Freidank
Encyclopedia
Freidank was a Middle High German
lyric poet of the early 13th century.
origin and was probably born at the end of the 12th century in the Alemannic
(Southwest German) linguistic region. As he was educated in writing and proper speech, later generations have imputed him with the romantic life of a wandering unordained cleric or scholar, who earned a living by his poetry on his travels.
It seems likely that in 1228–1229 he was involved in the Sixth Crusade
of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick II
; the poems Von Âkers ("from Acre
", see the W. Grimm edition), which form part of his major work Bescheidenheit, are also from this period. During the crusade he may have reached Jaffa
and was probably a witness of the conclusion of the peace treaty with Sultan Al-Kamil
on 18 February 1229 at Jerusalem and Frederick's self-coronation as King of Jerusalem
. Like most people who took part in the crusades, he perceives the often cynical and brutal realities of such undertakings and this disillusion often influences his works.
Freidank may have died in 1233, if he was the magister Fridancus whose death was reported in the annals of the Cistercian monastery at Kaisheim
. The chronicler Hartmann Schedel
however claimed to have seen a monument with the inscription Freydanck at Venetian Treviso
in 1465.
s in 53 thematic divisions and about 4,700 verses which encapsulate the folk wisdom and experience of the period. Due to its linguistic elegance, the work was very popular for an extremely long time and was thought of as a "Bible of the world". It has been transmitted in numerous manuscripts and also in a Latin
translation ("Fridangi Discretio") and was quoted by contemporary authors, including Hugo von Trimberg
and Rudolf von Ems
. As late as 1508 Sebastian Brant
published a new edition of it. Some quotes have survived as proverbs up to today
A critical edition of "Vridankes Bescheidenheit" by Wilhelm Grimm
appeared in 1834 (although he assumed that Freidank was identical with Walther von der Vogelweide
). A more recent edition is that of H.E. Bezzenberger, originally published in 1872 and reprinted in 1962.
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...
lyric poet of the early 13th century.
Life
He presumed to be of SwabianDuke of Swabia
The following is a list of Dukes of Swabia in southwest Germany.Swabia was one of the five stem duchies of the medieval German kingdom, and its dukes were thus among the most powerful magnates of Germany. The most notable family to hold Swabia were the Hohenstaufen, who held it, with a brief...
origin and was probably born at the end of the 12th century in the Alemannic
Alemannic German
Alemannic is a group of dialects of the Upper German branch of the Germanic language family. It is spoken by approximately ten million people in six countries: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France and Italy...
(Southwest German) linguistic region. As he was educated in writing and proper speech, later generations have imputed him with the romantic life of a wandering unordained cleric or scholar, who earned a living by his poetry on his travels.
It seems likely that in 1228–1229 he was involved in the Sixth Crusade
Sixth Crusade
The Sixth Crusade started in 1228 as an attempt to regain Jerusalem. It began seven years after the failure of the Fifth Crusade. It involved very little actual fighting...
of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
; the poems Von Âkers ("from Acre
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
", see the W. Grimm edition), which form part of his major work Bescheidenheit, are also from this period. During the crusade he may have reached Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
and was probably a witness of the conclusion of the peace treaty with Sultan Al-Kamil
Al-Kamil
Al-Kamil was a Kurdish Ayyubid sultan who ruled North Africa. During his tenure as sultan, the Ayyubids defeated two crusades. In a temporary agreement with the Crusaders, he ceded Jerusalem to the Christians.-Biography:He was the son of sultan al-Adil, a brother of Saladin...
on 18 February 1229 at Jerusalem and Frederick's self-coronation as King of Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
. Like most people who took part in the crusades, he perceives the often cynical and brutal realities of such undertakings and this disillusion often influences his works.
Freidank may have died in 1233, if he was the magister Fridancus whose death was reported in the annals of the Cistercian monastery at Kaisheim
Kaisheim Abbey
Kaisheim Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Kaisheim, Bavaria, Germany.- History :It was founded by Henry II, Count of Lechsgemünd and his wife Liutgard, and was a daughter house of Lucelle Abbey in Alsace. Count Henry's initial gift of the land was made in 1133; the foundation charter was dated...
. The chronicler Hartmann Schedel
Hartmann Schedel
Hartmann Schedel was a German physician, humanist, historian, and one of the first cartographers to use the printing press. He was born in Nuremberg...
however claimed to have seen a monument with the inscription Freydanck at Venetian Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
in 1465.
Works
His work Bescheidenheit ("Modesty" or "Experience"), created between 1215 and 1230, has survived. It is a collection of rhyming aphorismAphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
s in 53 thematic divisions and about 4,700 verses which encapsulate the folk wisdom and experience of the period. Due to its linguistic elegance, the work was very popular for an extremely long time and was thought of as a "Bible of the world". It has been transmitted in numerous manuscripts and also in a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
translation ("Fridangi Discretio") and was quoted by contemporary authors, including Hugo von Trimberg
Hugo von Trimberg
Hugo von Trimberg was a German Catholic didactic author of the Middle Ages....
and Rudolf von Ems
Rudolf von Ems
Rudolf von Ems was a mediaeval Austrian epic poet.-Life:Rudolf von Ems was born in the Vorarlberg in Austria. He took his name from the castle of Hohenems near Bregenz, and was a knight in the service of the Counts of Montfort. His works were written between 1220 and 1254...
. As late as 1508 Sebastian Brant
Sebastian Brant
Sebastian Brant was an Alsatian humanist and satirist. He is best known for his satire Das Narrenschiff .-Biography:...
published a new edition of it. Some quotes have survived as proverbs up to today
A critical edition of "Vridankes Bescheidenheit" by Wilhelm Grimm
Wilhelm Grimm
Wilhelm Carl Grimm was a German author, the younger of the Brothers Grimm.-Life and work:...
appeared in 1834 (although he assumed that Freidank was identical with 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:...
). A more recent edition is that of H.E. Bezzenberger, originally published in 1872 and reprinted in 1962.
External links
- Vridankes Bescheidenheit, 1834 W. Grimm edition at Google Books