Reinmar von Zweter
Reinmar von Zweter was a notable German didactic poet from the thirteenth century, recognized for his metrical and melodic sophistication and classified among the Twelve Old Masters of the Meistersinger school. Likely born around 1200 near the Rhine, Reinmar's life is largely obscure, with details mainly derived from his poetry. He served as a professional Goliard at courts in Bohemia, Mainz, and Sayn between 1235 and 1241, and he was known for his politically charged verses. Reinmar's works often critiqued the papacy, particularly targeting Pope Gregory IX, and he expressed support for the Hohenstaufen dynasty in their quest for a centralized German empire.
His involvement with King Wenzel I of Prague marked a significant shift in his political alliances, as he adapted his views to align with his new patron. Reinmar's poetry, especially his satirical Sprüche, critiques traditional courtly love and provides insights into the social and political climate of his era. His contributions are valued for their historical context, reflecting the complexities of thirteenth-century German society. Scholars estimate that he passed away around 1250, leaving a legacy as a significant figure in medieval German literature.
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Reinmar von Zweter
Poet
- Born: c. 1200
- Died: c. 1250
Biography
Thirteenth century German didactic poet Reinmar von Zweter was one of the Twelve Old Masters of the fourteenth century Meistersinger school, primarily because of his metrical and melodic sophistication. Classed with the great minnesingers Walther von der Vogelweide and Heinrich Frauenlob, as well as Biterolf, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Heinrich der tugendhafte Schreiber, Heinrich von Ofterdingen, and Regenbogen, Reinmar was both revered as a poet and influential politically.
As with most medieval writers, very little is known about his life save what he himself recorded in his work. Based on references in his poem “Von Rîne sô bin ich geborn” (I was born near the Rhine), he was likely born around 1200. Numerous variants of his name appear in manuscript sources: Reymar von Tzweten, Reinmar von Zwetel, Reinhart von Zweten, and Reynhard von Zcwetzen. Late medieval Meistersinger sources refer to him as Römer von Zwickau and Ehrenbote. Nothing is known about his status or education, but it is evident that he was a professional, full-time Goliard, in Bohemia and then at the courts of Mainz and Sayn between 1235 and 1241.
The first appearances of Reinmar in print date to the late 1220’s, when he was agitating against Pope Gregory IX. Although Walther von der Vogelweide, who may have been Reinmar’s teacher, was the first of the minnesingers to incorporate political themes into his writing, Reinmar’s political stanzas were more numerous and more aggressive. He attacked Gregory for seeking worldly power and criticized clerical greed. He supported the Hohenstaufens, who were attempting—but failing—to establish a centralized German empire. Originally he defended Frederick II, but he deferred to papal authority and denounced Frederick after his excommunication in 1239.
Around 1237, Reinmar joined the entourage of King Wenzel I of Prague, relocating to Bohemia and becoming the first German poet to live in Prague. This relocation influenced his politics; Wenzel opposed the Hohenstaufens and Reinmar sided with his patron. Wenzel’s influence also guided Reinmar’s support for King Erik IV of Denmark against Frederick II for the German throne. Reinmar’s move to Prague coincides with Bohemia’s advent as a cultural and political hub.
Reinmar had a low opinion of traditional courtly love poetry, considering it overly formal and emotionally vacuous, and he primarily wrote the short satirical poems known as Sprüche. All of his poetry illuminates the social structure and values of his time and provides important historical data about the politics of this period in German history. Scholars date Reinmar von Zweter’s death to around 1250.