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A celebrated German mediaeval poet; born of a noble family at Eschenbach, near Ansbach, Bavaria, in the second half of the twelfth century; died between 1218 and 1225. He was one of the most prominent minstrels at the court of Hermann, landgraf of Thuringia; and his epics rank among the greatest German imaginative works. Besides several love songs, he wrote "Parcival", "Wilhelm von Orange", and "Titurel".

Next to Walther von der Vogelweide the greatest of Middle High German poets; died about 1220. He was poor and with a family, and could neither read nor write; but knew French and was of noble birth, which enabled him to frequent the court of Hermann of Thuringia. His chief works were three epic poems: "Parzival" (about 1210), the greatest of German court epics; "Titurel" (about 1210?), left unfinished; "Willehalm" (begun before 1216), left unfinished; both afterward completed by other hands. He wrote also lyrics, among which were four "Day Songs".