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 the courtly poetry (subordinated entirely to the rules of art), but more so for an *Eneit* (in *Enede*), derived not from Virgil but from a French reworking (Roman d'Enéas). Since the subject matter was suited to the spirit of the chivalric age, much of French culture and taste was infused into Germany, where he thus provided the classic model of courtly chivalric epic. Earlier (1170-80), he had produced a resuscitation of the Legend of St. Servatius.
BIBL.: Editions: L. Ettmüller, Leipzig 1832 and O. Behaghel, Heilbronn 1852; of the *Eneit*: J. J. Salverda de Grave, Halle 1891; of the *Servatius*: J. H. Bormans, Maastricht 1858, and M. Koenen, Bussum 1924. Studies: J.