Hugo von Montfort
Encyclopedia
Hugo von Montfort was an Austria
n minstrel
of the late Middle Ages
.
Hugo VII was the Count of Montfort-Bregenz
and Pfannberg, head of an old and influential family of nobles, holding numerous high administrative posts. He spent most of his adult life in the service of the house of Habsburg
: as commander in chief of the ducal
Austrian troops in Italy
, as Hofmeister
of Duke Leopold IV
, as governor of Styria (1412-1415), and as a vicar
in Thurgau
, Aargau
, and the Black Forest
. In 1373 he married Margaret of Pfannberg
, thereby vastly increasing the area controlled by the house of Montfort. In 1399 he acquired Festenburg Castle
in Upper Styria.
Hugo wrote songs, Minnebriefe, and political and didactic speeches. Approximately 40 of his texts are preserved. He is considered one of the last representatives of the German Minnesang
.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
of the late Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
Hugo VII was the Count of Montfort-Bregenz
Bregenz
-Culture:The annual summer music festival Bregenzer Festspiele is a world-famous festival which takes place on and around a stage on Lake Constance, where a different opera is performed every second year.-Sport:* A1 Bregenz HB is a handball team....
and Pfannberg, head of an old and influential family of nobles, holding numerous high administrative posts. He spent most of his adult life in the service of the house of Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
: as commander in chief of the ducal
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
Austrian troops in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, as Hofmeister
Hofmeister (office)
In medieval Europe, a Hofmeister was a house tutor, also responsible for the care of his students beyond their education....
of Duke Leopold IV
Leopold IV
Leopold IV may refer to:* Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt* Leopold IV, Duke of Austria* Leopold IV, Duke of Bavaria* Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe...
, as governor of Styria (1412-1415), and as a vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau 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:...
, Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
, and the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
. In 1373 he married Margaret of Pfannberg
Burgruine Pfannberg
Burgruine Pfannberg is a castle in Styria, Austria.-References:This article was initially translated from the German Wikipedia....
, thereby vastly increasing the area controlled by the house of Montfort. In 1399 he acquired Festenburg Castle
Burg Festenburg
Burg Festenburg is a castle in Styria, Austria.-References:This article was initially translated from the German Wikipedia....
in Upper Styria.
Hugo wrote songs, Minnebriefe, and political and didactic speeches. Approximately 40 of his texts are preserved. He is considered one of the last representatives of the 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...
.
Recordings
- Die lieder des Hugo von Montfort: «Fro welt, ir sint gar húpsch und schón» Eberhard Kummer. ORF Alte Musik CD3011 [CDx2+DVD]
Further reading
- Wernfried Hofmeister: Hugo von Montfort. Das poetische Werk. De Gruyter, Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-110176-04-1
- Anke Sophie Meyer: Hugo von Montfort. Autorenrolle und Repräsentationstätigkeit. Kümmerle, Göppingen 1995, ISBN 3-87452-855-3