Eilhart von Oberge
Eilhart von Oberge was a medieval poet from northern Germany, born around 1140 and active until the late twelfth century. He is best known for his work "Tristrant," which marked the first German rendition of the iconic Tristan and Isolde tale, a story deeply rooted in themes of love, chivalry, and tragedy. Eilhart's narrative follows the chivalrous knight Tristant, who serves King Mark of Cornwall and becomes embroiled in a series of adventures that lead to his fateful love for Isalde. Despite the significance of his work, much about Eilhart, including his identity and patronage, remains unknown, with scholarly debate surrounding the timing and influences of his writing. "Tristrant" is notable for its nearly ten thousand verses and its blend of elements from earlier French sources, suggesting a complex cultural exchange in medieval literature. Key plot points include Tristant's battles, his unrecognized lineage to a piece of sword, and the fateful potion that binds him and Isalde in love, leading to their ultimate demise. Their intertwined graves symbolically reflect their inseparable bond, emblematic of the story's enduring themes.
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Eilhart von Oberge
Poet
- Born: c. 1140
- Birthplace: Oberg, Germany
- Died: c. 1195
Biography
Eilhart von Oberge was from Oberge in northern Germany. He was born around 1140 and lived to roughly the end of the twelfth century. Eilhart’s Tristrant was the first German appearance of the Tristan and Isolde saga. Eilhart’s identity and his patronage have remained mysteries, and the exact date of his work has been debated. Some momentum gathered behind the theory that if Tristant had been produced before 1170, it would have been the first German version of the story to mention Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Since the story likely came to Eilhart from French sources, scholars hypothesized that the author worked near the Middle or Lower Rhine.
Eilhart’s poem, which has nearly ten thousand verses, presented the archetypal story of the chivalrous Tristant, who was knight to King Mark of Cornwall. To put an end to demands of patronage from Ireland, Tristant was dispatched to battle the giant Morolt of Ireland. Isalde nursed the wounded Tristant to health, unaware that the piece of sword she found in her uncle Morolt belonged to Tristant. Although Cornwall wanted to make Tristant heir to the throne, Mark posed that he would marry the woman who belonged to the strands of hair that had been dropped by a bird. Tristant took up the search and was blown by a storm back to Ireland while sailing. He killed a dragon, but the feat was claimed by a steward of the Irish king. To avoid becoming the prize for the false claimant, Isalde encouraged that the true hero be found. When the wounded Tristant was discovered, Isalde saw that the mar in his sword matched the piece she found in her uncle. Isalde’s father betrothed her to Mark. During their voyage back to Cornwall, Tristant and Isalde drank a potion meant for Isalde’s wedding night. They fell irretrievably in love. The lovers attempted to conceal their desire for each other from Mark, but ultimately they died, unable, even in death, to deny their passion. The vines that covered their graves grew intertwined.