Meister Rumelant

Who is Meister Rumelant?

Meister Rumelant or Rumslant was a Middle High German lyric poet. His origin is uncertain, although in his poems he referred to himself as a "Saxon". His name suggests the life of a touring minstrel.

He was the first to mention the 12 'tones' of the Meistersinger. His Daz Gedeones wollenvluis is a Minnelied on the subject of the mystic love of God for the Virgin Mary. He is also known to have composed songs about the death by murder of the king Erik V of Denmark, also called Glipping, and for praising the new king Eric VI of Denmark; another famous song is Got In Vier Elementen Sich Erscheynet. Very little is known about his life, he himself being mentioned in a few pages of the 14th century Codex Manesse and of the Jenaer Liederbuch.