Reinmar der Alte
Reinmar der Alte, also known as Reinmar the Elder, is recognized as a pivotal figure in the tradition of minnesang, the lyrical poetry of the German Middle Ages. Born Reinmar von Hagenau, likely in the Alsace region, he became a prominent poet at the court of Duke Leopold V in Vienna during the late 1100s. His contributions to the genre include the introduction of Romance lyric poetry, as well as the creation of numerous ballads that explore themes of love, desire, and beauty, often conveying the complexities of unrequited love and the idealization of women.
Reinmar's works encompass between nineteen and sixty-four ballads, as well as comedic tales and a lament. While he was highly regarded for his melodic compositions, the actual melodies have been lost to time. His title "the Elder" serves to distinguish him from later poets of the minnesang tradition. Notably, much of what is known about Reinmar today comes from the writings of his contemporary, Walther von der Vogelweide, who both acknowledged Reinmar's influence and parodied his style. Reinmar's legacy endures as a masterful voice in medieval poetry, and he is one of the twelve acknowledged masters of the minnesang tradition. He passed away in the early 1200s.
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Reinmar der Alte
Poet
- Born: Unknown
- Died: c. 1210
Biography
Reinmar der Alte, whose name means Reinmar the Elder, is best known as the most important of the minnesang writers. His work marked the greatest achievement of the minnesingers, as well as the beginning of the decline of this style of writing.
Reinmar was born as Reinmar von Hagenau. Although all records documenting the date of his birth and the place where he was born are lost, it is assumed he was born in Alsace, Hagenau, Austria and later moved to Vienna. There is evidence that he served as poet in the court of Duke Leopold V in Vienna in the late 1100’s, and that he joined the duke on a crusade. Two crusade songs are attributed to Reinmar.
While at the Babenberg court in Vienna, Reinmar introduced Romance lyric poetry. Reinmar was recognized as a master in creating melodies, and showed great ability in writing about the themes of the minnesingers, particularly the discomfort caused by yearning for love and, at the same time, fearing it. He also reflected upon the concept of love that is not reciprocated. His poems discuss these concerns, as well as celebrating the ideal of beauty in womanhood. Reinmar reflected upon proper courtship behaviors and appropriate ways to show praise for women in his poetry. Between nineteen and sixty-four ballads are attributed to him; however, none of the melodies are remembered today. He authored two comical stories and a lament as well.
Reinmar’s assigned designation as “the Elder” developed because it differentiated him from those who followed in his footsteps in later years as rheinischen minnesingers, lyric poets of a High German Middle Ages style. Reinmar was the official poet of the court, and is one of twelve minnesingers recognized as masters. He died in the early twelve hundreds.
Ironically, most the information on Reinmar is available to us through one of his contemporary rivals in verse, Walther von der Vogelweide. Walther was at one time a student of Reinmar, and some of his writing is considered a parody of Reinmar’s style. When Reinmar died, Walther wrote poetry that eulogized Reinmar, showing his deep respect for the poet as well as acknowledging the competition between them. Manuscripts from this period do not always distinguish the poetry of Walther from that of Reinmar. It is estimated that eighty of Reinmar’s works survive, but only thirty of them can be authenticated.