Ulrich von Zatzikhoven
Ulrich von Zatzikhoven is a medieval author best known for his only surviving work, "Lanzelet," an Arthurian romance that provides one of the earliest adaptations of the Lancelot legend. Likely composed between 1194 and 1203, "Lanzelet" is noteworthy for its unique portrayal of the hero's journey, diverging from the bipartite structure commonly found in the works of other Arthurian writers like Chrétien de Troyes. The narrative features a stable and symmetrical development, emphasizing themes of political stability and the hero's static perfection, rather than the typical rise and fall of honor.
Unlike many tales of the round table, Ulrich's story notably excludes an illicit relationship between Lanzelet and Queen Guinevere, instead focusing on Lanzelet's involvement in her rescue. The work blends realistic courtly life with elements of fantasy, showcasing a richly woven tapestry of social, political, and magical aspects. While criticisms of "Lanzelet" have described it as mediocre or a mere imitation, its significance lies in
On this Page
Subject Terms
Ulrich von Zatzikhoven
Poet
- Born: fl. c. 1194-1203
- Birthplace: Saint-Gall, Switzerland
Biography
Ulrich von Zatzikhoven is remembered for his sole surviving work: the Arthurian romance Lanzelet. One of the first tellings of the French Lancelot legend, Lanzelet is an important work in medieval literature and likely was written prior to the famed Lancelot: Or, The Knight of the Cart by Chrétien de Troyes. Though it is unclear, Ulrich von Zatzikhoven’s work may have been a translation of an earlier French work. Whether it was a translation or an original work, the author composed Lanzelet probably in the years between 1194 to 1203. The oldest surviving complete manuscript known is from the early fourteenth century, but the first English translation did not appear until the 1930’s, when Kenneth G. T. Webster undertook the endeavor; the translation was published in 1951 by Columbia University Press.
The number of manuscripts of and contemporary allusions to Lanzelet indicate that the work enjoyed a some popularity among medieval audiences. While Ulrich’s Lanzelet was characterized by early critics as “insignificant, mediocre, shallow, morally degenerate, a compilation, a good story, a relic, an imitation, and a latecomer,” scholars have found the significance of Ulrich’s work to be largely in its preservation of a Lancelot tradition quite different from that of Chrétien de Troyes.
Ulrich’s Lanzelet does not structurally conform to the bipartite model of Arthurian romance found in the works of Chrétien and others; in their model the hero first achieves honor through a series of adventures but loses it because of some flaw, and in a final series of more purposeful adventures he regains and surpasses his original honor. Ulrich’s development of a static, symmetrical structure reflects the static perfection of the hero and the theme of political stability. In addition, Ulrich’s Lanzelet has no illicit liaison with Queen Guinevere, and is merely a minor player in her rescue from her abductor, Valerîn. Nevertheless, Lanzelet has a remarkable effect on women and acquires no fewer than four wives. The work is a mixture of realistic courtly, political, and social elements mingled liberally with the fantastic world of fairies and magicians.
Little is known about Ulrich von Zatzikhoven aside from what is revealed in his work, but it is widely accepted that he is the Uolricus de Cecinchoven noted elsewhere in historical records, a priest. Ulrich received the manuscript for Lanzelet from Hûc von Morville, who had been a hostage to Duke Leopold of Austria and later to Emperor Henry VI in exchange for King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England.