Si vragent [Medieval German song][+English translation]

Details

Description

Performed by Michael Posch and Ensemble Unicorn.

This song was written by Friedrich von Sonnenburg, who lived in what is now South Tyrol in the second half of the 13th century. Friedrich apparently was a lower noble who lived as a travelling artist. As such, he was respected during his lifetime and beyond. From what we know about him via his songs, Friedrich was very passionate about art and confidently expressed the use a respected artist can have even for kings. And what better topic is there in this regard than a coronation? Indeed, this song deals with the coronation of Rudolf I of the House of Habsburg, the first Habsburg on the German throne.

Rudolf was born in 1218, he became Count of Habsburg in 1240. Despite the Habsburg dynasty being considered the most glamorous noble dynasty of them all today, everyone has to start small: when Rudolf took charge, his family was not important at all on the greater imperial stage. However, following the death of Staufer Emperor Friedrich/Frederick II in 1250, a period of turmoil called "interregnum" engulfed the Holy Roman Empire, as there was no clear choice for a ruler, let alone a strong and capable one. Rudolf eventually emerged as the great winner, for he managed to greatly enlarge his territory and create beneficial alliances. He became one of the most prominent nobles of the realm, and he was eventually chosen as Roman-German King in 1273, edging out Ottokar II of Bohemia, a very mighty rival who also controlled Austria. In the following war between the two, Rudolf beat the odds once again: The 1278 Battle of Dürnkrut ended with Ottokar's defeat and death and made the Habsburgs rulers of Austria, thereby bringing together two things we now deem inseparable. Rudolf failed to give on his title to his sons and he was also denied the status elevation to emperor, but that doesn't change that he ended the interregnum period of turmoil and set the groundwork for the Habsburg's glory. Scholars used to see Rudolf as a "compromise" by the imperial princes, supposed to be weak and allow for their own rise, his relatively high age at the time of his ascension being named as a factor. Especially in comparison to the younger and initially much more powerful Ottokar. That notion is denied or at least debated today, but Rudolf proved his strength in any case. He died in 1291 in the Rhenish city of Speyer, an important center of the realm at the time. He is buried in the cathedral there.

Friedrich, who also seems to have history with Ottokar, expresses his support and praise for Rudolf in this song, thereby doing what he can to strengthen his rule. The word of a famed artist is not to be underestimated, just think of stars today. By describing a seemingly heavenly phenomenon, Friedrich paints Rudolf as God's clear choice. For that, Friedrich mentions a man referred to as "He of Brûneck" (Brauneck today, apparently) as a witness. There are no surviving works of this man, but him being mentioned in this context shows he must have been famous as well. Another artist named Hugo von Trimberg also mentions somebody of the same name. Places names Bruneck/Brauneck can be found in Franconia, Switzerland, and South Tyrol.
Friedrich also stressed the legitimacy of Rudolf's rule by describing him as crowned and anointed - and, crucially, by mentioning the city of Aachen (as "Ache", "Oche" in the local dialect) as the place of the coronation. Aachen was the city of Carolus Magnus, considered the founder of the realm, and the foremost coronation place for centuries. Being crowned with the proper imperial regalia in Aachen was important to claiming legitimacy.
The cross Friedrich mentions as the divine phenomenon obviously alludes to the Christian blessing, but also to the flag of the Holy Roman Empire: today, we primarily connect the HRE with the black (later double-headed) eagle on yellow background - but that was originally only the flag of the ruler. The realm itself had an older flag at first, it was a white cross on red background.

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●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬♬❈ LYRICS ❈♬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
Si vrâgent wie der künic von Rôme
Ruodolf mir behage·
Er behaget mir als er sol
Sît daz er got behagete an dem tage·
Dôr in ze vogete als ich iu sage·
Gap aller kristenheit·
Unde als er got behagete
Also der Brûnecker uns jach·
Daz er und manic tûsent man
Ansihticlîche wol ansach·
Ze Ache überm münster daz geschach·
Hoch lanc wît unde breit·
Ein schœne kriuze swebete ob im
Die wîle daz er saz·
Gekrœnet und die wîhe enpfienc
Hie bî so weiz ich daz·
Daz in got durch der vürsten munt
Uns zeinem vogete hat erwelt·
Nu sî er dir almehtic got
In dînem vride gezelt·