An Examination of the Lord-Vassal Relationships in the Waltharius

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to explore and analyse the lord-vassal relations that are an important part of the social structures presented in the Medieval Latin poem Waltharius (The Poem of Walther). This thesis has a two-fold significance: first, it shows the poet exploring vassalage from the perspective of the vassals; second, it adds greater nuance to scholarly interpretations of the Waltharius by casting further light on characters in the poem who have often been overlooked in interpretations which have overwhelmingly focused upon the protagonist Walther.