The Old Saxon Leipzig Heliand manuscript fragment (MS L): New evidence concerning Luther, the poet, and Ottonian heritage by Timothy Blaine Price A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in German in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Irmengard Rauch, Chair Professor Thomas F. Shannon Professor John Lindow Spring 2010 The Old Saxon Leipzig Heliand manuscript fragment (MS L): New evidence concerning Luther, the poet, and Ottonian heritage © 2010 by Timothy Blaine Price Abstract The Old Saxon Leipzig Heliand manuscript fragment (MS L): New evidence concerning Luther, the poet, and Ottonian heritage by Timothy Blaine Price Doctor of Philosophy in German University of California, Berkeley Professor Irmengard Rauch, Chair Begun as an investigation of the linguistic and paleographic evidence on the Old Saxon Leipzig Heliand fragment, the dissertation encompasses three analyses spanning over a millennium of that manuscript’s existence. First, a direct analysis clarifies errors in the published transcription (4.2). The corrections result from digital imaging processes (2.3) which reveal scribal details that are otherwise invisible. A revised phylogenic tree (2.2) places MS L as the oldest extant Heliand document. Further buoying this are transcription corrections for all six Heliand manuscripts (4.1). Altogether, the corrections contrast with the Old High German Tatian’s Monotessaron (3.3), i.e. the poet’s assumed source text (3.1). In fact, digital analysis of MS L reveals a small detail (4.2) not present in the Tatian text, thus calling into question earlier presumptions about the location and timing of the Heliand’s creation (14.4). Second, given centuries-long rumors (6.2, 7.1) that Luther once had a Heliand codex, the MS L discovery in Leipzig is conspicuous: close to Luther’s Wittenberg, Leipzig is also home to the library dedicated by Luther (5.1)—the very institution at which MS L was discovered. The analysis investigates: whence the Luther rumors come (7.1); their veracity (8.4, 9.1); and their timing relative to Luther (6.3, 10.4, 11.3). The result: a Heliand codex existed in Leipzig prior to Luther’s death (6.2). Moreover, the men responsible for its presence there were those who established that library (5.1). These men comprised Luther’s inner circle of Reformation thinkers (6.2). Additionally, the identity of one ‘rumor’ author, an enigmatic Reformation firebrand by the name of Ioannes Manlius (9.2), is revealed. Third, a trail of the Leipzig Heliand codex is traced through time, linking Luther’s Heliand codex to Heliand manuscripts L and P (2.1). A second trail back to the epic’s creation date (13.4) points to Ottonian dynasty involvement in disseminating the Heliand to the discovery locations of the extant manuscripts (14.3). A further connection between the Ottonian Harz and Southern England (14.3) proves a ring existed between Medieval England and Ottonian Germany allowing for trade of histories and religious materials (14.5). 1 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Project background.....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Direction of the dissertation .....................................................................................................2 1.3 Considerations.............................................................................................................................2 1.4 Methodology................................................................................................................................3 Part I: Analysis of the materials and modern theories......................................................................... 8 2. The Heliand manuscripts....................................................................................................................9 2.1 Discovery of manuscript fragment L........................................................................................9 2.1.1 The six extant manuscripts ..................................................................................................10 2.1.2 Relevance of the discovery...................................................................................................13 2.2 Stammbaum theories .................................................................................................................14 2.2.1 Burkhard Taeger ....................................................................................................................14 2.2.2 Georg Baesecke.......................................................................................................................17 2.2.3 Revised Stammbaum .............................................................................................................21 2.3 Additional evidence supporting the relationship of MSS P and L.....................................22 3. Authorship of the Heliand................................................................................................................ 25 3.1 The Heliand poet ........................................................................................................................25 3.1.1 Parameters and significance ................................................................................................25 3.2 Searching for the poet..............................................................................................................26 3.2.1 Evidence from history ...........................................................................................................26 3.2.2 Evidence from the Prefaces....................................................................................................30 3.3 Current theories ........................................................................................................................32 3.3.1 Fulda and Werden ..................................................................................................................33 3.3.2 Westfalia ..................................................................................................................................37 3.3.3 Beyond the Elbe......................................................................................................................41 3.3.4 Verden and others .................................................................................................................45 4. Modern Heliand transcriptions ....................................................................................................... 50 4.1 Overview of the standard works.............................................................................................50 4.1.1 Otto Behaghel .........................................................................................................................51 4.1.2 Eduard Sievers ........................................................................................................................55 4.1.3 Johann Andreas Schmeller ...................................................................................................60 4.2 New transcriptions ...................................................................................................................65 4.2.1 Text comparisons...................................................................................................................65 4.2.1.1 Parellel texts of MSS C and M............................................................................................66 4.2.1.2 Parallel texts of MSS M, C, and P.......................................................................................69 4.2.1.3 Comparison of Heliand and Luther’s Bible translations.................................................73 Part II: First indications of a Heliand codex in Leipzig........................................................................ 81 5. A short history of Leipzig ................................................................................................................ 82 5.1 Synopsis......................................................................................................................................82 i 5.1.1 The Paulinerkirche ................................................................................................................82 5.1.2 Early Protestant movement in Prague................................................................................82 5.1.3 Establishment of the University of Leipzig........................................................................83 5.1.4 University expansion.............................................................................................................84 5.2 “Can any good thing come from . .” Leipzig?......................................................................85 6. The Heliand Prefaces.........................................................................................................................88 6.1 The Latin Prefaces ......................................................................................................................88 6.1.1 Johann Georg von Eccard......................................................................................................88 6.1.2 Prefaces’ connection to