Kaiserchronik
Kaiserchronik, an immense Early Middle High German poem of more than 17, 000 lines written in Regensburg, probably between 1135 and 1150. It is likely that it was undertaken under the patronage of the Emperor Lothar III and Duke Heinrich der Stolze. It is assumed that it is the work of a priest (or a group of priests) close to Heinrich von Dießen-Wolfratshausen, Bishop of Regensburg.
The work is a huge verse chronicle, covering the Roman kings and emperors, and the modern ‘Roman’ emperors from Charlemagne (see Karl I, der Grosse) to Konrad III. It breaks off with the summons of Bernard of Clairvaux to the Second Crusade in 1147. The standpoint is clerical, and the rulers are judged according to their piety and their moral qualities. Among the more recent monarchs the chronicler approves those who were in harmony with the Papacy, and condemns those in opposition. Heinrich IV is particularly severely treated. The ideal is the Christian king. In spite of the abundance of warlike incident, the accent is on justice rather than heroism.
The work is rich in legendary incidents and fantastic episodes, and includes some fictitious emperors. The noble society portrayed is modelled on that of the chronicler's own day. It is the knightly world immediately preceding the courtly era.
The Kaiserchronik ranks as the first German historical work. Its popularity is attested by the existence of several MSS., some of which are adaptations. The most important is the Vorauer Handschrift, in which this is the most substantial item.
