Pfaffe Konrad
Pfaffe Konrad was a German priest and poet known for composing "Das Rolandslied," an epic poem written in Middle High German around 1172. This work is a translation of the Old French "Chanson de Roland," dating back to approximately 1100, and is notable for being the first major German literary piece to engage with the theme of the Crusades. It reflects the cultural and religious priorities of Konrad's era, particularly under the influence of Frederick I Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor.
Konrad’s translation not only adapted the story but also infused it with Christian values and virtues, presenting heroes like Roland and Oliver as paragons of faith and chivalric duty. His work is significant for establishing a narrative style that would resonate within the German literary tradition in the following centuries. Konrad’s connections to nobility, particularly Duke Heinrich der Löwe, and his educational background suggest a well-educated cleric who actively participated in the cultural life of his time. His contributions helped shape the portrayal of holy warfare and the ideals of knightly conduct in medieval German literature.
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Pfaffe Konrad
Poet
- Born: fl. c. 1172
Biography
German priest Pfaffe Konrad (the word pfaffe means “cleric” in German), composed Das Rolandslied (c. 1172; Priest Konrad’s Song of Roland, 1984). This epic poem, written in Middle High German, is a translation of Chanson de Roland, which was written in Old French in the year 1100. Das Rolandslied marks the origin of the narrative written in the vernacular which became prevalent in the German empire in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. It is a significant contribution to literature because it is the first major German work to incorporate the Crusade as a theme and to describe an imperial holy war staged to conquer heathens. During Konrad’s time, the Crusade was a priority of Frederick I Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Germany from 1152 until 1190. Konrad was one of many clerical writers whose work influenced the German culture.
Konrad’s identity has been discovered by determining the identity of his patrons. In the epilogue of Das Rolandslied, Konrad names Duke Henry, later identified as Heinrich der Löwe, duke of Saxony and Bavaria, and Mathilda, his second wife, whose father was King Henry II of England, as his patrons. Konrad’s position and prestige at their court is based upon legal charters that Heinrich issued in the 1170’s; according to these documents, Konrad was present at the duke’s court between 1171 and 1176. These documents ascribe various names to Konrad, including ducal chaplain, Sir Konrad the Swabian, and Master Konrad the priest. It is quite probable that Konrad was well educated in an institution of higher learning, possibly in France, a place where clerics often studied, since the title “master” denotes a graduate of such an institution.
In his epilogue to Das Rolandslied, Konrad lavishes praise upon Heinrich’s court. In this same epilogue, he states that he took the original French text of Chanson de Roland and translated it into Latin. Konrad then reportedly translated the Latin version directly into German without changing the actual content of the text. However, scholars note that Konrad’s text and Chanson de Roland differ because Konrad embellishes his story by exhorting his readers to accept the Christian virtues of his heroes as models for their actions. The two texts also diverge because Konrad incorporates Bible quotations and paraphrases in his translation to support the actions of his character, Emperor Karl, as he embarks upon a holy war against the pagans of Spain. Konrad creates the model of chivalric duty, with his characters Roland and Oliver choosing martyrdom as a path to heaven. He does not attribute their deaths to pride or timidity as may be inferred from the original source, but he portrays them as men whose faith inspires their valor.