Wolfram von Eschenbach

The Body Count The effect of knightly combat on the title character’s family in Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival and Titurel.

Helmut Brackert In 1989 Helmut Brackert created a listing of deaths in Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival. In his “der lac an ritterschefte tôt, Parzival und das Leid der Frauen”. ist zwîfel herzen nâchgebûr, Festschrift für Günther Schweikle zum 60. Geburtstag.

Brackert’s Thesis “Es fällt vielleicht beim Lesen des Werkes nicht so ins Auge, daß diese und ähnliche Konstellationen wieder und wieder auftreten, sei es, daß sie wie im Falle der Sigune Handlung, geradezu zu kleinen Binenhand-lungen ausgeformt sind, sei es, daß sie nur genannt werden. Da ich meine, daß Quantität hier in Qualität umschlägt, möchte ich alle einschlägigen Stellen des Textes, die im beschriebenen Sinne vom Wechsel-verhältnis zwischen männlichem Rittertum und weiblicher Leiderfahrung handeln, hier im kursorischen Durchgang kurz mustern (Anm. 6):”

Brackert’s List (Condensed) Schmerz der Mutter beim Abschied Gahmurets (15,10ff.); Klage der Belacane um den toten Isenhart (26,9ff.); Klage der Belacane beim Abschied Gahmurets. Sie Stirbt (750,24ff.); Tod der Mutter Gahmurets (92,26ff.); Tod der Minnedame des Galoes (80,28ff.); Schmerz der Herzeloyde (109,19ff.); Abschied Parzivals. Herzeloyde Stirbt (129,20ff.); Parzival findet Sigune mit dem toten Scionatulander (141,8ff.); Schmerz der Frauen über Ithers Tot (159,28ff.) (310,25ff.); Gurnemanz klagt um seine drei Söhne (177,13ff); Condwiramurs klagt um Schentflurs (194,9ff.); Schmerz der Sigune um Schionatulander (249,11ff.)(435,13ff; Klage der Orgeluse um Cidegast (612,21ff.); Schmerz der Bene und Itonje (696, 21ff.)(723,21ff.); Sigune ist tot (804,21ff.).

Using Titurel, the continuation of a story line in Parzival, and by reading Parzival even closer, it is possible to see the full extent of the themes at work in the text.

My expanded list: Prazival’s Grandfather Addanz is killed in battle (56,9ff.); Parzival’s father Gandîn dies in combat (56,7ff.); Isenhart is killed during unrewarded Minnedienst (26,25ff.); Belakâne’s subjects are starved and killed by Isenhart’s subjects in revenge (16,4ff.); Gahmuret kills Belakâne by leaving for competition (750,25ff.); Gâlôes, Gahmuret’s brother is killed by Orilus (92, 27ff.); Schoette, Gahmuret’s mother, dies of heartbreak (92,30ff.); Castis is killed during Minnedienst for Herzeloyde (Titurel, 26ff.); Fôle, Gâlôes wife, dies of a broken heart (81,4ff.); Gahmuret is killed (105,5ff.); Herzeloyde dies upon Parzival’s departure (128,22ff.); Schîânatulander, Gurnemanz’ nephew, is killed in unrewarded Minnedienst for Sigune(138,21ff.); Gramoflanz’ father Irôt is killed by Gâwân’s father Lot (608,12ff.); Cidegast, Orgeluse’s husband, and his three servants are killed by Gramoflanz (606,6ff.); Orgeluse exhibits unmaze and brings knights to their deaths for revenge on Gramoflanz (606,12ff.); Parzival kills his relative, Ither, for his red armor (155,10ff.); Keye’s shoulder is broken and his horse killed in a joust with Parzival (295,25ff.);

…continued Gurnemanz’ son Schenteflûrs is killed by Climide while protecting Cundwîr âmûrs (177,27ff.); Gurnemanz’ second son Lascoyt is killed by Idêr for a sparrow hawk (178,11ff.); Gurzgrî, Gurnemanz’ third son, is killed by Mabonagrin (178,22ff.); Gurzgrî’s wife Mahaute loses all her beauty (178,26ff.) and dies (Titurel, 42 (hieß)); Gurnemanz’ wife dies of heartbreak (178,26ff.); Cundwîr âmûrs city, Pelrapiere, is besieged due to unrequited love and many knights have died (182,10ff.); The population of Pelrapiere is starving to death (184,7ff.); Anfortas is wounded in Minnedienst bringing the Grail Kingdom into difficulty (479,25ff.); Frimurtel is killed in knightly combat (474,13ff.); Meljanz attacks Bearosche due to unrewarded Minnedienst (345,30ff.); Illinot, Arthur and Ginover’s only son, is killed during Minnedienst (Titurel, 148); Florie, Illinot’s love, dies of a broken heart (Titurel, 148); Feirefîz, Parzival and Gramoflanz are all left fatherless; Sigune dies of a broken heart (804,23ff.); Lammire, Ither’s beloved is robbed of happiness, possibly dead (155,19ff.).

The Body count in Parzival and Titurel Parzival’s Family Tree:

Parzival’s immediate family is devastated: The real story related in Parzival is actually a saga of widows and orphans.

Brackert’s Thesis shows: 13 incidents of sorrow 9 incidents of death

My continuation of Brackert’s thesis: 29 incidents of death 2 injuries (Keye, Anfortas) 2 cities besieged with countless civilian casualties