Conrad von Würzburg

Conrad von Würzburg, one of the most celebrated poets of the middle ages, died at Basel in 1287. Conrad is fertile in imagination, learned, and—although marking the decline of Middle High-German poetry by his prolix and artificial style—probably the most perfect master of German versification that had appeared up to his own day. His last poem, which he left in an unfinished condition, has for its subject The Trojan War. But Conrad appears to most advantage in his smaller narrative poems, of which the best are Engelhart, Otto, Der Welt Lohn, Silvester, Alexius, Der Schwannritter, and Die Goldene Schmiede. His Lieder have been edited by Bartsch (1870).