Bernger von Horheim was a

Rhenish The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section. Term Historically, the Rhinelands ...

Minnesänger (; "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 ...

of the late twelfth century. He wrote in the tradition of courtly love and was influenced by

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 ...

. Bernger may originate from Horrheim in

Vaihingen an der Enz Vaihingen an der Enz is a town located between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, in southern Germany, on the western periphery of the Stuttgart Region. Vaihingen is situated on the river Enz, and has a population of around 30,000. The former district-c ...

. Another possibility is

Harheim Harheim () is a borough (''Ortsbezirk'') of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is a possible birthplace of the Minnesinger (; "love song") was a tradition of lyric- and song-writing in Germany and Austria that flourished in the Middle High Germ ...

near

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , " Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on it ...

. A ''Berengerius de Orehem'' is recorded in Italy in 1196 with Philip of Swabia, probably participating in the campaign of

Emperor Henry VI 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 Sic ...

in Apulia. A ''Ritterklage'' in Bernger's fourth song may refer to this campaign. Six of Bernger's songs, seventeen stanzas in total, are recorded in the ''

Codex Manesse The Codex Manesse (also Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift or Pariser Handschrift) is a ''Liederhandschrift'' (manuscript containing songs), the single most comprehensive source of Middle High German ''Minnesang'' poetry, written and illustrat ...

''. Thirteen of these stanzas (all except songs V and VI) are also found in the '' Weingartner Liederhandschrift.'' His songs are predominantly '' Minneklagen'', though song II has been called a '' Lügenlied'' (lying song). In each of its four strophes Bernger sings of happiness and fulfilled love before ending with the claim that he was lying. This song type was later adopted by

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 ...

and Der Marner. Bernger's debt to Chrétien de Troyes is evident in his treatment of

Tristan and Iseult Tristan and Iseult, also known as Tristan and Isolde and other names, is a medieval chivalric romance told in numerous variations since the 12th century. Based on a Celtic legend and possibly other sources, the tale is a tragedy about the illic ...

and the ''

Matter of Britain The Matter of Britain is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur. It was one of the three great Wester ...

.''

References

"Bernger von Horheim."
''German Literature Companion''. ''The Oxford Companion to German Literature''. Oxford University Press, 2005. * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bernger von Horheim Minnesingers 12th-century German poets 12th-century German composers