Williram of Ebersberg

Williram of Ebersberg ( * before 1010, † January 3, 1085 ) was a monk, scholar and abbot in the Bavarian Benedictine monastery of Ebersberg. To find a reputable theologically trained translators of the Bible in German before Luther, one must go back to Williram.

Origin

Williram, was born into a middle Rhine noble family, was related, among others, with the Cologne Archbishop Heribert (999-1021), the Bishop of Wurzburg Henry I (995-1018) and the bishops of Eichstätt Heribert (1022-1042) and Gezemann (1042 ). Williram received a spiritual training and became a monk in the monastery of Fulda in 1020, then into the 1040er -Jahren teacher in Bamberg monastery Michel Berg, among others, under Bishop Suidger, later Pope Clement II ( 1046-1047 ). Williram belonged to Hofkreis Emperor Henry III. ( 1039-1056 ). It is believed that he harbored aspirations to a high spiritual and political office. When he was appointed abbot in the Benedictine monastery insignificant Ebersberg 1048, must have means a disappointment. Williram remained there until his death (1048-1085); the death of the ruler probably prevented a further career in the imperial service.

Life

Since his time Williram Bamberger was recognized for his literary activity. In the monastery of Ebersberg, he - as best I could - economically and culturally promoted ( monastic property, business books, scriptorium, monasteries ), wrote the scholar 1060/1065 his main work, a paraphrase ( Exposure ) of the Song of King Solomon, which he King Henry IV devoted. The Song of paraphrase, which is based in content on the types of Haimo of Auxerre ( mid-9th century ), commented on the centrally located ( Latin ) Bible text of the tradition of the opus geminum following in the left column in rhyming Latin verses ( leonine hexameter ) and offers another column of an early middle High German translation accompanied by a prose interpretation in German - Latin mixed language. The very advanced for the time layout ( mise en page ) of the various text shares - in three columns and two font sizes - makes Williram also an important witness to the text book and culture of the Middle Ages. It also shows that the Song of Songs paraphrase as a whole, despite its German component, only in the context of Latin literariness could arise.

The paraphrase Willirams is completely or in part, in over 42 medieval manuscripts from the 11th to the 16th century (!), And thus represent the most traditional German -language work of the early Middle Ages.

In addition, minor Latin poems are of Williram handed and a 1071 authored processing the Life of Bishop Aurelius of Riditio. The latter has produced on request of Abbot William of Hirsau (1069-1091) Williram. Besides, he probably wrote a monastery chronicle, the Chronicon Eberpergense.