The documents of Oswald von Wolkenstein´s Life. Vol. V

Oswald von Wolkenstein (c. 1376 - 1445) is estimated to be one of the most important German poets and composers of the Middle Ages. More than 130 of his songs and `Reimpaarreden` are preserved in two precious parchment manuscripts with music as well as in a relatively rare spread tradition. These literary texts comprise an exceptional variety of autobiographic details. Moreover, the noble poet kept, as usual and necessary for representatives of his class in the Late Middle Ages, letters, documents and records, revealing his career as a member of the Tyrolean nobility. In conjunction with information from correspondence addressed to him and notes about him a vivid view of a unique but also exemplary life of a noble in the Late Middle Ages emerges. Economic fundamentals, legal status, social networking and political scopes of influence of his noble class were utilized optimally by Oswald von Wolkenstein. Born as second son of a family from the gentry, he persistently climbed up from a rebel against the territorial prince to a successful man of business, legal expert in demand, consultant of princes and special commissioner of king Sigmund. In his last years he, as a well situated, highly regarded representative of the Tyrolean aristocracy, contributed to the politics of the Tyrolean `Landtag` fighting against the prolongation of King Friedrich III.`s guardianship over this younger cousin Duke Sigmund and, therewith, the autonomy of the county of Tyrol. The extraordinary comprehensiveness of sources is based on the family archives of the Wolkenstein noblemen and benefits from further collections in some 40 public and private archives spread over Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Czechia. In decades-long efforts, sources only partly known and published before have been collected, transcribed and prepared for the present edition. Each document appears in a totally new edition, following the rules of historic-diplomatic edition and accompanied by detailed source descriptions as well as ample commentaries. Vol. I [1999] comprises the years of 1382 to 1419 bearing evidence of the family background as well as Wolkenstein`s youth and his first successes. Vol. II [2001], confined to only 8 years (1420 to 1428), provides testimony of the most dramatic period of Wolkenstein`s live that was troubled by various conflicts such as feud, imprisonment and humiliating submission under the reigning Prince of the county of Tyrol. Vol. III [2004] covers the years 1428 to 1437 and shows Oswald as a free judge of the Westphalian Vehmic courts, a rebel against the Bishop of Brixen as well as consultant of princes and special commissioner of king Sigmund. Vol. IV [2011], concerning the years 1438 to 1442, shows Wolkenstein participating in political developments in the Hochstift Brixen [the secular authority of the bishopric] and in the county of Tyrol, in legal and business procedures, especially the infamous `Rittner Almstreit`. Vol. V (for which funding is applied for) concludes with the death and entombment of Wolkenstein. Beyond this point, only selected texts referencing to his lifetime have been incorporated. In this period (from the beginning of 1443 to August 2nd, 1445) he appears as a passionate politician who can utilize his prosperity and his reputation for shaping the politics of his country. - In the second quarter of the 15th century, the emphasis of tradition has moved to letters in the modern meaning.