# Wolfram von Eschenbach

> German knight and poet (1170–1220)

**Wikidata**: [Q18821](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18821)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfram_von_Eschenbach)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wolfram-von-eschenbach

## Summary
Wolfram von Eschenbach was a German knight and poet who lived from approximately 1170 to 1220. He is best known as the author of the medieval German romance *Parzival*, as well as the poems *Willehalm* and *Titurel*. As a Minnesänger and writer, he is recognized as a significant cultural figure within the Holy Roman Empire.

## Biography
- **Born:** circa 1170
- **Died:** circa 1220
- **Nationality:** Holy Roman Empire
- **Occupations:** Knight, Poet, Minnesänger, Composer, Singer, Writer
- **Known for:** Writing chivalric romances and love songs
- **Field:** Literature, Music

## Contributions
Wolfram von Eschenbach authored several major works of medieval literature that define his legacy:
*   **Parzival:** A medieval German romance dated to approximately the year 1200. This work is his most famous contribution to chivalric romance.
*   **Willehalm:** A poem written by von Eschenbach, contributing to the genre of Middle High German literature.
*   **Titurel:** A literary work dated to approximately 1217, further expanding his body of narrative poetry.

## FAQs
### What was Wolfram von Eschenbach's profession?
He was a multi-talented individual who held the title of knight and worked as a poet, composer, singer, and writer. He is specifically classified as a Minnesänger, a musician who wrote and performed Minnesang (love songs) during the Middle High German period.

### What are the most notable works written by Wolfram von Eschenbach?
His most notable works include the medieval German romance *Parzival* (circa 1200), the poem *Willehalm*, and the literary work *Titurel* (circa 1217).

### Where was Wolfram von Eschenbach from?
He was a citizen of the Holy Roman Empire, a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe. A town in Bavaria, Germany, named Wolframs-Eschenbach, is associated with him, and an asteroid, 9909 Eschenbach, is named in his honor.

## Why They Matter
Wolfram von Eschenbach matters as a central figure in medieval German literature and the culture of the Holy Roman Empire. His work on *Parzival* stands as a definitive example of the chivalric romance genre, shaping the literary tradition of the Middle High German period. As a Minnesänger, he contributed to the musical and poetic traditions of the era, influencing the development of secular art in the region. His status as a knight who also produced complex literary works highlights the intersection of martial and artistic culture in the 12th and 13th centuries.

## Notable For
*   Authorship of *Parzival*, a seminal medieval German romance.
*   Being a Minnesänger who wrote and performed love songs.
*   Holding the title of German knight.
*   Writing *Willehalm* and *Titurel*.
*   Being a subject of study for modern scholars like Laura Mancinelli.
*   Having the asteroid 9909 Eschenbach named after him.
*   Association with the town of Wolframs-Eschenbach in Bavaria.

## Body
### Life and Background
Wolfram von Eschenbach was born around the year 1170 and died around 1220. He lived within the Holy Roman Empire, a vast multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe that existed from 962 to 1806. The empire was a decentralized entity composed of semi-autonomous states, including regions in modern-day Germany, Austria, and Italy, with German and Latin serving as primary languages. Wolfram held the status of a knight and was a citizen of this empire.

### Literary Works
Wolfram von Eschenbach's literary output is central to the canon of Middle High German literature. His primary genre was chivalric romance.
*   **Parzival:** Written around 1200, this is his most significant work. It is a medieval German romance that has become a key text in the study of the period.
*   **Titurel:** This literary work was written around 1217. It contributes to his narrative legacy.
*   **Willehalm:** Another major poem attributed to him, reinforcing his reputation as a leading poet of his time.

### Role as a Minnesänger
Beyond his narrative poetry, Wolfram was a Minnesänger. This profession involved writing and performing Minnesang, which were love songs characteristic of the Middle High German period. This role combined his skills as a composer, singer, and writer, placing him within the tradition of courtly love and musical performance prevalent in the Holy Roman Empire.

### Legacy and Associations
Wolfram's influence extends into modern culture and geography. The town of Wolframs-Eschenbach in Bavaria, Germany, bears his name. In the field of astronomy, the asteroid 9909 Eschenbach is named in his honor. His work remains relevant in academic circles; for instance, the Italian germanist and medievalist Laura Mancinelli is listed as a related key person in the study of his context. His various identifiers across library and academic databases (such as Wikidata ID Q41875, VIAF ID 12316649, and GND ID 118634933) attest to his enduring presence in global knowledge bases.

## References

1. LIBRIS. 2012
2. Musicalics
3. Library of the World's Best Literature
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. BnF authorities
7. MusicBrainz
8. Integrated Authority File
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index3.html)
11. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index17.html)
12. general catalog of BnF
13. CERL Thesaurus
14. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
15. Enciclopedia Treccani
16. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
17. CollectieGelderland
18. HMML Authority File
19. Digital Scriptorium Catalog