Von des Tôdes gehügede

work by Heinrich von Melk

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July 15, 2026

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Von des T\u00f4des geh\u00fcgede (c. 1150\u201360), meaning "Remembrance of Death" or "Memento Mori", is a poem by Heinrich von Melk. This work is significant as it is considered the first satire in German literature.1

Heinrich von Melk, a Benedictine lay brother from the Austrian monastery of Melk, used traditional monkish themes but introduced a new, sharp satirical edge. He critiqued the emerging feudal and courtly culture of his time, unflatteringly portraying knights as violent and adulterous, noble ladies as vain, and the lower classes as imitators of the aristocracy. He also wrote Vom Priesterleben ("About Priestly Life"), which satirically depicted the behavior of worldly priests.1

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Heinrich Von Melk
…he composed a vivid poem Von des Tôdes gehügede (c. 1150–60; “Remembrance of Death” or “Memento Mori”). The monkish theme is traditional, but the poem’s satiric edge and unflattering description of the contemporary emerging feudal and courtly culture is new. Heinrich portrays the knights as adulterous and bloodthirsty, the noble…
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…he composed a vivid poem Von des Tôdes gehügede (c. 1150–60; “Remembrance of Death” or “Memento Mori”). The monkish theme is traditional, but the poem’s satiric edge and unflattering description of the contemporary emerging feudal and courtly culture is new. Heinrich portrays the knights as adulterous and bloodthirsty, the noble…
Read More