Ulrich von Liechtenstein

He wrote poetry in Middle High German and was author of noted works about how knights and nobles may lead more virtuous lives.

He outlines rules for knights, ministeriales, and free nobles to follow to lead honorable and courtly lives.

There are several instances where he places the (unfree) ministerials and the free nobles in one category separate from the knights to point out the nobility of his own estate.

[5] In August 1252 Philip's forces decisively defeated his enemies at the Battle of Sachsenburg on the Drava, and Ulrich was one of seven who mediated the ensuing peace.

[6] Leader of the Styrian nobility, Ulrich had a hand in absorbing the duchy into the possessions of Rudolph of Habsburg after the ducal House of Babenberg had become extinct in 1246.

He writes of himself as a protagonist who does great deeds of honor to married noblewomen, following the conventions of chaste courtly love.

The protagonist, Ulrich, wanders through Styria and Austria in the guise of King Arthur inviting all knights to "break lance" (that is, to joust) three times with him for honor's sake.

The story intersperses some songs and courtly advice to knights and some admonitions to greedy nobles and faithless squires.