ENRICO di VELDEKE. - German poet, of Flemish origin (second half of the 12th century), important for his lyric poetry, in which he remains the founder of courtly poetry (entirely subjected by him to the rules of art), but even more so for an Eneit (“Aeneid”), derived not from Virgil but from a French adaptation (Roman d'Enéas). Since the subject matter was here adapted to the spirit of the chivalric age, no small part of French culture and taste was transferred into Germany, where he thus provided the classical model of the courtly chivalric epic. He had previously (1170–80) produced a revival of the Legend of St. Sereccio.
BBL.: Editions: L. Ettmuller, Lipsia 1832 and O. Behnchel, Heilbronn 1882; of the Eneit: J. J. Salverda de Grave, Halle 1891; of the Sercatina: J. H. Bormans, Maastricht 1858, and M. Koenen, Buenum 1912. Studies: J.