Zur Buchkultur am spätmittelalterlichen württembergischen Hof
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Anja Thaller
Abstract
To determine the book ownership and literary interests of Margaret of Savoy (1420-1479), in the absence of a list of books or a will, so far the surviving manuscripts have been analysed, especially the references to dedications, donations, lending, commissioning and ownership. However, this only allows us to reconstruct one part of Margaret’s ›library‹, the composition of which was subject to several modifications due to the changes of location that came with her three marriages. New information presented here results from the analysis of her correspondence. In addition to Margaret’s already known attempts to acquire books (notably the prayer book of Charles the Bold in 1477), there is now further evidence: in 1465 she intended to acquire French books, and around 1470 she commissioned a book of hours in Savoy. In 1474 and 1479 she requested books from Count Eberhard V of Württemberg-Urach and his mother Mechthild von der Pfalz. This means that her collection of primarily German- language manuscripts of courtly literature that has previously come to light can be supplemented with books in French, perhaps also Latin or Italian, and at the same time her ability to read in her mother tongue becomes more obvious. Her great interest in books of hours is now clear, for which she probably preferred luxury copies in the Savoy style she was familiar with. In addition to the evaluation of new sources, reflecting the paths taken to obtain a book (›basic equipment‹, dedications, loans, gifts, purchases or other types of acquisition, commissions) and the associated varying degrees of interest in its acquisition add up to a more differentiated picture of the literary interests and book ownership of this late medieval princess.
Abstract
To determine the book ownership and literary interests of Margaret of Savoy (1420-1479), in the absence of a list of books or a will, so far the surviving manuscripts have been analysed, especially the references to dedications, donations, lending, commissioning and ownership. However, this only allows us to reconstruct one part of Margaret’s ›library‹, the composition of which was subject to several modifications due to the changes of location that came with her three marriages. New information presented here results from the analysis of her correspondence. In addition to Margaret’s already known attempts to acquire books (notably the prayer book of Charles the Bold in 1477), there is now further evidence: in 1465 she intended to acquire French books, and around 1470 she commissioned a book of hours in Savoy. In 1474 and 1479 she requested books from Count Eberhard V of Württemberg-Urach and his mother Mechthild von der Pfalz. This means that her collection of primarily German- language manuscripts of courtly literature that has previously come to light can be supplemented with books in French, perhaps also Latin or Italian, and at the same time her ability to read in her mother tongue becomes more obvious. Her great interest in books of hours is now clear, for which she probably preferred luxury copies in the Savoy style she was familiar with. In addition to the evaluation of new sources, reflecting the paths taken to obtain a book (›basic equipment‹, dedications, loans, gifts, purchases or other types of acquisition, commissions) and the associated varying degrees of interest in its acquisition add up to a more differentiated picture of the literary interests and book ownership of this late medieval princess.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt VII
- Vorwort IX
- Zur Einleitung 1
- Württemberg als Kulturlandschaft im späteren Mittelalter 11
- Wissen für den Hof 37
- The Orient in Württemberg 47
- Zur Buchkultur am spätmittelalterlichen württembergischen Hof 67
- Der Schwanenritter in Württemberg 111
- The literary culture of Dominican women in late medieval Germany 157
- Liturgical manuals – liturgical norms 283
- Die Edelsteine der schwäbischen Krone 313
- Gräfin Katharina von Württemberg und die oberschwäbischen Doppelklöster der Prämonstratenser im Mittelalter 345
- Konstruktionen monastischer Identitäten 385
- The ›Alexiuslegende‹ in Esslingen 457
- Württembergisches in Donaueschinger Handschriften? 487
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Anhang
- Stammtafel 524
- Abkürzungsverzeichnis 526
- Abbildungsnachweis 527
- Handschriftenregister 528
- Register der Personen, Werke und Orte 539
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt VII
- Vorwort IX
- Zur Einleitung 1
- Württemberg als Kulturlandschaft im späteren Mittelalter 11
- Wissen für den Hof 37
- The Orient in Württemberg 47
- Zur Buchkultur am spätmittelalterlichen württembergischen Hof 67
- Der Schwanenritter in Württemberg 111
- The literary culture of Dominican women in late medieval Germany 157
- Liturgical manuals – liturgical norms 283
- Die Edelsteine der schwäbischen Krone 313
- Gräfin Katharina von Württemberg und die oberschwäbischen Doppelklöster der Prämonstratenser im Mittelalter 345
- Konstruktionen monastischer Identitäten 385
- The ›Alexiuslegende‹ in Esslingen 457
- Württembergisches in Donaueschinger Handschriften? 487
-
Anhang
- Stammtafel 524
- Abkürzungsverzeichnis 526
- Abbildungsnachweis 527
- Handschriftenregister 528
- Register der Personen, Werke und Orte 539
