Rolandslied

The Rolandslied, or Song of Roland, written by Konrad der Pfaffe around 1170, represents one of the earliest adaptations of the French Chanson de Geste into Middle High German. Commissioned by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, the work was designed to elevate the status of the German nobility by aligning their cultural identity with the heroic traditions of Charlemagne. It served as a vital instrument of political and religious propaganda, framing the conflict against the Saracens as a holy crusade.

This specific volume is a scholarly edition published by Fink in 1890, reflecting the intense nineteenth-century interest in medieval philology and national literary heritage. It follows the tradition of critical editions that sought to preserve the linguistic integrity of Konrad’s verse, which deviated from the French original by emphasizing Christian morality and the personal spiritual journey of the titular hero. As a foundational text for medievalists, this edition remains a testament to the rigorous efforts of German academics to canonize their vernacular epic literature.