Reinmar von Zweter


Reinmar von Zweter was a Middle High German poet of Spruchdichtung. The iconography in the Manesse Codex suggests that he may have been blind, since he is the only person represented in the manuscript with closed eyes and other people writing. The caption, not shown here, of that miniature refers to him as "Herr" Reinmar, implying that he was a knight and that he became blind in adulthood.

Life

According to his writings, he was "born at the Rhine and grown up in Austria". He started his work as a poet around 1227 in Austria. Living under Leopold VI of Austria and Frederick II, Duke of Austria, his writings indicate a stay in Bohemia under Venceslas I of Bohemia. Apparently, Reinmar was continuously on the move after 1241. His last confirmed writing dates to 1248.

Work

He is considered an important poet, between Walther von der Vogelweide and Heinrich Frauenlob.

Cultural references

He is featured as a minor character in Richard Wagner's opera Tannhäuser, alongside other poets of the time such as the aforementioned Walther von der Vogelweide and Wolfram von Eschenbach.