Reinmar von Hagenau
Encyclopedia
Haguenau
-Economy:The town has a well balanced economy. Centuries of troubled history in the buffer lands between France and Germany have bequeathed to Haguenau a rich historical and cultural heritage which supports a lively tourist trade. There is also a thriving light manufacturing sector centred on the...
) or Reinmar der Alte (Reinmar the Elder) was the most important Minnesinger before Walther von der Vogelweide
Walther von der Vogelweide
Walther von der Vogelweide is the most celebrated of the Middle High German lyric poets.-Life history:For all his fame, Walther's name is not found in contemporary records, with the exception of a solitary mention in the travelling accounts of Bishop Wolfger of Erla of the Passau diocese:...
.
Reinmar probably was born in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. He arrived at the court of Duke Leopold V
Leopold V, Duke of Austria
Leopold V , the Virtuous, was a Babenberg duke of Austria from 1177 and of Styria from 1192 until his death...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
around 1190, and he accompanied the duke on a crusade in 1190. He died before 1210.
There are about 80 texts by Reinmar still in existence. There are however doubts about the authenticity of a number of them. They are a high point of the traditional Minnesang, and Reinmar is counted as one of the 12 masters of the Minnesang. His poetry represents the supremely suffering knight who pines for a truly unattainable lady.