Gottschalk from Aachen

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Gottschalk von Aachen , lat. Godescalcus , (* 11th century; † after 1099 or 1107) was a canon who became known in the 11th century both as a hymn poet and as a member of the chancellery of Emperor Heinrich IV .

Life

Gottschalk's life can only be outlined in a few secured stations. Based on content and stylistic considerations, Dreves comes to the conclusion that Gottschalk belonged as a monk to the Limburg an der Hardt monastery (hence sometimes also: Gottschalk von Limburg ), which later research, however, casts doubt on. On the other hand, Gottschalk's stay as a monk in Klingenmünster is confirmed . Around 1087 he was provost of the Servatius monastery in Maastricht . Documents also show that he held the post of provost at the Aachen Marienstift . However, this activity ended between 1099 and 1107. From 1071 to 1084 he was a member of the chancellery of Emperor Heinrich IV. The year of his death on November 24th is unknown.

Member of the Imperial Chancellery

Evidence of Gottschalk's work at the imperial court can be found for more than 30 years between 1071 and 1104. The permanent affiliation as a notary in the emperor's office can be dated from 1071 to 1084 - with some interruptions of several years in some cases. Gottschalk gained political importance in the so-called investiture controversy , in the course of which he wrote several important letters, the most famous of which was Heinrich's letter of deposition to Pope Gregory VII at the court in Worms in January 1076 with the final appeal: Descende, descende - “Rise, descend down ". In the course of this dispute Gottschalk was the first to apply the image of the two swords ( doctrine of two swords ) to the dispute between imperial and papal power.

Gottschalk as a poet

After Notker Balbulus, Gottschalk is one of the most important sequence poets of the early Middle Ages; several works that he himself set to music have survived. In addition, he wrote various treatises, primarily religious in content.

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ Guido Maria Dreves , Godescalcus Lintpurgensis. Gottschalk - Monk of Limburg an der Hardt and Provost of Aachen, Leipzig, 1897, p. 19.
  2. ^ A b Carl Erdmann, Dietrich von Gladiß: Gottschalk von Aachen in the service of Heinrich IV. In: German archive for research into the Middle Ages. Vol. 3 (1939), pp. 115-174, here: p. 118.
  3. ↑ Carl Erdmann, Dietrich von Gladiß: Gottschalk von Aachen in the service of Heinrich IV. In: German archive for research into the Middle Ages. Vol. 3 (1939), pp. 115-174, here: p. 116
  4. ↑ Carl Erdmann, Dietrich von Gladiß: Gottschalk von Aachen in the service of Heinrich IV. In: German archive for research into the Middle Ages. Vol. 3 (1939), pp. 115-174, here: p. 115.
personal data
SURNAME Gottschalk from Aachen
BRIEF DESCRIPTION monk
DATE OF BIRTH 11th century
DATE OF DEATH 11th century or 12th century