Page 1

1

Dr. Jrgen Breuer, Worms:

Bliggers Umbehang: The Nibelungenlied 1. Understanding of the Nibelungenlied

The Nibelungenlied describes in 38 Aventiuren, adventures,

1

the history of

Royal Family of the Burgundians. Residence of the three kings Gunther, Gernot and

Giselher and their beautiful sister Kriemhild is Worms, the capital

Burgundy.

This epic was in spite of a relatively simple plot structure of the German

Research, especially the German, a variety of problems on the one hand

leaves the quantity of manuscripts to the prevalence in the later Middle Ages

Close, on the other hand, the author does not mention.

2

The time of origin in 1200 is hard to specify precisely. Detectable

historical

Covers, inner literary chronological relations and the

Rhyme technique give a frame of 1180 - 1210. Historical time references to

Staufer rule sound, but have more the character of the update

older fables of the Burgundians, their kings and the Empire. The Dissemination

the manuscripts scattered throughout the late Middle Ages; first

the medieval reception focused on the surroundings of Lake Constance,

in the 15th century but are also found in the Rhine-Frankish and in

Dutch space copies that of a large-scale distribution

Suggest song.

After the retrieval of the Nibelungenlied in Hohenems arose from the

Romance out under the umbrella of a nationally oriented German in 19th

Century the tendency to study the linguistic work of art on the

to limit German philology.

The idea of poetic and creative soul of the people left the German to

Language history, textual criticism and mythology limit. (...) Under the care

students Lachmann came philology as textual criticism to full bloom.

Man lost in individual questions, albeit in the with unusual

Passion led Nibelungen dispute whose leader Karl Mllenhoff, Franz

Pfeiffer and Karl Bartsch were the among the presented little things

Struggle for the freedom of research raged.

Since the German nation-building in 1871, the Nibelungenlied was on the other hand

1

Manuscript C, manuscript B has by dividing a Aventiure more.

2

The research results on the Nibelungenlied and the action are summarized and listed in

Joachim

Bumke: The four versions derNibelungenklage`, 1996, ibid

Page 2

2

Available as a political ambitions field. The political use of constellations

changed for the Nibelungenlied in the 19th century of sophisti-

republican to royalist reactionary and then sat down on the first

World War and its coping continued in Nazism. Chancellor

von Blow coined in 1909 the term of unquestioning loyalty; Paul von Hindenburg

compared with Germany's defeat Siegfried's murder; Hermann Gring

appointed in 1943 to the struggle of the Nibelungen.

The romantic approaches and the orientation of the German in the

Wilhelmine period to the north have a to this day

created irrational cycle of legends which the Nibelungenlied and its

are contemporary reception does not do justice. Sigurd is not Siegfried and

Hgni not Hagen. So make the Nibelungenlied excited Reuse and

Neudichtungen a special reception strand (Raupach 1834 Geibel 1861

Hebbel 1862), who has worked back to the understanding of the Nibelungenlied. The

is still regarded mainly for predominantly fed from Nordic sources new

Mythologizing of the substance in Richard Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen (1863).

Here the path of the historian is taken back to the sources: the

Consideration of the kingdom of the Franks under the Merovingian dynasty, the

Carolingian, the Salian and finally the Staufer royal court in Worms

allows the term of the Nibelungs and the Burgundians historically plausible

to make and to also mention the poet of the Nibelungenlied ..

Page 3

3

2. The contents

Part One (16 Aventiuren)

In the land of the Burgundians to Worms on the Rhine, there is King Gunther. His

Brothers Gernot and Giselher stand by his side. Among many other nobles

including Hagen of Tronje and Volker von Alzey the wake of three

Brothers. These do not have a sister, the beautiful Kriemhild to the Siegfried

advertises of Xanten, the case as a heroic and invulnerable dragon slayer

the Burgondenknigen is already known.

Siegfried is Kriemhild get to wife, he must Gunther helps

beautiful and exceptionally strong Brunhild to overcome Queen of Iceland,

and as a wife to win. Using its Alberich the dwarf wrested

Stealth defeated Brunhild Siegfried, invisible to the Gunther's side fighting.

Any return to Worms, where double wedding is celebrated.

Siegfried and Kriemhild spend in Xanten ten happy years until on

Invitation Gunther and greisem accompanied by Siegfried's father Siegmund

come back to Worms. Here come the two queens front of the cathedral

reveals in dispute, and Kriemhild, Brunhild that time not by Gunther, but

has been defeated by Siegfried. For their revenge win Brunhild Hagen, who

the pretext of wanting to protect Siegfried, Kriemhild of the only

Siegfried's vulnerable spot undergoes. At a fountain at the Odenwald

pierced him Hagen from behind with his spear.

Part Two (11 Aventiuren):

Kriemhilds hatred of Hagen is heightened when this her from Siegfried

inherited and transported to Worms Nibelungen Treasure takes away and in

Rhine sunk. After years of mourning she takes the advertising of Hun

Etzel, presented by Margrave Rdiger von Bechelaren, and attracts the

Hunnenhof. After marriage in Vienna and moving into Etzel's castle

she reigns as queen over the Huns and gives Etzel also a son

named Ortlieb. Your revenge for the murder of Siegfried but they will not forget.

After 13 years, she invites her brothers with their retinue to a feast. Despite the

Warning Hagens decide the kings, the invitation to follow; in the

Border region they are hosted by hospitable Margrave Rdiger; here

it comes with even the engagement between the daughter and Rdiger Gotelinds

Giselher and exchange of gifts before the Burgundians to Etzel

Burg continue riding.

Part Three (11 Aventiuren):

Page 4

4

The Burgundians, now also known as Nibelung, come under Hagens and

Volkers guide to Etzel's court. Volker and Hagen take a hostile

Attitude towards Kriemhild, which in Hagen hands Siegfried's sword

Balmung sees and finally demands the Nibelung treasure. Volker and

Hagen demonstrate their opposition. Kriemhild succeeds after futile

Try finally, Bldel, brother Etzel to gain revenge for their plan:

But this loses by Hagens brother Dankwart life before the

Burgundian squire be slain; on this news heads Hagen

the young prince Ortlieb. In combat all Burgundians fall to Hagen

and Gunther, who was captured by Dietrich von Bern and before Kriemhild

to be brought. You can kill Gunther to get out of the hiding place of Hagen

To learn Nibelung treasure; when he is silent, she kills him by hand and

then the old Hildebrand, the armorer Dietrich, with the sword

struck down.

This is the downfall of the dynasty of the Burgundians, the seizure after

the Nibelung treasure and the sword Balmung also called Nibelungen

will.

All manuscripts of the Nibelungenlied is a second, Christian-oriented

Narration added, the action: The messenger Werbel and Swmmel report in

Passau and in Worms from the demise of the Nibelungen at Etzel's court.

3. The "Nibelungen" in the epic

The name Nibelung does not appear in Nibelungenlied for a single song figure

but he referred to in the first part of the treasure owners who subdues Siegfried,

namely the king's sons and Schilbung Nibelung, in the second part it is then

to identify the Nibelungen with the Burgundians; it is said in verse

1519/20:

The Snellen Burgundians themselves hoben UZ

d waiting Uupper in the countryside a Michel.

beidenthalp the mountains weinde WIP and you.

SWI there ir volc getaete, si fuoren vroelche dan.

The Nibelunges helde Komen with in Dan

halspergen in tsent. ze Hs si heten ln

vil manige nice vrouwen, di si geshen never m

Sfrides the wounds did Kriemhilde WE.

Page 5

5

Burgundians and Nibelungen be quite regionally differentiated. Siegfried is

in the first part of the Lord of the Nibelungs, his wife Kriemhild lays claim

on the treasure as dowry. Here at the start to Etzel's court include

Nibelungen with the Burgundians to force. If then in the sequence when train

to Etzel's court the Wormser Army Group under Hagens leadership as Nibelungen

is called (NL 1712; 1723; 1734; 1867; 1897; 2172), then marked the

Poet, that dominion over the Nibelungenland after Siegfried's death at the

Burgundians has passed. Siegfried, throughout as the hero of the Netherlands

called, is after defeating dwarf Alberich as the ruler of the

Seen Nibelungen and also the stronghold of the Nibelungen based (NL 736).

The varied use of the term "Nibelungen", even for the

People that Siegfried by the killing of kings Schilbung and Nibelung and

Overcoming the dwarf Alberich has conquered, then the Wormser Heeres-

Reck or association which comes under Hagens guide to Etzel's court should be,

explain, as the symbol of the sword and the Balmung Nibelungenhort. The

both Nibelungen kings passed this sword Siegfried for rent (NL 91) and

by means of this sword succeeds Siegfried to slay the kings, Alberich

defeat and win the Nibelungenhort.

Siegfried used this sword successfully against the Danes and Saxons (NL

205), he used it even in the hunt (NL 952). After the murder of Siegfried

Hagen carries this sword that he won on a bad kind (NL 1795), he sets it

against Hildebrand (NL 2302) and to Dietrich von Bern (NL 2347) a. The same

Sword Balmung is the poet than the sword, or the Nibelungen

designated (NL 2344 u. 2345). Hagen is in spite of the sword of Dietrich

tied up and loses his life.

Looking at the sword as the symbol of kingship in the Middle Ages,

as required by the symbolism of the imperial regalia, then the in epic

process illustrated quite plausible: Siegfried wins by the "borrowed"

or donated sword of Nibelung the power and stronghold, by the

young Nibelungen kings slays; Hagen takes over as the murderer of Siegfried

Sword and power and adds thereby the Nibelungen in the retinue of

Burgundians a. The popular or dynasty name Nibelungen comes in

two ways to the Burgundians over: you have the sword, and also the

Treasure, that all political power, through their crimes received, they are allowed to

boast of the name of the Nibelungen, but go to this fame because of their

Excessiveness, its unmaze, based. The Hagen ultimately also benefits the

Sword of the Nibelungen, Balmung, with whom he still met Hildebrand crucial

nothing more than Dietrich ties him with strong arms.

The Nibelungen sword Balmung corresponds Nibelungenhort. View this design

pervades as consistent as the sword of the overall action of the

Epic (NL 87, 771, 1113, 1268, 1320, 1738, 1739). The Hort owner Siegfried

Page 6

6

seems plagued by any scruples, acquired the treasure by homicide to

have, but he appears unconcerned on without actually legitimize its possession

to. Likewise, Hagen goes to the nursery to unlawfully and sunk him

Finally, in the Rhine. Finally Kriemhild beheads her adversary Hagen

the sword Balmung because this is not the hiding place of the Nibelung treasure

reveals.

4. The Nibelungen as Carolingian historian

It appears from the statement Song forth little sense, the name "Nibelungen" on

to relate historical individual personalities. The Nibelungs are rather than

People to capture parallel as the root or as an aristocratic group to the song historically;

their

The insignia, sword and treasure became violently Siegfried, then

After his assassination Hagen or Burgondenknige. Since the acquisition of

Treasure and the sword are the Burgundians called Nibelungen.

The two described in connection with the Nibelung operations:

Treasury division and transfer of the sword, are the historian as Reich divisions

and change of dynasty familiar in the history of the Franks. We can in

inform the two main sources of Frankish history:

Gregory of Tours (538-594) reported in the "Ten Books History" from

Reich division principle of the Merovingian and the so-called. Fredegar continued this

Historiography by "The Four Books of Chronicles" continues until the year

736. This is mainly the realm of the Merovingian and divisions

its managers, the Carolingian Meier and the Treasure Theme:

3

Let the names of the authors of the sequels Fredegar's Chronicle

listen up :. Count Hildebrand of Burgundy, brother or half-brother of Karl

Martell - this is the grandfather of Charlemagne - was responsible for the second

Continuation of the historic opera 736-751.

4

His son, Count of Burgundy Nibelung dictated the history of the Carolingian

751-768 his clerk. Is the highlight of their time

the change of dynasty of the Merovingians to the Carolingians, also Pippinids

3

Herwig Wolfram: Introduction to: The four books of the Chronicles of the so-called

Fredegar (Baron

from Stone Memorial Edition IV a), p.6: "must Particular emphasis of the work

Fredegarischen

his interest in the royal treasury (eg, IV 85), taxation (II 37, III 80, IV 24) and for the

Theory of international relations (eg, IV 87) shall apply. "

4

Ibid. P.8: "Hildebrand, who was so against his half-brother remained completely loyal,

had

Possessions in nearby Melun and probably at Autun. About the place where these

pippinidisch-nibelungische house story was written, no further details can be

determined, but

they too may have been written in Metz. "

Page 7

7

called.

Still Count Hildebrand reported: "At this time, on the Council and the

Sent an embassy to the consent of all the Franks the apostolic seat

and after the papal verdict became known, was the

illustrious Pippin, as of old, the order requires, by selection

all francs together with the Queen to the throne of the kingdom Bertrada

set, which initiated him the bishops and the leading men of the kingdom to him

subdued. "

5

When the last Merovingian king Childeric III. 751 was sent to the monastery and

the Carolingian had taken over the kingdom, began the

History of Count Nibelung. In the franc history states:

"Up to this point was the vir inluster Count Hildebrand, the uncle of the king

mentioned

Pippin, the story or the action of the franc to record carefully. From

Here the recording took place under the supervision of the vir inluster Nibelung, the

Son of Hildebrand, who was a Graf also. "

6

The change of dynasty of the Merovingians to the Carolingians falls accordingly with

the change of history together. These so-called. Conti Nationes

Fredegarii Count Nibelung are the main source of Franconia

History until today is of particular importance.

7

5

Continuationes 33 / p.299.

6

Continuationes 34 / S.301.

7

Herwig Wolfram: Introduction to: The four books of the Chronicles of the so-called

Fredegar (Baron

from Stone Memorial Edition IV a), p.9: This Conti Nationes Fredegarii are a source

of

History until today is of particular importance: "The fact that her performance but so

much

Charles Martel and Pippin is aimed, of course is related to the character of a house

history

together. But precisely because here the opinion of the distinguished Carolingian about

yourself

is reproduced, the Conti Nationes Fredegarii for us of extraordinary value. Especially

noteworthy is the embossed of Old Testament ideas conception of kingship, as

it shows in all sequels. "

Page 8

8th

5. The origin of the Nibelungen

Now the the side branch of the Carolingian entstamme ends of the author

Conti Nationes Fredegarii Hildebrand and Nibelung no accident called

Individual personalities, but they were members of an important

Family group and were among the Frankish Great.

The question of the historical Nibelungen leads far back to the time of

Beginnings or the origin of the Carolingian dynasty. The secured

Family tradition called Arnulf, bishop of Metz and Pippin the Elder as

derenAhnherren that decision in the struggle for power in Austrasia, the

Frankish Eastern Empire, 613 the rebellion against the Queen Brunhild - as

Westgotin wife of Merovingian Siegbert I, then widow - spearheaded. The

Rebellion succeeded, Brunhild was executed, it is in Autun, the former

Buried capital of Burgundy.

8th

A century later, the Pippinids secured the final power: Karl

Martell, the grandfather of Charlemagne, and his half-brother Count Hildebrand

of Burgundy, the father of the historian Nibelung, politically negotiated

and militarily in common:

So it is to the victories of Charles Martel: "The Saracens gathered their enemy

Army and invaded the heavily fortified and lying on a hill town

Avignon one; This uprising they ravaged the area. On the other hand sent

the excellent dux Karl his brother whom dux Childebrand, a capable

Man with other duces and comites with an army contingent in that area. They

came very quickly to this city, pitched tents and occupied at all

Sides the area around the city; they besieged the heavily fortified city and

drew up a battle line, to the great warrior Karl them succeeded and the

called City attack; he put walls around, struck camp and aggravated the

Enclosure. As with Jericho, they attacked with war cries and sounds of tubas

with siege equipment and rope ladders urban and house walls on, invaded

this well-fortified town, and put them on fire; They took the army of their

Enemies caught, slaughtered and threw them down and brought the city with

Success returned to their violence. "

9

The battles against the Arabs to Avignon, the 738 in favor of the Franks

could be finished, show the consensual military and political

Actions by Charles Martel and his half-brother Count Hildebrand, the

Progenitor of the Nibelungen. In Tours / Poitiers 732 and 738 in Avignon was the

8th

Ibid. P.12 f.

9

Fredegar continuationes 20 / p.289 f.

Page 9

9

Banned Sarazenengefahr

With the attainment of kingship over the Franks in 751 Hildebrand has

Son, Count Nibelung, the historiography until the coronation of Charlemagne

adopted; He therefore enjoyed the special confidence of the dynasty

Carolingian.

The monastery took Nivelles in the Carolingian dynasty and its religious-

political claim a key role; you can be the assumption

not quite close that Count Hildebrand his son after this monastery

named or conversely an ancestor of the dynasty the name for this

Monastery was because the dynasty of the historical Nibelungen decreed in the 8th and

9th

Century on top of functions in the Frankish kingdom nobility.

10

The

Nibelungenlied makes especially the Burgundian branch of historical

Nibelungen interesting, with Hildebrand II., Son of Count I. Nibelung,

attaches. . Hildebrand II son Ekkard had three sons; Besides Dietrich

Richard, the righteous, Duke of Burgundy, and Boso, Count of Vienne, of

particular importance: Richards son Rudolf became king of France. His

Brother Boso, Count of Vienne, 879 could be to the king of Lower Burgundy

crown. His son Ludwig III., The blind, 901 even reached the imperial,

but was captured by his adversary Berengar in Italy 905

and blinded. Important in the overview of this genealogy Nibelungian

Family branch is finally a Rudolf I. of Upper Burgundy, which there 888

Another Burgundian kingdom founded. He was on his sister

Adelheid the brother of Richard, the righteous.

Around 900 there were therefore three adjacent control or Kingdoms with the

Name Burgundy, two furnished as Carolingian successor states

Kingdoms in Lower Burgundy under King Boso and his son Ludwig III.,

Upper Burgundy under King Rudolph I (the Burgundian Guelph), and the

West Frankish duchy of Burgundy under Richard the righteous of Burgundy,

his son Rudolf was then 923 elected and anointed king of Francia.

All three Burgundian kings Nibelungen, the first two (or Boso

Ludwig III. of Lower Burgundy, and Rudolf, king of Francia) directly in

male line descended from Count Nibelung, the third, the Welf Rudolf

I. of Upper Burgundy, about his sister Adelheid with the historical

Nibelungen marriage.

Around this time, therefore, we find a trinity of Burgundy kings who made

the sex of the Nibelungs come. Ins Nibelungenlied is this

Triple structure of the Burgundian kings added. Simultaneously, the

Statement of the song saying that from the Burgundians in the second part of the epic

Be Nibelungen.

10

For the following cf. Laetitia Boehm:. History of Burgundy, aaOl

Page 10

10

6. Worms as Burgunden- and Nibelungen town

But how is it now to refer to as the capital of Worms

Burgondenreichs and simultaneously act as a center of the whole epic?

After the efforts of the Emperor Otto I to Burgundy and his marriage

Adelheid, daughter of King Rudolph II. of Upper Burgundy, sister

Conrad I., King of Burgundy, eventually joined the Salian Konrad II. And

Henry III. . 1032 - Rudolf III, King of Burgundy, had passed away - the heritage:

The Salian whose old grave Lege is located in the Worms Cathedral, the kings were

of Burgundy. This Burgundian kingdom was then in the next century -

with all three Burgundian part rich - by marriage to Beatrix of Burgundy

the Staufer Friedrich Barbarossa and his son Henry VI .; the

Pfalzgrafschaft Burgundy received Heinrichs brother Otto. During his lifetime, the

poet

the triumvirate of the Kings of Burgundy illuminate new; this had in Worms

her favorite residence.

The term of the Nibelungen thus comprises a total of the generations of

Burgundian sexes, ranging from the Pippinids Hildebrand and

Nibelung, Count of Burgundy, on the three kings Boso of Vienne, Rudolph

II. Of Upper Burgundy and Rudolph I of France, and finally the dynasty

Salian, based in Worms and in the follow-up to the Staufer Friedrich

Barbarossa and Henry VI. Is the sinking of the Nibelungen at Etzel's court

multiple matches: First 907 in the disastrous Battle of

Pressburg, as a large part of the Carolingian aristocracy with the Margrave

Luitpold died and the Ostmark was lost to the Hungarians; but also quite

Currently in failed crusade 1189/90 whose output historically the

Decline of the Staufer dynasty initiated. With the events of

Vlkerwanderungszeit 436/7 has the story of the song probably has little in common,

because then came the Huns of Aetius to Burgundy, in the song draw

Burgundians in the opposite direction to the Huns to Etzel's court.

Page 11

11

7. The Nibelungenlied and the literary tradition of the chanson de geste

The setting of the scene of the epic by the poet in the first

Stanzas of the Nibelungenlied is known: Kriemhild and her brothers grow in

Burgundy on. The brothers Kriemhilds Gunther, Gernot and Giselher are there

Kings. Make the song with their followers and the people first, the

"Burgundians", then in the second part of the song - especially in the doomsday

scenario -

the Nibelung represents.

For this is the peculiar historical parallel that the Count Nibelung -

Historian of the Carolingian to the throne seizure of Charlemagne -

Graf was in Burgundy, in the ancient capital of Autun, where the historical

Brunhilde prevailed and received her tomb.

Research has in France and in Germany before the Second World War

diverse energy it used historical evidence for the presence

the tribe of the Burgundians in Worms and Mainz area under King

Gundahar find 406-436. A comparison of the historical

Circumstances of the procedures in the Nibelungenlied is but not very productive

remained: Neither is the historic environment of this time to reasonably safe

open, still refer acting narrative characters and plot episodes

specifically on this phase of the migration period. This is already alone from the

Life and work of Queen Brunhilde clear that as supreme ruler

in Autun and Worms not in the first half of the 5th century, but in the

second of the 6th century has gone down in the history of Burgundy.

The Paris Nibelungenlied researcher Jean Fourquet writes 1998:

"For 70 years (1926-1996) I read the Nibelungenlied as the legend of the

Burgondenuntergang, 437. No one seemed to indicate that Theodoric

had not yet been born around 437, Attila still autocrat (and in

eastern empire). But it was possible that the knowledge that the Burgundians

a (relatively short) time on the left bank of the middle Rhine

had been settled, had penetrated in scholarly circles, about about Rome

the Arelat, and claims of the then vast state Bourgogne on the

then "Staufer" Rhineland seemed justified. Frederick I was the king

crowned of Burgundy in 1178. I content myself with, this possibility

to point: the paraphrase (or paraphrase, rechristening) would be 1189

been made at the time when the Emperor Frederick I, a mighty

Heere Executive Board, which gathered in Regensburg, 1190 via Passau, on the

Danube to reach Hungary. The Nibelungenlied-poet knows the spot

unions at the exact route. Had the Empress Beatrice, Comtesse de Bourbon

Gogne that Friedrich had married 1156, be aware of any buoch Kriemhilde,

Page 12

12

the at this time (1150-1160) was born? They stayed like the Imperial Palace to Speyer.

As Beatrixens father, Renaud III. Died, Friedrich was solemnly "roi de

Bourgogne "crowned, in Arles (1178). New studies would be needed,

to elicit whether someone knew in Arelat that the Rhineland once by the

Burgundians had been settled ... "

Fourquet makes it clear that the poet of the late 12th century with

Burgundy and the Burgondenknigen another time and space rule

thinks than previously thought. This perspective is already reflected in the

Text structure: The poet does not mention in the initial verses the

Tribe, but the region or territory, the kingdom or the country:

Kriemhild growing in Burgundy (NL 2); as zen Burgundians something ir lant genant

(NL

5). He pays primarily probably his supreme mistress the attached

Respect, the Queen and Empress Beatrix of Burgundy, as well as his master

Frederick Barbarossa, who was crowned in Arles in 1188 as King of Burgundy.

This refers to the representation of Burgondenknige, its splendor and its

But destruction is not only the end time of the Staufer Empire, the Burgundy as

valuable part of the empire was involved and was ruled from Worms, but

Rather, the development of the imperial power, from the sword and Hort

Nibelungen up to the downfall of the Burgundians at Etzel's court. The historic

Process of developing Burgundy, the author politically from his perspective

interpreted, thus becomes a fable of the epic. Therefore the poet sums in

Closing

verse what is happening as the Nibelunge not or Nibelunge Liet together.

A survey of the literary landscape to the time of origin of the

Nibelungenlied, so can be found in France a comprehensive literary tradition

epic poetry:

11

These older chansons de geste relating to military

Events and the kings and vassals clans to the time of Charlemagne, but

on whose ancestors as Charles Martel and Pippin and his descendants

Louis the Pious to Charles III. (Gen. The Fool). The content

aristocratic rulers and vassal clans and their conflicts to display

brought total based on historical models.

12

The French literary genre of chanson de geste was before the

11

This art form unfolded with the Chanson de Roland (1090 originated) and the Gormont

et Isembart

(1068-1104). Then came the Chanson de Guillaume (1110-1120), Le Couronnement

de

Louis (1131-1137), Moniage Guillaume (1160-1180), Le Voyage de Charlemagne

(between

1130 and 1150), Girart de Roussillon (1146-1149), the crusade cycles Chanson

dAntioche, Les Chetifs, La

Conqute de Jerusalem (1177-1181); also with unsecured dating Aiol, Raoul de

Cambrai and the

Lorraine epics Garin le Loherain, Renaut de Montauban and Gerbert de Metz (to

1185). To see dating.

Michael Heintze: king, hero and clan, S.21-29.

12

See below p

Page 13

13

Emergence of the Nibelungenlied distribution in German-speaking countries. Best

Example of this is the transfer of Roland song by the priest Konrad in

the German language; This describes the work and (9079-9083):

I haisze the phaffe Chunrat.

So iz at the Beech gescribin stat

in franc hissing tongues

I han iz in the latine bedwngin,

Danne gekeret in di tutiske.

(I am the priest Konrad.

What in French

written down in the book is,

I have into Latin

and then translated into German)

The translation into German, the same time a transformation towards

the crusade idea, was preceded by a Latin version. The present

German version is probably originated in 1172

13

and as follows Herzog

Henry the Lion dedicated (9017-9034):

Nu we wnschen all geliche

the Duchess Hain Riche

DAZ got the lone.

di di matteria is scone.

di sueze we have of the:

DAZ buoch he hiz before wearing,

gescriben ze the Karlingen.

the siege di noble Duke held,

Aine Richen chuoniges barn.

(We wish all

Duke Heinrich

God's reward.

The project is magnificent.

The kindness we have from him,

commissioned for this book he gave,

written about the Carolingian.

This required the noble duchess,

the daughter of a wealthy king.)

13

Dieter Kartschoke: The dating of the German "Chanson de Roland", Stuttgart 1965

(Germanistische

Treatises 9)

Page 14

14

Addressed in the dedication of the epic not only Henry but also

whose second wife Mathilde, daughter of King Henry II. of England. This

demanded the testimony of Conrad the epic about the family of the Carolingian, daz

buoch he hiz submit that gescriben ze the Karlingen. the siege di noble Duke held.

Against this background the question is literary, because if not the

Aventiuren the Nibelungenlied a chanson de geste, or as William

Wanted to characterize W.Kibler for later modern form, a chanson

daventures represent.

14

Subject of the epic would be the fate of the clan

the Nibelungen. There are many indications for such an assumption. First offers

the final stanza of the poem, the events collectively, the Notice on

the illustrious family of the historical Nibelungen:

Ine chan iu niht modestly what sider as geschach,

wan knights and vrowen you weep properly,

represents knehte to di noble, Ir love friunde dead.

since DAZ has Maere an end: diz is the Nibelunge not.

(Version B)

Ine say iu nu niht mers of the Grozen not -

who were erslagen since that time Lazen dead -

as ir is geviengen DINCH at the Huns diet.

hie has DAZ Maere an end: DAZ is the Nibelunge Liet.

(Version C)

The version C suppressed stronger than B the program: Not the concept of necessity

the Nibelungen, which is currently in the final part of the Kampftod of stretching,

can summarize the events of the epic, but only the lapidary sentence daz

is the Nibelunge Liet , this is the Chanson daventure des Nibelungen .

Another indication that a chanson de geste is present, provides the determination,

that in the historical dynasty of the Nibelung family so many names with the

Heroes of the Nibelungenlied agree that this is the French

Research in 1934 was striking:

15

"In a discussion about the place of

Origin of the Nibelungen, the legendary hero of the Germanic epic has,

Recently Henri Grgoire's name Nibelung of the monastery of Nivelles

derived and assumed that the Burgundian Nibelungen legend their

14

See William W. Kibler. "La ". In: Essor et Fortune de la chanson

de geste dans

lEurope et Lorient latin. Actes du Congrs International de IXe Socit pour Rencesvals

ltude of

popes Romanes. Padoue-Venise, 29 aot-4 septembre 1982 (Modena, 1984), vol. 2,

S.509-515.

15

Levillain, Les Nibelungen historiques, S. 345, A.3: "Dans une dicussion rcente

laquelle a donn lieu

lorigine des Nibelungen, les Hros lgendaires de Lpope germanique, M. Henri

Grgoire fait ce venir

nom de Nibelung de celui de Nivelles et suppose que les Nibelungen Burgondes de La

Legende ont

emprunt leur dnomination aux Nibelungen francs de qui ne lhistoire seraient, ent fait

que les

Pippinides. "

Page 15

15

Designation would have borrowed from the Frankish Nibelungen history that in

Reality which were Pippinids ".

Thanks to the comprehensive investigation of Michael Heintze to the Chanson de

gesture and their education cycles appear set the criteria under which the

Compared Aventiuren the Nibelungenlied with those of the French role models

can be. In the Nibelungenlied the life of the hero appear

and his death, the relationship between king and vassal, the loss of the model

Features of Karlknigtums, the conflict between the king and vassal and the

Family education on the part of the royal family, the Feudalsippen and

Verrtersippen.

16

Heintze succeeds, a kind of genealogy of literary figures

form of chansons, inspired by historical models and by the

Clan structure is marked.

With its presentation of the royal family and their marriage practices followed by the

Nibelungenlied poet the system of chansons de geste in the way they the

Adel world at least since 1150 was familiar.

17

In Girart de Roussillon and Raoul de

Cambrai are the motives of the clan feud and the conflict between the king and

Vassal already worked out in detail.

This called royal clan arrange the rest of us either as figures

foreign royal house or a vassal to groups, but not in a system

the subservience but as broadly balanced consultants and opponents.

Even Rumold, the chef, is a consultant and even as Landverweser

taken the kings seriously.

It therefore appears in the Nibelungenlied, a far-reaching structural relationship

gesture with the above-cited Chansons de French origin. Important

Common features are the conflict motives of rulers and

Vassal families, the marriage and the resulting therefrom dynastic

Claims and especially the common historical reference room, namely the

Environment of Charlemagne, who speak as the ideal ruler figure the mirror image

the successful or unsuccessful political actions of his predecessors or

Representing successors in kingship.

Under no circumstances should the differences with the prescribed in France

Be overlooked song structures: the center and the starting point of all

Aventiuren is the city of Worms, thus an eastern seaward position of the

Frankish Empire. The Aventiuren can - with a few exceptions - no

16

See Michael Heintze. King, hero and clan. Studies on the Chanson de geste of the 13th

and 14th

Century and its cycles Education (Studia Romanica, Ed.. Kurt Baldinger, Klaus

Heitmann, Ulrich

Molk. 76.Heft). Heidelberg 1991st

17

Ibid., P.207 ff.

Page 16

16

Hero image to, but rather an anti-image: Gunther overcomes Brunhild by cunning,

Siegfried has on fraud in part, Hagen killed Siegfried sneaky, Bldel slays

the unarmed miners, Kriemhild let the brother beheaded, kills the

Hagen is bound, as a woman of Hildebrand cut to pieces, etc.

The outstanding feature of the epic is thus its independence both in

selecting praised family and the place of action; In addition, the

very skeptical assessment of heroism and domination symbols Note

example of Nibelungenschatz and Nibelungen sword. This prohibits from

outset assessing the Nibelungenlied as ancient Germanic heroic epic;

such an interpretation does not appear even by a naive

Language comprehension forth possible because even Siegfried enters the Wormser Hof

in

courtly sense not as a hero but as a brawny usurper on. And is

Gunther - hanging on the nail - a hero? Even the figure of the ideal knight

Rdiger, like the Dietrichs by participating in the unjust

Extermination Kriemhilds questioned.

Among the variety of Nibelungenlied manuscripts has the handwriting of a

the Bodmer Library - it dates from the 15th century - one in Geneva

Curiosity: The first 5 are Aventiuren by a prose introduction as follows

Text replaced:

Since you tzalt of Christ gepurde sibenn / hundertt iar afterward Inn vietzistenn the IAR

/

because what pipanus Vonn frannkchreich Romisch / augostus the hueb to Ram VND

satztt

/ To Genn chostanntinapell Vonn ungeharsam the Rmr / VND verswuer he never

is kham. He also satztt zee / Vogt ann his place Herdietreich chunig betw gottlanntt

because / the man called tzeitt Herdietreich of pernn Pey because tzeiten / lives of the

setting

Romans Boetzius because herdietreich Vieng vumb / The DAZ he vast the Romr before

the deadline with

his weishaitt / v and was geuangen vunntz to seinenn death agony herdietrichs / zeitenn

Dec

romischenn vogtz the auennteur / dec vergienng pueches Vonn because rekchenn VND

Vonn

kreymhilldenn /

18

This historical distortion initially appears incomprehensible to the historian:

Although the statement is correct, that Theodoric (Dietrich), called from Bern

(Verona) his Roman contemporaries Boethius 510 consul and later

to magister palatii appointed him eventually accuse, imprison and after a long

Executed prison was; but the personality of Pippin the Younger, the 751 of the

Merovingian kingship took over, does not fit in this time level. How should

of the centuries earlier deceased Ostrogoth as Vogt Roman

have used? Now called the writer of the 15th century created

18

The Nibelungenlied. Parallel printing of manuscripts A, B and C together with readings

of other

Manuscripts. Ed. By. Michael S. Batts, Tbingen 1971 S.795.

Page 17

17

Handwriting expressly only the year 740, in which this is all done and the

Aventiure the book have played by the stretching and of Kriemhild itself.

One might therefore hold him for a historically ignorant, the on

Lives of these three personalities are difficult or impossible

was informed and as tumber copyists whose assignment could not afford.

In contrast, however, the talks completely correct allocation of Theodoric and Boethius

and the correct political assessment of the position of Pippin in the middle of

8th century.

It does not appear therefore rather advised that historically the incorrect assignment

Schreiber imputable, but the structuring of the Nibelungenlied itself

due. Because acting in song characters can indeed partially with

historical figures are compared, such as Dietrich von Bern

Theodoric the Great, died 526, King Etzel the Hun

Attila, died 453, King Gunther with the Burgundian king Gundahar, the 437

fell against the Hun auxiliaries of Aetius; likewise, a comparison of the

Bishop Pilgrim of Passau possible with the historic Pilgrim of Passau, the

991 died.

The examples show that any attempt to the song as historical figures

Refer to personalities on a single time level, to fail

is doomed. We must therefore separate them from the ideas, the

Nibelungenlied tell the downfall of the Burgundy Empire 437 in Mainz and

Wormser room because the Burgundians or Nibelungs pull of the Worms

Hunland while historically the Huns, the Burgundian kingdom of Worms

Have overrun space.

Back to our clerk as amended A: He has the events surrounding Kriemhilds

Revenge on the time of the first Carolingian king Pepin, father of Charlemagne

Great respect. The literary representation of the deeds of the ancestors of Charlemagne

Great, the great emperor himself and his descendants was the Carolingian

12th century quite common; in old French-speaking countries we call it

as chansons of geste , for the Middle High German-speaking countries has been the

Connection to the Karlsepik reluctantly accepted. The German research

19th and 20th century has especially the Nibelungenlied a special position

as the German epic par assigned; I quote de Boor:

Only with the Nibelungenlied takes the heroes Roman visible in front of us, but now

once in a so full, proud unfolding that we once towering at a summit

the seal are. From the shapeless fog lore loser centuries he dives

up, large and clear. And it seems even bigger because he is lonely. The Nibelungenlied

is the only epic of Staufer heyday that we possess. It alone has us

the classical type represented.

19

19

History of German Literature, ed. v. Helmut de Boor and Richard Newald, Vol. 2,

Mnchen

Page 18

18

Here is unlike de Boors position of trying to be daring, to

Fog to clear lore loser centuries. Nibelungs work at their

Year of King Pippin survey and represents the Carolingian entitled to

the power is in Swiss francs in a positive way. The Nibelungenlied of outgoing

12th century could thus very elegant, in the wake of the French

Literary movement, the res gestae Pippin of his ancestors and his descendants

build by the author, the sources of the so-called. Fredegar and Count

Nibelung ausntzte and the family unit a sideline of Pippinids

epic brought to representation whose members there in the time of the kingdom division

elected the descendants of Charlemagne even Burgundian kings

were.

The writer as amended a) was the relationship of the Nibelungenlied to the

Chronicle of the Counts of Burgundy Nibelung, the reign of Pepin the

describes, probably still present. Results for the modern reader the Nibelungenlied

However, the difficulty of the relationship between fictional figure and

establish historical personality and its function for the song statement

to make it plausible. First, it should be noted that the figures of the song

Nibelungenlied as Dietrich von Bern, Kriemhild and Brunhild, and Gunther

Hagen, Etzel and Hildebrand were so very fact typed or idealized,

that they are taken from the various historical layers of time and of them

accurate historical context in which they have worked, is missing. You will receive in

the fictitious

Space on the now simultaneous levels of action of the song attributes her

external appearance, their speech and their actions that with only partially

which the historical personality match. This ideal type

Properties are largely based on the requirements of the courtly world the 12th century.

Matched century and can according to the ethical and moral

Standpoint of the poet or writer in positive or negative direction

be varied. The chansons de geste take figures from already

the present seal, but also chronicles vitae and documents

Organize their attributes and their behaviors but is often

changed. An example of this is the Song of Roland, whose French

Submission by the priest Konrad and Karl Stricker in the design

the figures and was significantly restructured in the statement of the action, so

that from the various versions of the historical persons and events

little more can be identified.

Yet Karl are the Great and his companions by the authors of the chansons

been seen as historical entities, but less precise in analysis

their historical thinking and acting, as in the political understanding of time

Christian-oriented imperial politics of the 12th century, to which instruments

1953 p.152.

Page 19

19

the seal was well as the history, the official documents

and the artistic design of the imperial idea, such as the

Karlsschrein in Aachen. At the historical model, idealized and stylized, has

so the Karlsepik the late 12th and early 13th century in

Can unfold Germany.

The Nibelungenlied seems at first - despite the introduction of the quoted

Manuscript A - against the classification in the tradition of the chanson de geste to

. lock The reason for this is the course of action that a few figures

heroically represents; Siegfried does not occur even at Wormser Hof in courtly sense

as a hero, but as a brawny usurper on. Even the figure of the ideal

Knight Rdiger, like the Dietrichs by participating in the unjust

Extermination Kriemhilds questioned. The view of the French

But literature after 1150 also explains such a presentation: In Girart de

Roussillon (1146-1149), in Raoul de Cambrai and in Garin of the Loherain

Topics of the clan feud and the conflict between the king and vassal already

detail worked out; Again, the kingdom is rather negative light.

Another argument for the classification of the Nibelungenlied in the tradition

the chansons de geste provides the naming of the characters and their song

Handlungsort: the historian Worms presents itself already in Carolingian

Time as a city within the meaning of the Burgundians Nibelungenlied poet.

20

Through

numerous gift certificates in favor of the Reich abbeys Fulda and Lorsch in

the reign of Charles we are the names of the nobility in the Worms area

knowledgeable; we find in a deed in favor of Fulda

22.3.785 four names of Nibelungenlied figures before, including the name

the exhibitor Kriemhild of Worms that those certificate together with Walther

and Siegfried signed. Part of Schenkungsguts stemming from the inheritance

the Ute, who is also mentioned in the document text.

21

Kriemhild is not therefore

only fictional character of the Nibelungenlied, but belonged to the Carolingian

Nobility in Wormsgau the time of Charlemagne.

22

How Kriemhild are almost all

Nibelungenlied name in the Codex Reichsabtei Fulda and in the Lorsch Codex

recorded, in documents that concern at the Wormser space and

20

Friedrich Zorn reports: It has but Charlemagne the time his government in any part of

its imperial

royal household had rather then just allhie to Worms. because you lieset that he in any

city, as often as he for war and

shops of the empire has to because such can bring (then dasmals the Emperor pulled in

rich round and not to

had a place sttige royal household), have been more and dwelt longer than has in this

city (...) (Wormser Chronicle

Edited by Friedrich Zorn, with the additions of Franz Berthold Flersheim. v. William

Arnold

, Stuttgart 1857 reprint Amsterdam

1969

P.24. See also Ingrid Heidrich. Bishops and their churches in Speyer, p.188 - 190,

supra:

21

Codex Diplomaticus Fuldensis, ed. v. Ernst Friedrich Johann Dronke. Reprint of Issue

1850,

Aalen 1962; (CF No.81).

22

See. Kriemhild to the documents in the Codex Laureshamensis, 3 vol. Ed. v. Karl

Hunchback,

Darmstadt 1933, no. 321, 636, 1464, 2748th

Page 20

20

majority fall into the reign of Charlemagne. The documentary

Finding is surprising: So Alberich example, in the song of the eunuchs of the Kings in

Nibelungenland, mentioned in the Codex of Fulda 30 times, 12 times in the Lorsch

Codex.

The name of the Marquis Eckewart is in Fulda records 34 times, in the

Lorsch certificates times called 38. Hagen (Hagino or Hagano), occurs in 29

Certificates to the monastery of Fulda and 7 certificates of Lorsch Abbey; his

Owned hotel is located near Worms. The name Dietrich takes the Codex of

Fulda the top position with 70 nominations, the 25 in the Lorsch Codex

correspond. Siegfried, partially urkundend than Graf, can be found in Fulda in

45facher, in Lorsch in 39facher nomination. Not so often, but earlier in time,

we meet Sigemunt, in the song of the father of Siegfried, in the certificates to: 15 times

Codex of Fulda, 11 times in the Lorsch Codex. Rdiger is 28 certificates for

Fulda and 33 represented for Lorsch. But even minor characters like Rumolt, Ramunc,

Ortwin, Ortliep, Nibelunc, Nntwin, Wolfhart, Witege, Wolfprant, Wolfwin,

Sigelint etc. can be found in the documents of the two monasteries.

23

The explanation makes sense that the poet of the Nibelungenlied his characters

deliberately provided with the name of the nobility of the time in Charles Wormser

room

has; he has the document material, the chronicles, annals and the

Refer literary works of the imperial monasteries.

23

Breuer / Breuer: With Spaeher speech (see n. 15), p. 21

Page 21

21

The poet and Worms

The choice of the historical Nibelungen clan and derived from it

Burgundy kings, to which finally the Salian and Hohenstaufen also include

could, as the epic figures demanded by the author of the Nibelungenlied

detailed insight into the history of Burgundy since Nibelung I and in the

Empire History of the Franks. The motive, Worms the scene of the action

to choose, however, seems not only by the frequent residence of

Burgundy kings Frederick Barbarossa and Henry VI. due in Worms

be, but to surrender more of the person of the poet himself.

Not only the action, Appendix all manuscripts of the Nibelungenlied leads,

back to Worms. Worms already qualifies therefore as Nibelungen town,

that at the same time as the Nibelungenlied originated, a descendant of the Counts

Nibelung of Autun same name provost and treasurer of the

Worms cathedral was. This left a number of inscriptions on spell

Tapestries in the cathedral mount, whose texts in the Chronicon Wormatiense

have been handed down.

24

Updating the old Maeren prepared in the 12th century

therefore no difficulty because - as mentioned above - the Carolingian or

Nibelungen were the models for the rule in the Staufer period.

The poet of the Nibelungenlied was with the Nibelungen and the Carolingians

and their rich historical position of power in the closest relation. Users attended

him the manuscript of the history of Gregory of Tours (+ 594) and the Chronicle

the so-called Fredegar with the sequels of the Burgundian Count

Hildebrand and Nibelung (to the coronation of Charlemagne 768) in the monastery

Lorsch accessible.

25

Who can be eligible for the authorship in question?

Among the followers of Frederick Barbarossa and Henry VI. is the

Minstrel Bligger II of Steinach (Neckarsteinach), whose epic work -. The

'Umbehang' - highly praised by his contemporaries Gottfried von Strassburg and

Rudolf von Ems - has been missing

26

, Bligger of Steinach is the nephew of

Wormser bishop Konrad von Steinach, who headed the diocese from 1150 to 1171

and was responsible for the cathedral building.

27

Bliggers ancestors have the

24

See. The inscriptions of the city of Worms. Ed. Rdiger Fuchs (The German

inscriptions, ed. Vd

Academies of Sciences Dusseldorf, Gttingen, Heidelberg, Mainz, Munich and Austria

Academy of Sciences in Vienna. 29. Bd., Mainzer Series 2 Vol.), Wiesbaden 1991, p 21

f.

25

See. The Franks. Pioneer in Europe. Catalogue Vol. II, Mannheim / Mainz 1996, p 950

f.

26

See text Godfrey, S.

27

. See Gerold Bnnen, cathedral and city (see note 14), p. 14 ff - Andreas Urban

Friedmann:. The Diocese

from the Roman period to the high Middle Ages. In: The Bishopric of Worms. From

Roman times until the resolution

1801 ed. v. Friedhelm Jrgen Meier (contributions to Mainz church history, ed. v.

Friedhelm

Page 22

22

Mitvollzogen rise of the historical Nibelungen as Bligger of

Steinach the kingdom of Burgundy kings.

28

Bligger II. Of Steinach, a noble lord of the Middle Ages in the Neckar valley,

was already in his lifetime his contemporaries as the ideal figure

high medieval chivalry.

This reputation owed Bligger three special characteristics:

Politically, he was the ruling dynasty of the Staufer close so that he in

several documents of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and in many testimonies

by his son, Emperor Henry VI. was named personally; this was completely

uncommon for followers, adorned no earldom and not the

high clergy belonged. Like his friend Friedrich von Hausen

Bligger was introduced in the imperial court of the Staufer personally and had therefore

direct contacts with the spiritual and clear dignitaries of the empire.

Bliggers influence on the farm grew after the death of Frederick Barbarossa and

the accession of his son, Henry VI. considerably, he

signed the imperial charters together with the Counts of Leiningen, of

Jrgen Meier, 5 vol.), Pp 13-43, here p 35 ff.

28

The attempt by the lawyers Peter Honegger, to identify Bligger as Nibelungenlied Poets

(Peter

Honegger: Bligger of Steinach as a writer and Rudolf von Montfort as an arranger of

the Nibelungenlied . In: "Waz

sider as geschach ". American-German Studies on the Song of the Nibelungs. Text and

Reception. Ed. by Werner

Wunderlich and Ulrich Mller. Gppingen 1992 , pp 9-54), could all

too easily by

his critics Werner Hoffmann: Bligger of Steinach as a poet of the Nibelungenlied? For

Peter Honegger

new thesis . In: Journal of German Studies 112 (1993), pp 434-441, as a "product of

Dilettantism be dismissed in pejorative sense of the word. " The Bermerkung: "There is

no question that

Honegger well versed in the historical evidence on the Steinacher ", identifies the

Helplessness of the reviewers in assessing the certificate location. The same

uncertainties that

the non-historian Honegger to speculation, for example, the possible authorship

Bliggers III. from

Harfenbergstrasse leaves, enticing, has Uwe Mewes: Documentary evidences of

Minstrels in the 12th century on

Example Bliggers of Steinach . In: Literary interest education in the Middle Ages. Ed.

By. Joachim Heinzles.

Stuttgart 1993 (= Germanistische symposia, Report Volume 14), p 75-105; largely

dispelled, his

"Historical" approach to capture the certifications of the poet in Regestenform but lacks

essential

ultimate consequence of the assignment of the certificate ends groups. - The suspect in

Bligger of

Steinach to see the author of the Nibelungenlied, condenses a certainty if we

Consider occurrence of his ancestors in the Association of historical Nibelungen. It

allows us the

unusual name with his tone level, the family in the context of their family

trace. Still Lorscher certificate of 951 shows the shape Blitger and corresponds herewith

the

According to the usual level of about 150 years older than deeds in favor of Fulda. By

contrast, offers one of the

oldest document of 771 the volume level Durchblicker or Bliker , for 773 states Blicger

; recorded for 805

the Lorsch codex similar for the oldest documents Blicger or Durchblicker . The version

Bligger

Finally, the author uses the Lorsch Chronicle when he the deed of gift from the year

1165

lists in which the entire clan urkundet affected by the change in ownership. The naming

of Bligger

or Durchblicker derives therefore not of Blic = shine, flash, but on Blide = joy, and the

Second Omen ger .

Page 23

23

Hohenberg, of Zweibrcken, the Burgrave of Nuremberg, the Counts of

Castle and the influential Reichsministerialen as the lords of Bolanden.

Father Bligger I. is considered the founder of the later palatine monastery Schnau

his brother Konrad, Bliggers uncle had, for 21 years (1150-1171) the

Wormser held Episcopate.

From his dynastic ago Bligger II appears. Also as a knight without blemish

He was high and blame-free birth, a so-called Homo liber , and difference

is hereby by the so-called ministerials, and the church

Empire Service were. This freedom was after the High Middle Ages from birth

where she was by the princes, the earls, dukes and kings

accepted and based on ancient family rights that partly to the time

Charlemagne and his ancestors go back. The exercise of these

Of course freedom as a knight at the imperial court also demanded a corresponding

Owned equipment and the Owner World Burg rights, on the Bligger II. And his

Who has ancestors.

The third quality Bliggers II., However, was in a time when there of to the expansion

Staufer world domination went that ended in ruin, his literary fame.

Besides the three poems that have come down to us in the "Manesse", has Bligger II.

written a great epic, the contemporary poet Gottfried von Strassburg

and Rudolf von Ems has caused admiration. Gottfried thinks that Bligger

on the poet Olymp next Hartmann von Aue and Heinrich von Veldeke

must stand, because in his " Umbehang "on a linguistic and conceptual

Way amazement value bar. A " Umbehang "is in the High Middle Ages

Tapestry, such as the famous Bayeux Tapestry, which at 70 meters

Length the conquest of England by the Normans is artfully. Bligger

was therefore the author of such a picture book, divided into Aventiuren which itself

the historical events dedicated, and as Rudolf von Ems in

his expressed Alexanderroman (V. 3205-3218), all the poets in the world

could no longer accomplish.

However, so far Bliggers was epic work, the " Umbehanc ", thought to be lost; only

Minstrel was observed Bligger, although those three poems in the

Manessischen handwriting less the minstrelsy as the political

Belong Spruchdichtung.

All three surviving Bligger texts deal in a kind of philosophical

Discussion with chivalrous and courtly positions of the nobility, with the virtues

and vices. In the first poem min old swaere it comes to envy ( the halides )

asks saved from Bligger and his stand. The second song is

the beauty of the Rhine, the beautiful b the Rine addressed, where he - Bligger -

unfortunately can not bore and which is so dear to him as the city of Damascus the

pagan Sultan Saladin, the most important and successful opponent of

Crusaders was: 1174, the year of death of King Amalric I of Jerusalem,

Page 24

24

Saladin occupied Damascus.

29

The name Amalric used in Hagen

Nibelungenlied on the advice of the mermaids on the Danube to the ferryman to

Crossing entice (B 1545, 1549). The third traditional song Bliggers

acts of the political hardening that the staete risk than domination virtue.

Bligger announced a political objective that the for statement

Nibelungen doom fits: Anyone who follows a good target without mercy and

It is shameless, the inserts the hardness very fast great harm and eternal

Shame about ( Swer ne milte guote s pfligt and there b ne schame, the wirfet si

(hardness) in vil

swinder art in damage and in an eternal vicious ). The milte as a virtue of the ruling

class

required by Bligger, but no longer found in the court system; they

is through the herte replaced, which leads to eternal condemnation. Bliggers political

Spruchdichtung thus unfolds a program that the ruling class in the form

to bind a requirement catalog in the virtues tries a claim

In the Middle Ages only on the basis of equality of origin precisely with

those in power could be provided. Thus seems Bliggers third text the

Contents of the Nibelungenlied to interpret and critically to illuminate, because the

Song literary figures appear with a few exceptions such as Rdiger or

Rumolt on the implementation of these hardness ( Hertel) programmed especially

Hagen and

Volker, but even before Siegfried and mistresses ( frouwen) the Court,

Kriemhild and Brunhild later.

Since his great epic is lost, has the honorary citizen of the idyllic

Town Neckarsteinach, Bligger II., As a politician and poet in the

Public of the 20th century has received little attention and only in its

Time been the cult figure of a knight. The Hinterburg as a "family seat" of

Steinacher is a popular destination of many guests that the

Four castle town especially in summer like to by boat, train or car

Heidelberg visit. The Knight Aura continues, because apart from the castles

frequently visited the guest the late Gothic Protestant church with charming

Grave painting, for example, that of the country malicious Ulrich V. of Steinach, who

after his death

1369 well supported and fiercely alive on his sword, beside the

David Kopf, before the Steinacher harp emblem, the visitor

Wehrhaftigkeit his family announced.

The triple quality of the nobles to be highly noble descent, as a knight on

to have great political influence and as a poet, the courtly world

impress, justifies the delightful task, the family Bliggers II. and their

Take a closer look at ancestors. Even Emperor Henry VI. was

Poet, and his songs are recorded in the Manesse. The advantages and

Descendants of the emperor has opened up the history, its

literary work is more mentioned in passing, although the royal

Attention to the seal on the farm just is so fascinating, because here the

29

H. Eberhard Mayer: History of the Crusades, S. 114th

Page 25

25

Feature poetic civilization with the power politics of the Staufer dynasty

mated.

The political significance of Bliggers Steinach at the end of 12th century

Of course you can not compare with the ruling dynasties, they must

but not be underestimated, because the supreme lord were the claim

also detects the literature as their vassals. Conversely, just the

poetic activity impressed the royal courts, as exemplified at work

Walters is visible from the Vogelweide whose origin we do not to this day

know whose political seal us but the dispute over the well-being

the empire impressively presented.

Bligger of Steinach had better conditions than Walther: His

most important work, the " Umbehang seems "highly praised by his contemporaries,

Although at first glance not known. But the origin and meaning

his family in the Worms area are relatively well documented in records; already the

rare unusual name Irritating to investigate where this family of

higher nobility because actually comes from and how it to be the major influence on

Wormser bishopric and the Staufer royal court arrived. In our case

actually it pays to do some genealogical research because

Peculiarity of the name and the political groups to the

Our ancestors Bliggers far lead us back to the Franconian history.

Such a review can not of course in the way the present-day

Genealogy take place, the birth and death date with first and last name

presupposes, but we must be content with the Association of the extended family,

whose members are named Bligger in this or related case,

since last name or nickname are the exception before 1200. Nevertheless shows

the genealogy in the event of our Knight Bligger of Steinach as

surprisingly productive, because it us on the trail of the enigmatic epic,

" Umbehangs "leads, which brought the poet of his time to marvel.

Page 26

26

III. The strange name Bligger and its variations in the levels of five

Centuries The traditional in chronicles and documents According to state the name Bligger are

important information to clarify the origin of Bliggers Steinach as carrier

this name closely linked to the Empire monasteries Lorsch and Fulda

stood and in a number of different of old documents as Schenker or

Signatories are called. The spelling of the name is different in

Variations from each other.

A document of the monastery Lorsch from 951 shows the shape Blitger and fits

hereby the most common spelling, as earlier in the 150 year

was issued certificates of the monastery of Fulda in use. One of the oldest

Certificates of 771, however, provides the sound level Durchblicker or Bliker , in 773

says Blicger ; 805 records of Lorsch codex similar for the oldest

Records the name variant Blicger or Durchblicker . The letters Bligger

Finally, the author uses the Lorsch Chronicle

30

When he the

Deed of gift from the year 1165 quoted in the whole of

Bills receivable affected clan uncertificated. The naming of " Bligger "or

" Sighted "is thus a slurring of Blidger and derives not from " Blic "=

Shine, flash off, but by " trebuchet "= joy.

31

Probably the earliest surviving Us

Form of the name is Blidegarius , a high aristocratic judges of this name

693 lived in the Merovingian court.

32

The abundance of orthographic variants of the same name is to

Frstemann

33

to order by the voice trunks. It refers the second

Root syllable of Bligger name on the trunk " even ", the word has the meaning

" armor ". The 693-called name -Blide Garius has roughly an equivalent in

Name Frede-Garius , but also on behalf of Garo-Man or Garo-Wart . The

Root syllable Gar has then in Middle High German to Ger changed as

the development Gerbertus from Garbertus exemplifies.

34

The so

familiar names as Gerhard and Gerold are on the old root syllable Gar

due.

30

CL 158th

31

The derivation of Walther Mller and Karl Krauss: Neckarsteinach, his masters, the city

and the

Castles, p.7; turns out to be too daring: "Blicger, Bligger probably means of flashing or

flashing device, the Lightning Spear. "

32

MG. DD. reg. Franc. e stirpe Merow. ed. by K. Pertz ,, No.66 / P.58.

33

E. Frstemann: Altdeutsches name book (Vol I, personal names.)

34

See. The names register in the Regesta Alsatiae I, S.477 f.

Page 27

27

The use of these two stem syllables of the name Bligger , same Blide and

even referenced on behalf system Merovingian to the naming of

Noble families, the paternal their descendants both the family name

and maternal wanted to come.

The investigation of the sound level of the Bligger -Namens, composed of Blidegarius

has developed, however, should still

more Leitnamenentsprechungen in

Include Wormser space to capture the United Federation of Family: So

have personalities with the name Bliddrut, Pliddrut, Blidhrut, Blihrud or

Blidgart or Blidhilt, Blidilo (Bldel) Bliding, Blidman, Blidmot, Blidolf, Blidrat,

Blidvar,

Blidwin .

35

That in the Worms area as Schenker or its co-signatories in

Text of the Fulda and Lorsch shall be mentioned secure

kinship with one another or a common ancestor. The

Lorsch codex complements those names group still with Bilifried, Biligart, Bilihilt,

Bilitrud .

36

Finally, yet another variant name is in this group of people

included, although it differs at first sound, namely the name

" Plectrude ". A deed of Ardrad , son of Plectrude favor of

Burgundian monastery Flavigny from the year 878 is of Blitgerius

signed.

37

The looming here kinship, closed from the

Name relationship within the same document, takes us back to the wife

Carolingian Pippin the Middle named Plektrude that of the beginning

8th century was famous for its promotion of the monastery Echternach.

Plektrude, latin Plectrudis , signed the deed of donation of 714

the name variant Blittrudis and is continuous as in the text of the act

Blittrudis referred

38

,

Bliggers name and his noble free status thus provide information about the ancestors.

We are dealing with the historians known phenomenon that the

Nachbenennungen - regardless of different spellings - the structures

are the families visible with other families of the Carolingian

Adel Association spread the pippinidischen or Carolingian domination

have operated. Access to the Carolingian rule areas in Europe

related tasks of the royal family related families in the new

occupied or vacant spaces. Only the members of the Carolingian

Aristocracy were in the 8th and 9th centuries capable of comprehensive

35

CF, Register, p. 8

36

LC German, Vol. VI, S. 22nd

37

Cart. Flav. No.24 / S.73-75.

38

MG. DD. reg. Franc. e stirpe Merow. ed. by K. Pertz, No.6 / p.95 fv2.3.714.

Page 28

28

Land donations to the imperial monasteries as Fulda and Lorsch to notarize

leave. Bliggers ancestors lined up already a century earlier in the policy

the Carolingian monastery foundations, but are also in product awards

favor Lorsch and Fulda instrumental.

They thus were paternal and maternal to Carolingian

Imperial aristocracy. A look at the deeds of gift in favor of

Empire monasteries Fulda and Lorsch is rewarding and opens up further prospects: In

is a document of Alberich in favor of the monastery of Fulda in the year 803

a Bligger ( Blidger ) in the list of witnesses,

39

just as in another of 807, in

the also Hagen ( Hagining ) before Bligger ( Blidger appear in the list of witnesses).

40

Bligger ( Blidger ) also signed a certificate without date, in an estate of

Dienheim (at Oppenheim) is left to the monastery of Fulda.

41

819 he testifies

the donation of a Gertrude favor Fulda: The name Bligger ( Blidger) is

behind the two ends certificate Folcmar and Amalric .

42

Finally signed

Bligger ( Blidger ) 824 before Dietrich ( Theoderic ) and Herrat ( Herirat ) the donation

a commodity by Dieter ( Theotger ).

43

In Lorsch codex of Leitname Bligger becomes even clearer for different

Time levels comprehensible. The oldest deed, the " donatio Blikeri "favor

of Lorsch Abbey dates back to 771st

44

Two years later, 773 confirmed

Berolf the donation in Speyergau for the salvation of his uncle Bligger

( Blicger ). A descendant of this Bligger signed at the time of Conrad the Red -

This is the son of Otto the Great, of the 955 Lechfeld against

Hungary has fallen and was buried in the Worms Cathedral - in the county

in 951 the donation of a Adalhard in " Sahsenheim ".

45

That Bligger ( Blitger )

recalls the almost 200 years younger deed of Bishop Gunther von Speyer,

concerning goods in Hausen and Michelbuch (Odenwald), the " Liberi ", the

High outdoor Ernst von Sachsenheim ( Ernest of Sahsenheim ) and his brother

Bligger of Steinach ( Bliggerus de Steinahe ) signed.

46

The ancestors of the

Edelfreien family Bliggers - in documents until the time of Charlemagne

trace - had in the area of today Ltzelsachsen,

39

CF no. 214 / P.113.

40

CF no. 243 / p.125 f.

41

CF no. 328 / S.160.

42

CF no. 379 / p.171 f.

43

CF no. 428 / p.191.

44

LC 2734th

45

LC 428th

46

SpUB I, 89 / p.98 f.

Page 29

29

Grosachsen or Hohensachsen on the mountain road possessions and were

For this reason alone the Lorsch Abbey very close.

The image of the document situation demands an explanation, why the family unit

the ancestors of Bliggers Steinach has been able to so fully in the

Donations for each other distant imperial monasteries and Lorsch

Fulda to participate. The space required extensive land holdings had in

Spread the Carolingian domination have been so acquired only once.

This raises the question of the position of the family in the nobility of the Association

Carolingian, the Ottos, including the Salian and Hohenstaufen. The above

called oldest document with the entry of Bligger ( Blidegarius ) in

Assize of the year 693 is a first indication that the family in

the emerging royal power to Association of Pippinids was involved and

has mitbesetzt in the 8th century by the Metz area from the Wormsgau at least.

Page 30

30

Page 31

31

V. Bliggers ancestors in the imperial service of Charlemagne According to their origin from the Carolingian nobility members joined the

Bligger family in the 8th and 9th century in major political functions

in favor of the Carolingian dynasty. Also applies to this family unit

as for others who were at the time of the Carolingian rule in the second row that

the individual description of the family history in terms of genealogy

the basis of documents and chronicles is impossible. Nevertheless, the

Family Association Bligger and their relatives can be detected:

On the one hand allows the Frankish kingdom church policy under Charlemagne

and his successors, on the basis of documents and the chronicles of

To appoint Reich monasteries the imperial nobility, stands out for its donations eg

identified by name in the monasteries Fulda or Lorsch as landowners.

The Frankish expansion and the church policy related, the

Bligger family from the very beginning supported. Had started with this program

the wife of Pippin the Middle Plectrude or Blittrudis by

Donations to the monastery Echternach or at Monastery Susteren on the Meuse

in favor of the reformer Willibrord

47

,

Similarly, the family supported the 8th century, the facilities of the

Klosters Weienburg in Alsace

48

, Even more comprehensively they participated in the

Foundations of the noble families in favor of the monastery Gorze near Metz, in

Murbach

Alsace, Lorsch near Worms and Fulda in Hesse. It can be more

Set goods Complex, from which the donations of family branches

could take place. Thus the will of Bligger points ( Blitcharius ) in favor of

Gorze monastery from the year 769 to the county Verdun, in which the goods

Family in brewing Ville ( Berulfi villas were)

49

; in the same county Verdun

mediating a donation of Bligger ( Blitharius ), the not with the

is above the same, the place Maizeray concerning.

50

From the ownership structure

and the donation goal here we have the two Bligger but at the same

To include extended family.

These family donations is not so much the ownership structure, but rather the

exposed position of ancestors Bliggers the contribution for the establishment Koster

significant under Chrodegang of Metz. Chrodegang, already 741 trainee Karl

Martel, 742 bishop of Metz, 753 Messenger Pippin III. to Pope Stephen II, 754

47

MG. DD. reg. Franc. e stirpe Merow. ed. by K. Pertz, No.3 / p.92 FV 20.1.702; No. 4 /

S.93 FV

13.5.706; . No. 5 / P.94 FV 13.5.706; No.6 / p.95 FV 2.3.714.

48

At 718 Doll, Trad. Wiz. 227 / S.454; to 766 Doll, Trad. Wiz. 103 / S.308 f.

49

UB Gorze 18 / S.42.

50

UB Gorze 16 / S.38.

Page 32

32

as the successor of St. Boniface Archbishop and Metropolitan of Austrasia, was one

the most influential personalities in the narrow court. His foundation of

Gorze 749 and the establishment of Lorsch 765 are its main power for

securing the rule of the Carolingian and the surrounding families.

Monks from Gorze populated Lorsch, the wealthy in the Metz area

Noble families also act as Schenker for Lorsch.

Just one year after the founding Blidhild and Gauzrot goods so sold in

Monsheim or Monzernheim to Lorsch

51

, 767 gives Blifrid Good in Glatt Home

to Lorsch

52

, 769 give Rudwin and his wife Plihtrud goods in Reilsheim

Heidelberg at Lorsch.

53

This is followed by Blidolf with a donation in Saulheim in

Year 771

54

, The same year Bligger with Good in Untereisesheim in Neckarsulm

55

, Plidroch

and his wife also Blitrud goods in Neckarsulm

56

and finally 773

Berolf with a donation in Bchingen bei Landau in Speyergau to salvation

his uncle Bligger ( Blicger ).

57

This last gift is particularly

interesting because the context of the Testament above Bliggers

( Blicharii ) in brewing Ville, the villa Berulfi , in favor of the monastery Gorze is clear.

Berulf belonged to Bliggers family unit; the place word of Gorze donation

arises ago by the ancestors; He is also well off as in Speyergau,

like other members of the extended family in Bligger Wormsgau. The origin of these

Noble family from the area Verdun - Metz confirmed again.

Among the early donations in favor of the monastery Lorsch are here

two other named initially by the goods in Odenheim in Kraichgau

Volker and his wife Blidhild in 776

58

, Three years later, shows the

Father of Charlemagne, Count Gerold, in favor by a gift

of Lorsch in that place Odenheim that by his side

Have passed family relations with the Bliggersippe.

59

If one includes the large

Donation Gerold and his wife Emma in favor of the Lorsch monastery on

1.7.784, goods in Eich, Mettenheim and Osthofen near Worms, in Bergheim

51

LC 1087th

52

LC 3282nd

53

LC 2588th

54

LC No 1510.

55

LC 2734th

56

LC of 2009.

57

LC 2121st

58

LC 2229th

59

LC 2310th

Page 33

33

Heidelberg, Planck city and from villages in Sickingen and Bruchsal

concerning, with a

60

, Then shows how systematically the kingdom monastery from the

Family associations was supported around Charlemagne.

With the donation of the Bligger ( Blicger ) and his wife Wolfenburg of goods in

Dorfelden (in Bad Vilbel)

61

confirmed that the shares owned by the

Extended family of Bliggers ancestors with whom they brought in Lorsch,

have mainly located in the Main-Rhein-Neckar area. Here, however, the

Position of the family in no way abandoned in Metzer space as later

Documents show the benefit of Gorze.

62

The relations of Bligger family to the Abbey of Fulda, by Boniface at

12.3.744 founded, developed relatively late and not as intense as the

Reichsabtei Lorsch. Two donations of the year 771 and 773 of goods in

Pfeddersheim and Roxheim in Worms also signed Blidtrut, in the second

Case as the wife of Rotbold (probably Ratbold).

63

This, however, remain the two

single donations before achieving the immunity of the abbey opposite the

Archbishop Lul of Mainz (754-786). After attainment of the status of

Reich monastery, from which the Carolingian since 777 operated the Saxons mission

are the donations of Bligger extended family frequently: Biligart and her son

donated goods in Heppenheim an der Wiese and in Mainz at the monastery

Fulda

64

, In the year 800 gave Consecrated Blidtrud goods in Uelversheim on

this monastery.

65

In subsequent years, 803-824, witnessed a Bligger ( Blidger )

Donations his relatives in Boppard, Neidlingen, Dienheim, Rosdorf

and close to the monastery of Fulda.

66

Apparently the family had in the room

to Fulda itself little possession legal backing.

The family unit is the name Bligger has thus massively in the expansion of

Monasteries Gorze and Lorsch involved and thus the rule of the first fuse

Carolingian kings supported. Within the realm of church program

Archbishop Chrodegang and his brother Gundeland - Abt in Gorze and Lorsch

- We experience the Bligger family as a support of the Carolingian ambitions. Less

60

LC 1880th

61

LC 3014/3766.

62

See. UB Gorze, 50 / p.90, 51 / p.90 (848), 57 / p.101 f. (856), 58 / p.103 (857) and 85 /

p.154 (898).

63

UB Fulda, Stengel, 55 / p.90 et seq. And 63 / p.110 f.

64

UB Fulda, stalk, 215 / p.315 f. And 89 / p.164 f., The latter deed of 779th

65

UB Fulda, stalk, 263 / S.371 f.

66

CF 214 / P.113, 243 / p.125 f., 328 / p.160, 379 / p.171 f., 428 / p.191.

Page 34

34

clearly, but also visible, this is in the Alsatian abbeys

Weienburg and Murbach and the expansion of the imperial abbey of Fulda. The

possession comprehensive legal resources in the area of the county Verdun

and Meuse and the Moselle and the Rhine-Main-Neckar region abundant

were made this extensive foundations.

VI. The political tasks of Bligger family after the time of Charlemagne

Great The period after the founding of the imperial monasteries in the course of the expansion

of

Is Carolingian in Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, in the Ostmark and in Italy

Certificate poorer than the time of the great gifts of the Carolingian

Clan association. On the other hand, it can be expected that the most important

Noble families of the Carolingian domination association least sporadically

must be recorded on the basis of documents and chronicles. But this case proves

just now the incipient regionalization of Burkundungen and

Historiography as an obstacle, the Carolingian contrary to the

Method is, members of his own family United Association throughout Europe

use to secure the rule.

The members of Bligger extended family can be found, of course, even in the rare

becoming instruments of abbeys Gorze Lorsch and as a signatory of

Gift or purchase records.

67

But their political function can also be

gather outside: So Bligger occurred ( Blitgarius ) as Vicomte ( vicecomes ) and judges

under Count Dietrich ( Thierry = Theodoric )