Dietrich and Wenezlan

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Dietrich und Wenezlan is the title of a heroic poem that is only preserved as a fragment (499 rhyming verses) from a north-east Bavarian parchment manuscript. In terms of content, it stands between historical and aventiurean Dietrichepik . Wenezlan, Prince from Poland, wants to compete in a duel with Dietrich von Bern , who lives in exile at Etzel's court . The release of Dietrich's companions, Hildebrand and Wolfhart, who were captured by him, depends on this . After initial reluctance, Dietrich declares himself ready to fight. With Etzel and his army he goes to Wenezlan. The fight is carried out in the presence of women as a tournament. The fight lasts all day, first Wenezlan, then Dietrich, has the upper hand. The text breaks off with Dietrich's sigh.

There are weak parallels to Dietrich's Slav battles described in the Thidrek saga . And in the heroic epic by Biterolf and Dietleib , a Bohemian king with the similar name Witzlân appears as an opponent of Etzel; this Witzlân could be modeled on Wenceslaus I of Bohemia (1230–1253).

While the exile situation at Etzel's court and the motive of the imprisoned followers belong to the realm of historical Dietrichepik, Dietrich's initial refusal and Wenezlan's request to fight with him in front of the women are reminiscent of poems from the aventiurean Dietrichepik such as the Eckenlied .

literature

  • Joachim Heinzle: Introduction to Middle High German Dietrichepik . de Gruyter, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-11-015094-8 .
  • Elisabeth Lienert and Viola Meyer (eds.): Alphart's death. Dietrich and Wenezlan . Text history edition. Niemeyer, Tübingen 2007, ISBN 3-484-64503-2 .