Der von Kürenberg

Since his given name remains unknown ("Der" is not a name but a demonstrative pronoun), it is impossible to identify him in historical records.

His social status also remains uncertain and the place name Kürenberg (literally "Mill Hill") is not uncommon.

Although he is placed among the barons ("Freiherren") in the hierarchical ordering of the Manesse Codex, the only known house of this status and name is documented in the Breisgau in the 11th Century.

He more probably belongs to families of his name with vassal status ("Dienstmann"), attested in the area along the Danube around Melk and Linz in the mid-12th Century.

[5] The manuscripts do not group the strophes, and they are usually regarded as standing alone, rather than forming the multi-strophe poems typical of later Minnesang.

His poetry, as well as that of Dietmar von Eist (Aist), suggest that there may have existed a poetic form indigenous to the Upper Germany/Austria territory before the impact of the Provençal influence.

The impression he leaves seems more true to what one might expect the men and women of a warrior-aristocracy to be like than that portrayed in the following generation's poetry.

Sît sach ich den valken schône fliegen: er fuorte an sînem fuoze sîdîne riemen, und was im sîn gevidere alrôt guldîn.