Archpoet

The Archipoeta ( Erzdichter, * 1125-1135; † after 1165 ), whose real name is not known, was one of the most important Latin -language poet of the 12th century and a representative of Vagantendichtung.

Background

Name

The real name of the Archipoeta is not known; he describes himself in his works as poeta. As " Archipoeta " ( " Erzdichter " ) he is ( philol. ms Göttingen UB 170) in the Göttingen manuscript referred to, where ten songs have been handed down from him. This honorary title is likely a reference to his patron, the Lord Chancellor ( " archicancellarius ") of the Holy Roman Empire and archbishop ( " archiepiscopus " ) of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel, be. The cleric Nicolaus (proven by 1219 in Bonn) and Henry of Avranches ( 1230 ), who also used the pseudonym " Archipoeta ", but not with the well-known under the name " Archipoeta " poet of the time of Frederick I Barbarossa identical.

Dating

About life and the lives of Archipoeta nothing is known, but leave some as autobiographical -ranked passages conclusions about his life. The name of his patron Rainald of Dassel as " Electus Coloniae " in the songs suggest that these works were created in the period when Rainald Although elected archbishop, but was not consecrated: For the years to 1159 to 1165 as likely emergence period of the songs will be accepted. The Archipoeta refers to himself in a song called " Iuvenis ", ie as a young unmarried man can be so closed on a date of birth 1135-1140.

Background and Career

Also on the origin and training make the text a few conclusions: So the Archipoeta referred to himself in texts that are considered as originated in Italy as " transmontanos " ("from beyond the mountains " ), which points to a non-Italian origin. However, whether he was German, French or Burgundian origin, it can not be closed. The style and composition of his writings indicate that he possessed an outstanding for the High Middle Ages education; a university education ( Trivium ) is likely also he possessed theological knowledge. If you believe the statements of Song III, the Archipoeta was a medical student who had to drop out of college, Salerno for health reasons. Like other vagrants also - - As the poet migratory Archipoeta lived on the donations that were given to the ecclesiastical and secular courts, the car in front. A special testimony of this is the famous coat of Please Archipoeta to Rainald of Dassel, in whose service and wake he was in Cologne, but also in northern Italy and Burgundy.

Work

The work of Archipoeta - despite the scarce tradition - extremely diverse. So he wrote a hymn of praise ( panegyric ) to Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and several poems that glorify Rainald of Dassel; but in addition he also created with wit and irony -studded songs about worldly pleasures. So he answered the hostility of his opponents in the wake of Renaud with the famous, so-called Vagantenbeichte. This - probably originated during the siege of Pavia in 1163 - represents a skillful and profound parody of the auricular confession of the Catholic Church dar. The Archipoeta acknowledges this as a " penitent sinner " apparently all his faults, but repents and he does not condemn them, but provides this as necessary to point out for his work. Even his action, which represents the formation of the contract seal (s ) for his patron Rainald at the center, has become famous.

Only ten songs of Archipoeta have survived.

The texts of the Archipoeta are, inter alia, preserved in the following manuscripts:

• Ms Göttingen UB philol. 170 (12th century): Carmen I- VII; first stanza of VIII
• Codex Buranus (HS Munich Clm 4660, 13th century) - the " Carmina Burana ": Carmen X; four stanzas of IV

Reception

The so-called Vagantenbeichte can also be found in the setting of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. The verses 12,13, 15,17 and 16 of Vagantenbeichte have been as a student song Meum est propositum in taberna mori in the General German Kommersbuch, p 381 ( specification according to the 152 edition, Lahr 1956) was added.

Modern interpretations of Vagantenbeichte and the Fama Tuba exist Helium Vola. A very free interpretation of Vagantenbeichte on high German was picked up by In Extremo.