Willehalm

work by Wolfram von Eschenbach

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July 15, 2026

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The Willehalm is an unfinished epic poem by the German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach, written around the early 13th century. It is part of the tradition of courtly romance and tells the story of the Crusader Guillaume d'Orange. Wolfram von Eschenbach was a significant figure in Middle High German literature, known for his original personality and complex themes. While he presented himself as unlettered, his works show a deep engagement with French and German literary traditions. The Willehalm is one of his surviving works, alongside the epic Parzival and several lyric poems.123

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Wolfram von Eschenbach
…epic Parzival; the unfinished epic Willehalm, telling the history of the Crusader Guillaume d’Orange; and short fragments of a further epic, the so-called Titurel, which elaborates the tragic love story of Sigune from book 3 of Parzival.
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…epic Parzival; the unfinished epic Willehalm, telling the history of the Crusader Guillaume d’Orange; and short fragments of a further epic, the so-called Titurel, which elaborates the tragic love story of Sigune from book 3 of Parzival.
Read More