Heinrich von Veldeke
He certainly died after 1184 because he mentions in his Eneas that he was present at the court day that Emperor Frederik Barbarossa organised in Mainz at Pentecost of that year.
The choice is usually indicative of whether Veldeke is (anachronistically) thought of writing in a "Dutch" or a "German" literary tradition.
Sometimes the poet's place of origin "Veldeke" is also used to denote the author without taking a side in the dispute[4] (though it primarily serves to differentiate Heinrich/Hendrik from others with his name, e.g. Heinrich von Morungen).
When Servatius becomes aware that God intends to punish the citizens of Tongeren by sending Atilla the Hun to them, he goes on a pilgrimage to Rome and prays on the grave of Peter to divert the disaster.
His prayers go unfulfilled, but Peter does give him a silver key with which Servatius can grant mercy and impart punishment on sinners.
Maastricht was situated on an important crossroads: the road from Cologne from the west, the Meuse river as north-south axis.
Also, several fragments have been found in various book bindings that all originate from a manuscript that may have been written while the poet was still alive (ca.
Veldeke's most sizable work is the Eneas Romance, which he based on the Old French Roman d'Enéas, that, in its turn, was inspired by Virgil’s Aeneid.
According to the epilogue of the Eneas, Veldeke allowed the countess of Cleves to read his work when it was four-fifths completed.
The work was stolen, and it was only returned to Veldeke in 1184 by Landgrave Herman of Thuringia, who gave him the order to finish it.
The latter had a feud with Louis III, Landgrave of Thuringia, Herman’s eldest brother and also bridegroom to the countess of Cleves.
Despite the tragic events of the story (e.g., Dido’s suicide and the death of Pallas, Eneas' brother-in-arms, and of many other heroes), a positive tone is dominant.
Veldeke also insists on comparing the wedding with the Hoftag that Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa organised in 1184 in Mainz.
This means Veldeke consciously selected rhyme couples that were possible both in Maaslandic and Middle High German.
Veldeke uses the conventional description of nature (Natureingang) to open his lyrics, and then usually parallels it – as in the example below – or contrasts it with the lover's feelings: Ez sint guotiu niuwe maere, daz die vogel offenbaere singent, dâ man bluomen siht.
In this time of year, one ought to be happy, but alas, I am not: my foolish heart has betrayed me, and must now, sad and sombre, suffer the hardship that is imparted on me.)
This is proven by the fact that his lyrics and the Eneas Romance have solely been preserved in Middle High German manuscripts.
His influence on Middle Dutch literature appears to have been rather limited, aside from one allusion by Jacob van Maerlant that is difficult to interpret.
