Codex Manesse
Encyclopedia
Liederhandschrift
Liederhandschrift is the German term for a manuscript containing songs of the German Middle Ages, dating from the late 12th to the 15th centuries....
(medieval songbook), the single most comprehensive source of Middle High German
Middle High German
Middle High German , abbreviated MHG , is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. It is preceded by Old High German and followed by Early New High German...
Minnesang
Minnesang
Minnesang was the tradition of lyric and song writing in Germany which flourished in the 12th century and continued into the 14th century. People who wrote and performed Minnesang are known as Minnesingers . The name derives from the word minne, Middle High German for love which was their main...
poetry, written and illustrated between ca. 1304 when the main part was completed, and ca. 1340 with the addenda.
The codex was produced in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, for the Manesse family.
The manuscript is "the most beautifully illumined German manuscript in centuries;" its 137 miniatures
Miniature (illuminated manuscript)
The word miniature, derived from the Latin minium, red lead, is a picture in an ancient or medieval illuminated manuscript; the simple decoration of the early codices having been miniated or delineated with that pigment...
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
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,...
, Kings Conradin
Conradin
Conrad , called the Younger or the Boy, but usually known by the diminutive Conradin , was the Duke of Swabia , King of Jerusalem , and King of Sicily .-Early childhood:Conradin was born in Wolfstein, Bavaria, to Conrad...
and Wenceslaus II, down through dukes, counts and knights, to the commoners.
Most of the poems are Minnesang
Minnesang
Minnesang was the tradition of lyric and song writing in Germany which flourished in the 12th century and continued into the 14th century. People who wrote and performed Minnesang are known as Minnesingers . The name derives from the word minne, Middle High German for love which was their main...
, 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, 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
Walther von der Vogelweide is the most celebrated of the Middle High German lyric poets.-Life history:For all his fame, Walther's name is not found in contemporary records, with the exception of a solitary mention in the travelling accounts of Bishop Wolfger of Erla of the Passau diocese:...
is shown in a thoughtful pose which exactly matches the description of himself in one of his most famous songs).
List of poets
- 6r: EmperorHoly Roman EmperorThe Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Henry VIHenry VI, Holy Roman EmperorHenry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,...
(1165–1197) - 7r: King Conrad the YoungConradinConrad , called the Younger or the Boy, but usually known by the diminutive Conradin , was the Duke of Swabia , King of Jerusalem , and King of Sicily .-Early childhood:Conradin was born in Wolfstein, Bavaria, to Conrad...
(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, 1271–1305)
- 11v: Herzog Heinrich von BreslauHenryk IV ProbusHenryk IV Probus was a member of the Silesian branch of the royal Polish Piast dynasty...
(Henry IV, 1258–1290) - 13r: MargraveMargraveA margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
Otto von Brandenburg (Otto IV, 1266–1308) - 14v: Margrave Heinrich von MeißenHenry III, Margrave of MeissenHenry III, called Henry the Illustrious from the House of Wettin was Margrave of Meissen and last Margrave of Lusatia from 1221 until his death; from 1242 also Landgrave of Thuringia.-Life:Born probably at the Albrechtsburg residence in Meissen, Henry was the youngest son of Margrave Theodoric I...
(Henry III, 1215–1288) - 17r: the Duke of AnhaltHenry I, Count of AnhaltHenry I, Count of Anhalt was a German prince of the House of Ascania and Count of Anhalt.He was the oldest son of Bernhard III, Duke of Saxony and Count of Anhalt, by his wife Brigitte a daughter of Canute V of Denmark....
(Henry I, ca. 1170 – 1252) - 18r: John, Duke of BrabantJohn I, Duke of BrabantJohn I of Brabant, also called John the Victorious was Duke of Brabant , Lothier and Limburg .-Life:...
(John I, (1252/1253–1294) - 20r: Count Rudolf von Neuenburg (either Rudolf II, d. 1192, or his nephew Rudolf I, d. 1258)
- 22v: Count Kraft von ToggenburgCounts of ToggenburgThe Counts of Toggenburg ruled the Toggenburg region of today's Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, as well as parts of the Canton of Glarus, Thurgau, Grisons, Vorarlberg, and Zurich when their influence was most extensive....
(probably Kraft III of Toggenburg, d. 1339) - 24r: Count Konrad von KirchbergIllerkirchbergIllerkirchberg is a town in the district of Alb-Donau in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
(either Konrad II, fl. 1275-1326, or his cousin Konrad III, 1281-1315) - 26r: Count Friedrich von Leiningen (probably Friedrich II, d. 1237)
- 27r: Count Otto von BotenlaubenOtto von BotenlaubenOtto von Botenlauben or Botenlouben , the Count of Henneberg from 1206, was a German minnesinger, Crusader and monastic founder....
(d. 1244) - 29r: Margrave von HohenburgHohenburg, BavariaHohenburg is a municipality in the district of Amberg-Sulzbach in Bavaria in Germany....
(either Diepold V. von Vohburg, fl. 1205-1225, or his son Bertold IV, d. 1256). - 30r: Herr Heinrich von Veldeke (d. after 1184)
- 32v: Herr Gottfried von NeifenNeuffenNeuffen is a town in the district of Esslingen, in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.-Geography:It is located 14 km northeast of Reutlingen, and 28 km southeast of Stuttgart....
(d. 1279) - 42r: Count Albrecht von Heigerloch (Albrecht II of HohenbergCounts of Hohenberg (Swabia)The Counts of Hohenberg were an ancient swabian dynasty in the southwest of the present-day Germany, in the State of Baden-Württemberg. In the 13th century the dynasty of Hohenberg was one of the most prominent lineages in Southwestern Germany. In 1381 however, Rudolf III...
, d. 1298) - 43v: Count Wernher von HombergWernher von HombergWernher von Homberg was a knight in the service Emperor Henry VII, and later of Frederick the Fair. His Minnesang poems are recorded in the Codex Manesse....
(d. 1320) - 46v: Herr Jakob von WarteNeftenbachNeftenbach is a municipality in the district of Winterthur in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Neftenbach is first mentioned in 1209 as Neftinbach....
(d. 1331) - 48v: Brother Eberhard von Sax (fl. 1309)
- 52r: Herr Walther von KlingenKlingnauKlingnau 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 the city. He and the abbot reached an agreement over which of...
(f. 1240s–1280s) - 54r: Herr Rudolf von RotenburgRothenburg, SwitzerlandRothenburg is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Rothenburg has an area of . Of this area, 67.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 15.5% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
(fl. 1287) - 59v: Herr Heinrich von Sax (probably Henry II, 1235-1289)
- 61v: Herr Heinrich von FrauenbergRuscheinRuschein is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. Its official language is the Sursilvan dialect of Romansh.-Geography:...
(fl. (1284-1305) - 63r: Der von KürenbergDer von KürenbergDer von Kürenberg or Der Kürenberger was an middle-age poet, and one of the first named poets to write in Old High German language....
(12th century) - 64r: Herr Dietmar von AistDietmar von AistDietmar von Aist was a Minnesinger from a baronial family of Upper Austria, documented between 1140 and 1171,whose work is representative of the lyric poetry of the Danube region.-Life:...
(fl. 1140s–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, d. 1294)
- 71v: Herr Kristan von Hamle (probably an author of 13th-century ThuringiaThuringiaThe Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, otherwise unknown) - 73r: Herr Ulrich von Gutenburg (fl. 1170s)
- 75v: Herr Heinrich von der MureHarburg, BavariaHarburg is a town on Bavaria's romantic road with one of the most impressive remaining medieval castles in Germany. It is in the Donau-Ries district.The castle was first mentioned in 1150 and has never been seriously damaged by war...
(fl. 1223-1263, a Dominican friar, prior at Eichstätt and later at Augsburg) - 76v: Herr Heinrich von MorungenHeinrich von MorungenHeinrich von Morungen or Henry of Morungen 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 Thuringia...
(fl. 1210s) - 82v: Der SchenkCup-bearerA cup-bearer was an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and...
von LimpurgSchwäbisch HallSchwäbisch Hall is a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg and capital of the district of Schwäbisch Hall. The town is located in the valley of the river Kocher in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg....
(either Walther I, fl. 1230s-1240s, or one of his sons, Walther II or Konrad I) - 84v: Schenk Ulrich von Winterstetten (fl. 1250s-1270s)
- 98r: Herr Reinmar der Alte (fl. late 12th century)
- 110r: Herr Burkart von HohenfelsÜberlingenÜberlingen is a city on the northern shore of Lake Constance . After the city of Friedrichshafen, it is the second largest city in the Bodenseekreis , and a central point for the outlying communities...
(fl. 1220s-1230s) - 113v: Herr Hesso von ReinachReinach- Places :*Reinach, Aargau , a municipality in Switzerland*Reinach, Basel-Country , a municipality in Switzerland- Surname :* Adolf Reinach , German philosopher...
(1234-1275/76) - 115r: BurgraveBurgraveA burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
von LienzLienzLienz is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of Patriasdorf.-Geography:...
(fl. early 13th century) - 116v: Herr Friedrich von HausenFriedrich von HausenFriedrich von Hausen was a mediaeval German poet, one of the earliest of the Minnesingers; born some time between 1150–60; d. 6 May 1190....
(d. after 1188) - 119v: Burgrave von RietenburgRiedenburgRiedenburg is a town in the district of Kelheim, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Altmühl, northwest of Kelheim and northeast of Ingolstadt.-References:...
(either Henry IV. fl 1174-1184, or Otto III, fl. 1154-1185) - 120v: Herr Meinloh von Sevelingen (mid-12th century)
- 122r: Herr Heinrich von RuggeBlaubeurenBlaubeuren is a town in the district of Alb-Donau near Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.It has 11.963 inhabitants as of December 2007.-Coat of arms:...
(f. 1170s) - 124r: Herr Walther von der VogelweideWalther von der VogelweideWalther von der Vogelweide is the most celebrated of the Middle High German lyric poets.-Life history:For all his fame, Walther's name is not found in contemporary records, with the exception of a solitary mention in the travelling accounts of Bishop Wolfger of Erla of the Passau diocese:...
(c. 1170 – c. 1230) - 146r: Herr Hiltbold von SchwangauSchwangauSchwangau 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 tourist attractions of Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss...
(fl. 1221-1254) - 149v: Herr Wolfram von EschenbachWolfram von EschenbachWolfram von Eschenbach was a German knight and poet, regarded as one of the greatest epic poets of his time. As a Minnesinger, he also wrote lyric poetry.-Life:...
(c. 1170 – c. 1220) - 151r: Von Singenberg, Seneschal of St. GallenSt. GallenSt. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
(probably Ulrich von Singenberg, fl. 1220s) - 158r: Der von Sachsendorf (unknown; possibly mentioned by Ulrich von Lichtenstein as serving Frederick II of AustriaFrederick II, Duke of AustriaFrederick II, known as the Quarrelsome or the Warlike , from the House of Babenberg, was the duke of Austria and Styria from 1230 to 1246....
) - 160v: Wachsmut von Künzingen (unknown, perhaps from Clemency, LuxembourgClemency, LuxembourgClemency is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Capellen, which is part of the district of Luxembourg....
) - 162v: Herr Wilhelm von Heinzenburg (near Bad KreuznachBad KreuznachBad Kreuznach is the capital of the district of Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is located on the Nahe river, a tributary of the Rhine...
; probably William III fl. 1264-1292) - 164v: Herr Leuthold von SevenHartbergHartberg is a city in Styria, Austria, the capital of the district of the same name. As of the census of 2001, it has a population of 6,547 in an area of 21.54 km². About 68 km up the A2 is the large city of Graz....
(fl. 1218) - 166v: Herr Walther von Metze (died before 1276, otherwise unknown)
- 169v: Herr Rubin (unknown, mid-13th century)
- 178r: Herr Bernger von HorheimBernger von HorheimBernger 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....
(late 12th century) - 179v: Der von Johansdorf (Albrecht, fl. 1172-1209)
- 181v: Herr Engelhardt von AdelnburgSeubersdorfSeubersdorf is a municipality in the district of Neumarkt in Bavaria in Germany....
(either fl. 1200 or 1220s, perhaps father and son of the same name) - 182v: Herr Bligger von SteinachNeckarsteinachThe four-castle town of Neckarsteinach lies on the Neckar in the Bergstraße district in the southernmost part of Hesse, Germany, 15 km east of Heidelberg.-Location:...
(probably Bligger II, fl. late 12th to early 13th century) - 183v: Herr Wachsmut von Mühlhausen (fl. 1267)
- 184v: Herr Hartmann von AueHartmann von AueHartmann von Aue was a Middle High German poet. He introduced the courtly romance into German literature and, with Wolfram von Eschenbach and Gottfried von Strassburg, was one of the three great epic poets of Middle High German literature...
(c. 1160 – c. 1210) - 188r: Herr Reinmar von BrennenbergBrennbergBrennberg is a municipality in the district of Regensburg in Bavaria in Germany....
(fl. 1270s) - 190v: Johann von RinggenbergRinggenbergRinggenberg is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located on the northern shores of Lake Brienz. It has a small church that was built on the ruins of a castle in the 17th century....
(probably Johann I, 1291-1350) - 192v: Albrecht Marschall von Rapperswil (fl. c. 1280)
- 194r: Herr Otto vom Turne (of LucerneLucerneLucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, 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. 1220s–1230s)
- 204r: Von Scharpfenberg (of RatschachRadeceRadeče is small town and a municipality in the Lower Sava Valley in eastern Slovenia. It is located in the Sava Hills on the right bank of the Sava River at the confluence with Sopota Creek. It is part of the traditional province of Lower Carniola...
, mid-13th century) - 205r: Herr Konrad, der Schenk von Landeck (of ThurgauThurgauThurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
, 1271–1306) - 213r: "Der Winsbeke" (followed by a didactic poem; it is unclear whether Winsbeke is a historical or a fictional character)
- 217r: "Die Winsbekin" (a parody of the preceding didactic poem)
- 219v: "Klingsor of Hungary" (fictional character introducing the SängerkriegSängerkriegThe Sängerkrieg , also known as the Wartburgkrieg , was an alleged contest among minstrels at the Wartburg castle in Thuringia in 1207.-Medieval accounts of the Sängerkrieg:...
poem) - 226v: Kristan von Luppin of ThuringiaThuringiaThe Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
(fl. 1290s) - 228r: Herr Heinrich Hetzbold von WeißenseeWeißensee, ThuringiaWeißensee is a town in the district of Sömmerda, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 6 km northwest of Sömmerda, and 25 km north of Erfurt.-History:...
(early 14th century) - 229v: Der Düring (an unidentified ThuringiaThuringiaThe Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
n poet, late 13th century) - 231r: Winli (an unidentified Alemannic poet, ca. 1300)
- 237r: Herr Ulrich von LiechtensteinUlrich von LiechtensteinUlrich von Liechtenstein was a medieval nobleman, knight, politician, and minnesanger. He was born in 1200 in Murau, located in present day Austria. After the usual noble training as a page and a squire to Margrave Heinrich of Istria, he was knighted by Duke Leopold VI of Austria in 1223...
(c. 1200–1275) - 247v: Von Munegiur (given name Ulrich, othewise unknown)
- 248v: Von Raute (given name Hartwig, fl. c. 1200, otherwise unknown)
- 249v: Herr Konrad von AltstettenAltstättenAltstätten is a town in the district Rhine Valley, in the canton of St. Gall in Switzerland.- Overview :The town consists of the following tracts: Alter Zoll, Altstätten, Bächis, Baumert, Bieser, Büeberg, Bühl, Bühl , Bühl bei Hinterforst, Burgfeld, Bürglen, Burst, Domishäuser, Fidern, Gätziberg,...
(perhaps a mayor of St. Gallen, attested 1320–1327) - 251r: Herr Bruno von HornbergHornbergHornberg 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.-External links:...
(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 against Ottokar II of BohemiaOttokar II of BohemiaOttokar II , called The Iron and Golden King, was the King of Bohemia from 1253 until 1278. He was the Duke of Austria , Styria , Carinthia and Carniola also....
in 1278) - 255r: Von Trostberg (an unidentified member of either of an Argovian or a Tyrolian family of ministeriales)
- 256v: Hartmann von Starkenberg (of Werdenberg-Sargans, either Hartmann I, fl. 1250s, or his son Hartmann II, fl. 1270s)
- 257v: Von StadeggeStadeckStadeck was an important family of ministeriales in Styria during the 13th and 14th centuries.The family is named for Stattegg castle, beginning with Rudolph I . His son Rudolph II Stadeck was an important family of ministeriales in Styria during the 13th and 14th centuries.The family is named for...
(Rudolph II, one of the leading Styrian minnesingers, fl. 1230s–1250s) - 258v: Herr Brunwart von AugheimAuggenAuggen is a municipality in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It also belongs to a region called Markgräflerland that has both cultural and historical importance....
(late 13th century) - 261r: Von Stamheim (unidentified; fl. c. 1240s)
- 262v: Herr Goeli (of BadenBadenweilerBadenweiler, a health resort and spa of the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, historically in the Markgräflerland. It is 28 kilometers by road and rail from Basel, 10 kilometers from the French border, and 20 kilometers away from Mulhouse...
, 13th century) - 264r: Der TannhäuserTannhäuserTannhäuser was a German Minnesänger and poet. Historically, his biography is obscure beyond the poetry, which dates between 1245 and 1265...
(of ThannhausenLords of Thannhausenvon Thannhausen is an old and still existing German aristocratic family with the rank of Freiherr . Their residence is in the municipality of Tannhausen ....
, fl. 1240s–1260s; depicted as a member of the Teutonic Order) - 271r: Von BuchheimBuchheimBuchheim is a municipality in the district of Tuttlingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
(2nd half of 13th century) - 273r: Herr Neidhart (born ca. 1200 in Lower BavariaLower BavariaLower Bavaria 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-Wald. Recent election results mark it as the most conservative part of Germany, generally giving huge...
) - 281v: MeisterMeisterMeister means master in German . The word is akin to maestro. Many modern day German police forces use the title Meister. During the Second World War, Meister was the highest enlisted rank of the Ordnungspolizei.Meister has been borrowed into English slang, where it is used in compound nouns...
Heinrich Teschler (of ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, 2nd half of 13th century, patronized by Rüdiger Manesse) - 285r: Rost, Kirchherr zu SarnenSarnenSarnen is the capital of the canton of Obwalden situated on the shores of Lake Sarnen , Switzerland. It has a population of just under 10,000 and is surrounded by countryside and mountains. Sarnen is located 20 km south of Lucerne.- History :...
(in ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
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 RebsteinRebsteinRebstein is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Rheintal in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-Geography:Rebstein has an area, , of . Of this area, 60.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 7.9% is forested...
, fl. 1230s–1270s) - 292v: Der SchulmeisterScholariusScholarius , Scholares or Scholaris may be:*Greek scholars in the Renaissance*the title of a medieval scholar in general*a member of the Scholae Palatinae military unit*the epithet of Gennadius Scholarius...
von EßlingenEsslingen am NeckarEsslingen am Neckar is a city in the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany, capital of the District of Esslingen as well as the largest city in the district....
(late 13th century) - 295r: Walther von BreisachBreisachBreisach 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 between Freiburg and Colmar — 20 kilometres away from each — and about 60 kilometres north of Basel near the...
(without portrait) - 299r: Von Wissenlo (probably WieslochWieslochWiesloch is a city in Germany, in northern Baden-Württemberg. It is situated 13 kilometres south of Heidelberg.After Weinheim, Sinsheim and Leimen it is the fourth largest city of the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis and is in the north-central area near Heidelberg with its neighbouring town Walldorf...
; unidentified) - 300r: Von Wengen (Burchard, fl. 1230s–1270s, member of a familiy of ministeriales of the counts of ToggenburgCounts of ToggenburgThe Counts of Toggenburg ruled the Toggenburg region of today's Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, as well as parts of the Canton of Glarus, Thurgau, Grisons, Vorarlberg, and Zurich when their influence was most extensive....
) - 302r: Herr Pfeffel (unidentified, mid 12th century)
- 303r: Der Taler (perhaps Leuthold von Tal, near RheineckRheineckRheineck is a municipality in the Wahlkreis 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...
, fl. 1250) - 305r: Der tugendhafte Schreiber ("The Virtuous Scribe"; unidentified, appears as a character in the SängerkriegSängerkriegThe Sängerkrieg , also known as the Wartburgkrieg , was an alleged contest among minstrels at the Wartburg castle in Thuringia in 1207.-Medieval accounts of the Sängerkrieg:...
) - 308v: Steinmar (perhaps Berthold Steinmar von KlingnauKlingnauKlingnau 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 the city. He and the abbot reached an agreement over which of...
, fl. 2nd half of 13th century) - 311r: Herr Alram von Gresten (unidentified, perhaps of GrestenGrestenGresten is a municipality in the district of Scheibbs in Lower Austria, Austria....
in Lower Austria) - 312r: Herr Reinmar der Fiedler (unidentified, fl. mid 13th century)
- 313r: Herr Hawart (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 RegensburgRegensburgRegensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
(probably Heinrich III von Stevening und RietenburgRiedenburgRiedenburg is a town in the district of Kelheim, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Altmühl, northwest of Kelheim and northeast of Ingolstadt.-References:...
, 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 shieldHeater shieldThe heater shield or heater-shaped shield is a form of European medieval shield, developing from the early medieval kite shield in ca. the mid 13th century....
) - 323r: Herr Reinmar von ZweterReinmar von ZweterReinmar von Zweter was a Middle High German poet of Spruchdichtung. The iconography in the Manesse Codex suggests that he may have been blind, since he is the only person represented in the manuscript with closed eyes and other people writing...
(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 CeljeCeljeCelje is a typical Central European town and the third largest town in Slovenia. It is a regional center of Lower Styria and the administrative seat of the Urban Municipality of Celje . The town of Celje is located under Upper Celje Castle at the confluence of the Savinja, Ložnica, and Voglajna...
) - 344v: Bruder Wernher (unidentified; mid 13th century)
- 349r: Der Marner (probably marinaere "the mariner"; unidentified, but mentioned by Meister Rumslant below)
- 355r: Süßkind, der Jude von TrimbergSüßkind von Trimbergthumb|230px|right|Süßkind, der Jude von Trimberg , portrait from the Codex Manesse.Süßkind von Trimberg is given as the author of six poems in the Codex Manesse...
(unidentified, 2nd half of the 13th century) - 358r: (isolated anonymous poem)
- 359r: Von Buwenburg (Baumburg near Hundersingen, probably Ulrich von Buwenburg, fl. 1260)
- 361r: Heinrich von TettingenDettingen- Municipalities :* Dettingen an der Erms in the district of Reutlingen in Baden-Württemberg* Dettingen an der Iller in the district of Biberach in Baden-Württemberg* Dettingen unter Teck in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg...
(well documented during 1236–1300; of a family of ministeriales of Reichenau abbey) - 362r: Rudolf der Schreiber (unidentified)
- 364r: Meister Gottfried von Straßburg (d. c. 1210)
- 371r: Meister Johannes HadlaubJohannes HadlaubJohannes Hadlaub is one of the Minnesingers whose works are recorded in Codex Manesse.He was a citizen of Zürich, and is on record as buying a house there in 1302....
(of ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, fl. 1300, possibly the redactor of the codex) - 381r: Regenbogen ("Rainbow", an unidentified Alemannic poet, depicted as a smith)
- 383r: Meister Konrad von WürzburgKonrad von WürzburgKonrad von Würzburg was the chief German poet of the second half of the 13th century.As little is known of his life as that of any other epic poet of the age. By birth probably a native of Würzburg, he seems to have spent part of his life in Strassburg and his later years in Basel, where he died...
(d. 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 ZwettlZwettlZwettl is a town and district capital in Lower Austria. It is chiefly known as the location of Zwettl Abbey, first mentioned in October 1139.- Geography :...
; the poems date to the 1230s or 1240s) - 397v: Der Dürner (unidentified, perhaps of MengenMengen, GermanyMengen is a town in the district of Sigmaringen, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km southeast of Sigmaringen....
, Swabia) - 399r: Meister Heinrich FrauenlobHeinrich FrauenlobHeinrich Frauenlob , sometimes known as Henry of Meissen , was a Middle High German poet and minnesinger. The nickname Frauenlob means "praise of women" or "praise of Our Lady".-Biography:He was born in Meissen. He had great musical talents, and he held court positions in Prague...
(Heinrich von Meißen, b. ca. 1250) - 407r: Meister Friedrich von SonnenburgSt. LorenzenSt. Lorenzen is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 100 km northeast of Trento and about 50 km northeast of Bolzano...
(unidentified; poems date to the 3rd quarter of the 13th century) - 410r: Meister Sigeher (fl. 1250s–1260s; perhaps identical with a Sicherius iuculator active in MetzMetzMetz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, possibly a Tyrolian) - 412r: Der wilde AlexanderDer wilde AlexanderDer wilde Alexander, also known as Meister Alexander, was a medieval Minnesänger who was active from the mid-1200s until after 1288. His works are considered to be part of the Sangspruchdichtung.-Life:...
(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 BonndorfBonndorfBonndorf 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, Holzschlag, Wellendingen and Wittlekofen. The town is...
, d. 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 patornized by the Manesse family of ZürichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, presumably by Rüdiger II Manesse (b. before 1252, d. 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 (two of whose forebears are portrayed in the codex, on foll. 48v and 59v). In 1604, Melchior Goldast
Melchior Goldast
Melchior Goldast ab Haiminsfeld was a Swiss writer and an industrious though uncritical collector of documents relating to the medieval history and constitution of Germany....
published excerpts of its didactic texts.
After 1657 it was in the French royal library, from which it passed to the Bibliothèque Nationale
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
, where the manuscript was studied by Jacob Grimm
Jacob Grimm
Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm was a German philologist, jurist and mythologist. He is best known as the discoverer of Grimm's Law, the author of the monumental Deutsches Wörterbuch, the author of Deutsche Mythologie and, more popularly, as one of the Brothers Grimm, as the editor of Grimm's Fairy...
in 1815. In 1888, after long bargaining, it was sold to the Bibliotheca Palatina
Bibliotheca Palatina
The Bibliotheca Palatina of Heidelberg was the most important library of the German Renaissance, numbering approximately 5,000 printed books and 3,524 manuscripts....
of Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, following a public subscription headed by William I
William I, German Emperor
William I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the...
and Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
.
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 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
Berlin State Library
The Berlin State Library is a library in Berlin, Germany and a property of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.-Buildings:The State Library runs several premises, three of which are open for users, namely House 1 in Unter den Linden 8, House 2 in Potsdamer Straße 33 and the newspaper archive...
, but went missing in 1945.
Modern reception
The possibility that the compiler was the MinnesingerMinnesang
Minnesang was the tradition of lyric and song writing in Germany which flourished in the 12th century and continued into the 14th century. People who wrote and performed Minnesang are known as Minnesingers . The name derives from the word minne, Middle High German for love which was their main...
Johannes Hadlaub
Johannes Hadlaub
Johannes Hadlaub is one of the Minnesingers whose works are recorded in Codex Manesse.He was a citizen of Zürich, and is on record as buying a house there in 1302....
provided the subject of a poetic novella, "Hadlaub" (in the Züricher Novellen, 1878), by Gottfried Keller
Gottfried Keller
Gottfried Keller , a Swiss writer of German-language literature, was best known for his novel Green Henry .- Life and work :...
.