or a fictional character)
#219v: "Klingsor of
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
" (fictional character introducing the ''
Sängerkrieg
The ''Sängerkrieg'' (minstrel contest), also known as the ''Wartburgkrieg'' (Wartburg contest), was a contest among minstrels (''Minnesänger'') at the Wartburg, a castle in Thuringia, Germany, in 1207.
Whether the contest was purely legend or h ...
'' poem)
#226v: Kristan von Luppin of
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
(fl. 1290s)
#228r: Herr Heinrich Hetzbold von
Weißensee (early 14th century)
#229v: Der Düring (an unidentified
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
n poet, late 13th century)
#231r: Winli (an unidentified
Alemannic Alemannic (''Alamannic'') or Alamanni may refer to:
* Alemannic German, a dialect family in the Upper German branch of the German languages and its speakers
* Alemanni, a confederation of Suebian Germanic tribes in the Roman period
* Alamanni (surna ...
poet, c. 1300)
#237r: Herr
Ulrich von Liechtenstein
Ulrich von Liechtenstein (ca. 1200 – 26 January 1275) was a German minnesinger and poet of the Middle Ages. He wrote poetry in Middle High German and was author of noted works about how knights and nobles may lead more virtuous lives. Ulrich was ...
(c. 1200–1275)
#247v: Von Munegiur (given name Ulrich, otherwise unknown)
#248v: Von Raute (given name Hartwig, fl. c. 1200, otherwise unknown)
#249v: Herr
Konrad von Altstetten (perhaps a mayor of St. Gallen, attested 1320–1327)
#251r: Herr Bruno von
Hornberg
Hornberg is a town in the Ortenaukreis, in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the Black Forest, 35 km southeast of Offenburg, and 25 km northwest of Villingen-Schwenningen.
Sons and daughters of the town
* ( ...
(probably Bruno II, fl. 1275–1310)
#252r: Herr Hug von Werbenwag (fl. mid 13th century, probably died after 1292)
#253v: Der Püller (Konrad "the Apulian" von Hohenburg, probably participated in a campaign of
Rudolph I
Rudolf I (1 May 1218 – 15 July 1291) was the first King of Germany from the House of Habsburg. The first of the count-kings of Germany, he reigned from 1273 until his death.
Rudolf's election marked the end of the Great Interregnum which h ...
against
Ottokar II of Bohemia
Ottokar II ( cs, Přemysl Otakar II.; , in Městec Králové, Bohemia – 26 August 1278, in Dürnkrut, Lower Austria), the Iron and Golden King, was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty who reigned as King of Bohemia from 1253 until his deat ...
in 1278)
#255r: Von Trostberg (an unidentified member of either of an Argovian or a Tyrolian family of ''
ministeriales
The ''ministeriales'' (singular: ''ministerialis'') were a class of people raised up from serfdom and placed in positions of power and responsibility in the High Middle Ages in the Holy Roman Empire.
The word and its German translations, ''Minis ...
'')
#256v: Hartmann von Starkenberg (of
Werdenberg-Sargans, either Hartmann I, fl. 1250s, or his son Hartmann II, fl. 1270s)
#257v: Von
Stadegge (Rudolph II, one of the leading
Styria
Styria (german: Steiermark ; Serbo-Croatian and sl, ; hu, Stájerország) is a state (''Bundesland'') in the southeast of Austria. With an area of , Styria is the second largest state of Austria, after Lower Austria. Styria is bordered to ...
n minnesingers, fl. 1230–1250s)
#258v: Herr Brunwart von
Augheim (late 13th century)
#261r: Von Stamheim (unidentified; fl. c. 1240s)
#262v:
Herr Goeli (of
Baden
Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine.
History
The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden is ...
, 13th century)
#264r: Der
Tannhäuser
Tannhäuser (; gmh, Tanhûser), often stylized, "The Tannhäuser," was a German Minnesinger and traveling poet. Historically, his biography, including the dates he lived, is obscure beyond the poetry, which suggests he lived between 1245 and ...
(of
Thannhausen
Thannhausen () is a town in the district of Günzburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Mindel, southeast of Günzburg, and west of Augsburg
Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_Germa ...
, fl. 1240–1260s; depicted as a member of the
Teutonic Order
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians on ...
)
#271r: Von
Buchheim
Buchheim () is a municipality in the district of Tuttlingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe af ...
(2nd half of 13th century)
#273r: Herr
Neidhart Neidhart is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
* Christian Neidhart, German football manager
*Jim Neidhart, Canadian professional wrestler
*Natalya Neidhart
Natalie Katherine Neidhart-Wilson (born May 27, 1 ...
(born c. 1200 in
Lower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria (german: Niederbayern, Bavarian: ''Niedabayern'') is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state.
Geography
Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two regions () – Landshut and Donau-W ...
)
#281v:
Meister
''Meister'' means 'master' in German (as in master craftsman, or as an honorific title such as Meister Eckhart). The word is akin to master and maestro. In sports, ''Meister'' is used for the current national, European or world champion (e.g. ...
Heinrich Teschler (of
Zürich
Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
, 2nd half of 13th century, patronized by
Rüdiger Manesse)
#285r: Rost, Kirchherr zu
Sarnen
, neighboring_municipalities= Alpnach, Entlebuch (LU), Flühli (LU), Giswil, Hasle (LU), Kerns, Sachseln
, twintowns =
Sarnen is a small historic town, a municipality, and the capital of the canton of Obwalden situated on the northern shores of ...
(in
Zürich
Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
between 1313 and 1330. Presumed to have participated in the production of the codex as a scribe)
#290r: Der Hardegger (probably ''Henricus de Hardegge'', of
Rebstein
Rebstein is a municipality in the ''Wahlkreis'' (constituency) of Rheintal in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.
History
Rebstein is first mentioned in 1270 as ''Rebistain''.
Geography
Rebstein has an area, , of . Of this area, 60.4% i ...
, fl. 1230–1270s)
#292v: Der
Schulmeister von
Eßlingen
Eßlingen is a municipality in the district of Bitburg-Prüm, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in ...
(late 13th century)
#295r: Walther von
Breisach
Breisach (formerly Altbreisach; Low Alemannic: ''Alt-Brisach'') is a town with approximately 16,500 inhabitants, situated along the Rhine in the Rhine Valley, in the district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, about halfway ...
(without portrait)
#299r: Von Wissenlo (probably
Wiesloch
Wiesloch (, locally ; South Franconian: ''Wissloch''), is a town in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 13 kilometres south of Heidelberg.
After Weinheim, Sinsheim and Leimen it is the fourth largest town in the Rhein-Neckar-Kre ...
; unidentified)
#300r: Von Wengen (Burchard, fl. 1230–1270s, member of a family of ministeriales of the
counts of Toggenburg
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
)
#302r: Herr Pfeffel (unidentified, mid 12th century)
#303r: Der Taler (perhaps Leuthold von Tal, near
Rheineck
Rheineck is a municipality in the ''Wahlkreis'' (constituency) of Rheintal in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.
History
Rheineck is first mentioned about 1163 as ''castellum Rinegge''. In 1218 it was mentioned as ''Rinegg''. An older ...
, fl. 1250)
#305r: Der tugendhafte Schreiber ("The Virtuous Scribe"; unidentified, appears as a character in the ''
Sängerkrieg
The ''Sängerkrieg'' (minstrel contest), also known as the ''Wartburgkrieg'' (Wartburg contest), was a contest among minstrels (''Minnesänger'') at the Wartburg, a castle in Thuringia, Germany, in 1207.
Whether the contest was purely legend or h ...
'')
#308v: Steinmar (perhaps Berthold Steinmar von
Klingnau
Klingnau is a municipality in the district of Zurzach in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.
History
Klingnau is first mentioned in 1239 as ''Chlingenowe''. Ulrich of Klingen acquired land from the monastery of St. Blaise in 1239 to found ...
, fl. 2nd half of 13th century)
#311r: Herr Alram von Gresten (unidentified, perhaps of
Gresten
Gresten is a municipality in the district of Scheibbs in Lower Austria, Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a fe ...
in Lower Austria)
#312r: Herr Reinmar der Fiedler (unidentified, fl. mid 13th century)
#313r: Herr
Hawart
Hawart ( 13th century) was a German poet in the tradition of ''Minnesang'' (love lyric). His surviving works focus on both love and politics. His reference in one poem to the Holy Places being in the hands of the heathen places it after the fall o ...
(perhaps Hawardus de Holzwane, in 1258 canon at Augsburg)
#314v: Herr Günther von dem Vorste (unidentified)
#316v: Herr Friedrich der Knecht (unidentified, his poems are in Austro-Bavarian dialect, first half of the 13th century; the portrait shows Friedrich as a knight abducting a damsel on horseback while fighting off pursuers)
#318r: Der
Burggraf von Regensburg (probably Heinrich III von Stevening und
Rietenburg, fl. 1126–1177)
#319r: Herr Niune (unidentified; probably not a poet but the owner of a songbook used as a source in this section)
#320v: Herr Geltar (unidentified; the poems are dated to between 1230 and 1250, perhaps from Lower Austria)
#321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer (unidentified; the portrait shows unmounted combat with sword and
heater shield
The heater shield or heater-shaped shield is a form of European medieval shield, developing from the early medieval kite shield in the late 12th century in response to the declining importance of the shield in combat thanks to improvements in ...
)
#323r: Herr
Reinmar von Zweter
Reinmar von Zweter (also spelled Reymar von Zwetel, Reymar von Zweten, Römer von Zwickau, Ehrenbote, born around 1200 in Zeutern, today known as Ubstadt-Weiher, Germany; died after 1248) was a Middle High German poet of Spruchdichtung. The ic ...
(fl. 1230s)
#339r: Der Junge Meißner (unidentified; the poems are in Central German dialect)
#342r: Der Alte Meißner (without portrait)
#342v: Von Obernburg (unidentified; probably mid 13th century, of Obernburg near
Celje
)
, pushpin_map = Slovenia
, pushpin_label_position = left
, pushpin_map_caption = Location of the city of Celje in Slovenia
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Cou ...
)
#344v:
Bruder Wernher
Bruder Wernher (fl. 13th century) was an Duchy of Austria, Austrian poet who wrote Middle High German ''Spruchdichtung, Sprüche'', social or political songs, as opposed to love songs.
''Bruder'' (brother) is not a name, but a description indicati ...
(unidentified; mid 13th century)
#349r: Der Marner (probably ''marinaere'' "the mariner"; unidentified, but mentioned by Meister Rumslant below)
#355r:
Süßkind, der Jude von Trimberg (unidentified, 2nd half of the 13th century)
#358r: (isolated anonymous poem)
#359r: Von Buwenburg (Baumburg near
Hundersingen
Hundersingen is a village within the municipality of Herbertingen and is part of the administrative district of Sigmaringen in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.Vgl. ''Herbertingen b) Hundersingen''. In: ''Das Land Baden-Württemberg. Amt ...
, probably Ulrich von Buwenburg, fl. 1260)
#361r: Heinrich von Dettingen (well documented during 1236–1300; of a family of ministeriales of
Reichenau abbey
Reichenau Abbey was a Benedictine Order, Benedictine monastery on Reichenau Island (known in Latin as Augia Dives). It was founded in 724 by the itinerant Saint Pirmin, who is said to have fled Spain ahead of the Moorish invaders, with patronage ...
)
#362r: Rudolf der Schreiber (unidentified)
#364r: Meister
Gottfried von Straßburg (died c. 1210)
#371r: Meister
Johannes Hadlaub (of
Zürich
Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
, fl. 1300, possibly the redactor of the codex)
#381r: Regenbogen ("Rainbow", an unidentified Alemannic poet, depicted as a smith)
#383r: Meister
Konrad von Würzburg
Konrad von Würzburg (c.1220-1230 – 31 August 1287) was the chief German poet of the second half of the 13th century.
As with most epic poets of the age, little is known of his life, and his origin is disputed. There have been German s ...
(died 1287)
#394r: Kunz von Rosenheim (unidentified, perhaps not a poet but the owner of a songbook used as a source)
#395r: Rubin von Rüdeger (unidentified)
#396r: Der Kol von Nüssen (unidentified, perhaps of Neunzen near
Zwettl
__NOTOC__
Zwettl (; Central Bavarian: ''Zwedl''; Czech: ''Světlá'') is a town and district capital of the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is chiefly known as the location of Zwettl Abbey, first mentioned in October 1139.
History
The n ...
; the poems date to the 1230s or 1240s)
#397v: Der Dürner (unidentified, perhaps of
Mengen, Swabia)
#399r: Meister
Heinrich Frauenlob
Heinrich Frauenlob (between 1250 and 1260 – 29 November 1318), sometimes known as Henry of Meissen (''Heinrich von Meißen''), was a Middle High German literature, Middle High German poet, a representative of both the ''Spruchdichtung, Sangspruch ...
(Heinrich von Meißen, born c. 1250)
#407r: Meister Friedrich von
Sonnenburg (unidentified; poems date to the 3rd quarter of the 13th century)
#410r: Meister Sigeher (fl. 1250–1260s; perhaps identical with a ''Sicherius iuculator'' active in
Metz
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...
, possibly a Tyrolian)
#412r:
Der wilde Alexander (an unidentified Alemannic poet of the late 13th century)
#413v: Meister Rumslant (fl. late 13th century, of Northern Germany)
#415v: Spervogel ("Sparrow"; recorded under this nickname are poems by two separate authors, with floruits in the mid and the late 12th century)
#418r: Boppe (of
Bonndorf
Bonndorf is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the southern Black Forest, 14 km southeast of Titisee-Neustadt.
It comprises the villages Boll, Brunnadern, Dillendorf, Ebnet, Gündelwangen, Ho ...
, died 1320; from 1276–1305 serving as reeve of the count of
Nellenburg)
#422r: Der Litschauer (unidentified)
#423v: Der Kanzler ("The Chancellor", 2nd half of the 13th century, possibly Alemannic)
Manuscript history
The compilation of the codex was patronized by the
Manesse family of
Zürich
Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
, presumably by Rüdiger II Manesse (born before 1252, died after 1304). The house of Manesse declined in the late 14th century, selling their castle in 1393. The fate of the codex during the 15th century is unknown, but by the 1590s it had passed into possession of baron Johann Philipp of
Hohensax
The noble family von Sax (originally ''de Sacco'') were a medieval noble family in eastern Switzerland. They owned estates and castles on both sides of the Alps in the modern cantons of St. Gallen, Graubünden and Ticino. The origin of the fami ...
(two of whose forebears are portrayed in the codex, on foll. 48v and 59v). In 1604,
Melchior Goldast published excerpts of its didactic texts.
After 1657 it was in the French royal library, from which it passed to the
Bibliothèque Nationale
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...
, where the manuscript was studied by
Jacob Grimm
Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm (4 January 1785 – 20 September 1863), also known as Ludwig Karl, was a German author, linguist, philologist, jurist, and folklorist. He is known as the discoverer of Grimm's law of linguistics, the co-author of th ...
in 1815. In 1888, after long bargaining, it was sold to the
Bibliotheca Palatina
The Bibliotheca Palatina (" Palatinate library") of Heidelberg was the most important library of the German Renaissance, numbering approximately 5,000 printed books and 3,524 manuscripts. The Bibliotheca was a prominent prize captured during t ...
of
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...
, following a public subscription headed by
William I
William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 1087 ...
and
Otto von Bismarck
Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (, ; 1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), born Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck, was a conservative German statesman and diplomat. From his origins in the upper class of J ...
.
The first critical editions of the ''Codex Manesse'' appeared in the early nineteenth century. The codex is frequently referred to by Minnesang scholars and in editions simply by the abbreviation ''C'', introduced by Karl Lachmann, who used ''A'' and ''B'' for the two main earlier Minnesang codices (the ''
Kleine Heidelberger Liederhandschrift
The Kleine Heidelberger Liederhandschift ("Small Heidelberg Song-manuscript") is a collection of Middle High German Minnesang texts. In Minnesang scholarship it is referred to as MS. A. It is held by the Heidelberg University Library with the sign ...
'' and the ''
Weingartner Liederhandschrift'' respectively).
Two leaves of a 15th-century copy of the manuscript, called the ''Troßsche Fragment'' (''Tross Fragment''), were held in the
Berlin State Library
The Berlin State Library (german: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin; officially abbreviated as ''SBB'', colloquially ''Stabi'') is a universal library in Berlin, Germany and a property of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. It is one of the larg ...
, but went missing in 1945.
[''Des Minnesangs Frühling'', ed. H. Moser and H. Tervooren, Stuttgart 1977, Vol II, pp. 47f.]
Modern reception
The possibility that the compiler was the ''
Minnesinger
(; "love song") was a tradition of lyric- and song-writing in Germany and Austria that flourished in the Middle High German period. This period of medieval German literature began in the 12th century and continued into the 14th. People who wr ...
''
Johannes Hadlaub provided the subject of a poetic novella, ''Hadlaub'' (in the ''Züricher Novellen'', 1878), by
Gottfried Keller
Gottfried Keller (19 July 1819 – 15 July 1890) was a Swiss poet and writer of German literature. Best known for his novel '' Green Henry'' (German: ''Der grüne Heinrich'') and his cycle of novellas called ''The People from Seldwyla'' (''Die Leu ...
.
Gallery
Image:Codex Manesse 127r.jpg, Folio 127r: Works of Walther von der Vogelweide
Image:Codex Manesse Walther von der Vogelweide.jpg, Folio 124r: Walther von der Vogelweide
Image:Konradin.jpg, King Conrad the Young
Image:Codex Manesse Johann von Brabant.jpg, Duke John I. of Brabant
Image:Codex Manesse ausgestellt in der Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg.jpg, ''Codex Manesse'', Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg
References
Sources
* Walter Koschorreck and Wilfried Werner, editors, ''Kommentar zum Faksimile des Codex Manesse: Die grosse Heidelberger Liederhandschrift'' (Kassel: Ganymed) 1981. Commentary to the facsimile edition, with essays by Wilfried Werner, Ewald Vetter, Walter Koschorreck, Hugo Kuhn, Max Wehrli and Ewald Jammers.
* ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' 1911
External links
Complete facsimile
{{Authority control
1304 books
14th-century manuscripts
14th-century poetry
Poetry anthologies
Middle High German literature
Middle High German manuscripts
Minnesang
Literary illuminated manuscripts
German anthologies
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor