Annolied

Anno died in 1075 and the poem, probably written in the years immediately after his death, can be seen as part of a campaign for his canonisation, which was finally achieved in 1183.

The modern title is taken from the heading given to it by Martin Opitz in his edition of the text: RHYTHMVS DE S. ANNONE COLONIENSI ARCHIEPISCOPO ("Song about Saint Anno, Archbishop of Cologne").

[6] A manuscript transcription by Junius now in the Bodleian Library seems to be a copy of Opitz's edition rather than an independent source as was once believed.

[14] The poem includes sections on four German peoples, the Swabians, Bavarians, Saxons and Franks, a typical medieval origo gentis story, telling in each case of their origins in the classical near east.

Dâ lisit man Noricus ensis, Daz diudit ein suert Beierisch, Wanti si woldin wizzen Daz inge[m]ini baz nibizzin, Die man dikke durch den helm slûg; Demo liute was ie diz ellen gût.

Man sagit daz dar in halvin noch sîn Die dir Diutischin sprecchin, Ingegin India vili verro.

The heathen books tell what kind of warriors were there: there we read "Noricus ensis", which means, "a Bavarian sword", for they believed that no other blade had a better bite, often slicing through a helmet.