Weingarten Manuscript

Weingarten Manuscript – Müller & Schindler – HB XIII 1 – Württembergische Landesbibliothek (Stuttgart, Germany)

Konstanz (Germany) — Early 14th century

Love poetry by 31 medieval poets revolving around Walther von der Vogelweide: one of the most important German sources of Minnesang, adorned with 25 author portraits.

  1. A small songbook for private use containing the love songs of 31 medieval German poets who are arranged hierarchically

  2. Beginning with Emperor Henry IV (1165–97), it then progresses down the social ladder to various counts and knights

  3. It is believed to have originated at the behest of Heinrich von Klingenberg (ca. 1240–1306), Prince Bishop of Konstanz

Weingarten Manuscript

Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Weingarten Manuscript

This fine specimen of Minnesang, the German version of the medieval troubadour tradition, is believed to have originated from the region of Konstanz in the early–14th century. It is one of the most important artifacts of this tradition and has the works of 31 poets working in Middle High German. Mostly from an aristocratic background, these poets even include Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, whose compositions are found in the beginning of the codex.

Weingarten Manuscript

Here we have one of the most important sources of Minnesang, the Middle High German tradition of lyric- and songwriting originating from the 12th to the 14th centuries. The primary subject of these songs was Minne, a Middle High German word for love. Individual songs were called a Minnelied and were performed by a Minnesänger, the German equivalent of a troubadour. Known as the Weingarten Manuscript, it is one of this tradition’s three major manuscripts along with the Codex Manesse and Kleine Heidelberger Liederhandschrift. It contains texts from the golden age of Minnesang and is stored under the shelf mark XB XIII 1 in the Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart.

Medieval German Love Songs

The manuscript is relatively small, measuring 15 x 11.5 cm, suggesting that it was for private use. It contains the work of 31 poets, 25 of whom are named and the other six are not, but can be identified in other texts. The 25 Minnesänger who are named are portrayed in 23 full-page and 2 half-page miniatures. Although most of the compositions are concerned with romantic love, one is a Marienlob or poem in praise of the Virgin Mary, and another is the Minnelehre or “Art of Love” by Johann von Konstanz (active 1281–1312). Rather than being ordered chronologically or alphabetically, the authors are arranged hierarchically, beginning with the Emperor Henry IV (1165–97) and then progressing down the social ladder to various counts and knights. The manuscript is believed to have originated from Konstanz in the early–14th century at the behest of Heinrich von Klingenberg (ca. 1240–1306), Prince Bishop of Konstanz.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Weingartner Liederhandschrift
Size / Format
316 pages / 15.0 × 11.5 cm
Origin
Germany
Date
Early 14th century
Style
Language
Illustrations
23 full-page and 2 half-page miniatures
Content
Minnesang poems
Previous Owners
Marx Schulthais
Weingarten monastery library

Available facsimile editions:
Weingarten Manuscript – Müller & Schindler – HB XIII 1 – Württembergische Landesbibliothek (Stuttgart, Germany)
Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 1969
Limited Edition: 850 copies
Detail Picture

Weingarten Manuscript

Otto von Botenlauben

Spelled here as “Botenlouben”, Otto von Botenlauben (1177–1245) was Count of Henneburg, a Crusader knight, and a minnesinger. In 1231, he and his wife Beatrix de Courtenay founded the Cistercian cloister of Frauenroth, where they are buried. He was an adherent of Emperor Henry VI, a fellow minnesinger, and participated in the Emperor’s Italian campaign in 1197. Otto is depicted sitting across from his coat of arms and gesturing with long fingers as though reciting one of his compositions.

Weingarten Manuscript – Müller & Schindler – HB XIII 1 – Württembergische Landesbibliothek (Stuttgart, Germany)
Single Page

Weingarten Manuscript

Emperor Henry VI

Henry VI (1165–1197) was Holy Roman Emperor, King of Sicily, and the first minnesinger presented in this manuscript, which like similar works arranges its composers according to their noble rank. The great patron of poets and poetry is shown here seated on a throne, adorned with imperial regalia, dressed in fur-lined robes, and holding an unfurled scroll.

In addition to the song Kaiser Heinrich presented in this manuscript, at least three poems have been attributed to Henry VI, which were written when he was a young man in love. As such he is presented here as a fresh-faced youth. One of his poems describes a lady who means more to him than all the power, wealth, and dignity of his crown, which he would sooner give up than her.

Weingarten Manuscript – Müller & Schindler – HB XIII 1 – Württembergische Landesbibliothek (Stuttgart, Germany)
Facsimile Editions

#1 The Weingarten Manuscript

Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 1969

Publisher: Müller & Schindler – Simbach am Inn, 1969
Limited Edition: 850 copies
Commentary: 1 volume
Language: German
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
You might also be interested in:
Oswald of Wolkenstein: Manuscript A – Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Cod. Vindob. 2777 – Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Vienna, Austria)
Oswald of Wolkenstein: Manuscript A
Probably Neustift Abbey near Brixen (Italy) – Ca. 1425

One of the oldest surviving song manuscripts, commissioned by a musician and jack-of-all-trades: 100 songs and their sheet music with the oldest authentic portrait of a German poet ever painted

Experience More
Codex Manesse – Insel Verlag – Cod. Pal. germ. 848 – Universitätsbibliothek (Heidelberg, Germany)
Codex Manesse
Zurich / Lake Constance area (Zwitzerland) – After 1310 until ca. 1340

A unique treasure of German literature, medieval history, and Gothic illumination: the famous Great Heidelberg Song Manuscript with nearly 6,000 stanzas of courtly love lyrics and 137 iconic full-page miniatures

Experience More
Kleine Heidelberger Liederhandschrift – Reichert Verlag – Cod. Pal. germ. 357 – Universitätsbibliothek (Heidelberg, Germany)
Kleine Heidelberger Liederhandschrift
Possibly Strasbourg (France) – 1270–1280

Musical insights into Germany's high medieval court culture: the oldest and smallest of only three surviving Minnesang manuscripts, now preserved in Heidelberg

Experience More
Hortus Deliciarum – Hortus Deliciarum – Original manuscript lost
Hortus Deliciarum
Hohenburg Abbey, Alsace (France) – Last quarter of the 12th century

A manuscript from the 12th century that is special in two ways: the first richly illustrated encyclopedia written by a woman as well as an early source for polyphonic music

Experience More
Würzburger Liederhandschrift – Reichert Verlag – 2° Cod. Ms. 731 (Cim 4) – University Library Munich (Munich, Germany)
Würzburger Liederhandschrift
Würzburg (Germany) – Ca. 1345–1354

Poems by Walther von der Vogelweide and Reinmar von Hagenau alongside the oldest surviving German cookbook: the second volume of a medieval housebook as one of the most important examples of Middle High German poetry

Experience More
Weimarer Liederhandschrift
Weimarer Liederhandschrift
Nuremberg (Germany) – Third quarter of the 15th century

Experience More
Blog articles worth reading
Filter selection
Publisher