Wirnt von Grafenberg
Wirnt von Grafenberg is a medieval German poet recognized primarily as the author of the Arthurian romance "Wigalois," composed around 1210-1215. The exact dates of his birth and death are unknown, and much of what is understood about his life comes from the text of this single poem. Scholars suggest that Wirnt likely hailed from Gräfenberg, Bavaria, and he may have been a free knight with possible connections to the Crusades, potentially participating in campaigns during the early 13th century. His writing reflects a deep understanding of both French and German Arthurian traditions, incorporating elements typical of the "fair unknown" narrative style.
"Wigalois" is distinct in that it introduces military campaigns into the Arthurian framework, positioning Wirnt's work closer to English Arthurian literature than to its French counterparts. The poem also strives to convey a moral message, setting it apart from other romances of the time. Additionally, "Wigalois" has been reworked into various forms, influencing later compilations of German Arthurian tales. Through his significant contributions, Wirnt von Grafenberg plays a crucial role in the evolution of Arthurian literature, warranting his recognition in literary history.
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Subject Terms
Wirnt von Grafenberg
Writer
- Born: c. 1170
- Birthplace:
- Died: c. 1235
- Place of death:
Biography
Wirnt von Grafenberg is the name by which the author of the medieval German Arthurian romance, Wigalois (c. 1210-1215; Wigalois, the Knight of Fortune’s Wheel, 1977), is known. There is no record of Wirnt’s dates of birth or death, nor is there any firm evidence about his life, apart from the information that can be gleaned from the single poem attributed to this author. The word “Grafenberg” used to identify the poem’s author is mentioned in the poem as “Gravenberk” or “Gravenberg;” however, scholars are confident that the town referred to is Gräfenberg, located in Bavaria, between Nuremberg and Bayreuth.
Other information about Wirnt is often taken from two other writers who lived at the same time, Konrad von Würzburg and Rudolf von Ems. Konrad’s long poem, Der Welt Lohn (c. 1270-1280), contains a description of an author he calls von Grâvenberc her Wirent. Scholars cautiously associate this description with the writer of Wigalois. From this and from the text of Wigalois, it is possible to make an educated guess that Wirnt was a free knight who may have taken part in one of the Crusades and may have traveled to the Holy Land; it is possible that this Crusade took place from 1217 to 1218, or it could have been the Crusade of Friedrich II from 1228 to 1229.
In addition, since most romances, such as Wigalois, were composed by writers associated with a court, the text of the poem offers clues about the court for which Wirnt was writing. It mentions the death of a prince of Meran, which could refer to several members of the Meran nobility: Berthold I, who died in 1204; Otto I, who died in 1234; and Markgrave Heinrich IV, who died in 1228. In addition, Wirnt refers to the Sant of Nuremberg, suggesting that he might have been connected to the Zollern family.
It is clear from a careful reading of Wigalois that its author was well acquainted with the conventions of Arthurian literature inherited from the French poet Chrétien de Troyes. He also seems to have had thorough knowledge of the German Arthurian legends, including Erec, Lanzelet and Iwein. In addition, the plot of Wigalois follows the conventions of the “fair unknown” stories that circulated in the Middle Ages, including many that were written in French. It is not clear from reading Wigalois if Wirnt could read French, or if he heard about the story from another writer who used the French source.
As is often the case with medieval literature, Wigalois was rewritten in a variety of forms, including a verse version. These variations were ultimately included in an important fifteenth century compilation of German Arthurian romances. Wirnt’s work is notable for other reasons. He changed the received conventions of Arthurian literature to include a military campaign, demonstrating that his work is closer to that of the English Arthurian writers than to the French. Furthermore, Wirnt’s work is a serious effort, one aimed at delivering a moral message, which differentiates his work from the other popular Arthurian romances of his day. Thus, as both the originator of an important part of the Arthurian cycle and a writer who transformed the genre itself, Wirnt deserves his place in literary history.