bavarikon4UUlrich von Lichtenstein, Frauendienst (Service of Ladies)
The "Frauendienst" verse novel, written around the middle of the 13th century, is the fictional autobiography of the Styrian ministerial Ulrich von Liechtenstein (ca. 1200/10-1275), who is attested as a truchsess in 1244, marshal under Ottokar II of Bohemia (1232-1278) in 1267 and state judge for Styria in 1272.
The poetry includes 58 "Minne" courtly love songs by the author, which have found their way into the "Great Heidelberg or Manesse Codex" (Heidelberg, University Library, Cpg 848). Besides this, there are tournament descriptions, three reflections on the theory of the "Minne" song writing style as well as seven letters, three of them in prose. The songs particularly stand out in the last part. While the songs, letters and reflections on the "Minne" song writing style correspond to the ideal of courtly love, the epic parts are all comical. The comic self-exposure of the first-person narrator emphasises the artificial, theoretical, and unreal aspect of these courtly love songs.
Ulrich's "Frauendienst" is only preserved in this manuscript, apart from two fragments. The text is written in a simple, hasty book script in two columns with separated verses, the song verses are continuous as usual. Red headings and section initials adorn the handwriting.