One of the most renowned German illustrated books of the 16th century is ‘The Adventures and Part of the Stories of the Praiseworthy, Valiant and Most Famous Hero and Knight, Lord Theuerdank’. The poem was commissioned by German Emperor Maximilian I (1459 – 1519), who also developed its plan and wrote some verses.

To glorify himself and consolidate his influence in the vast territories of his Empire, Maximilian did not erect monumental architectural structures, but popularized his image with the help of printed words and pictures. Maximilian involved many famous artists to carry out his grandiose projects in the field of printing. By order of the Emperor, Dürer and his workshop created the Triumphal Arch – largest engraving in the world.

Theuerdank tells the story of exploits, often fantastic, and of a romanticized courtship of Maximilian to Mary of Burgundy – heiress to the throne of Burgundy, the richest and most enviable bride in Europe.

This work is represented in poetic form, full of allegories, symbols and allusions. It depicts the Emperor himself as a valiant knight of the medieval era. Some of the stories has biblical grounds, as, for example, the fight with the lion clearly resembles the story of Samson tearing the lion’s mouth. Lord Theuerdank managed to get out unscathed from under the snow debris and to continue his courageous battles with brigands. In all the dangerous situations, he was invincible because he was always benefited by Fortuna, embodied in the book in the form of his servant whose clothes bear the image of the wheel – a symbol and attribute of Fortuna.

After many adventures, the hero reaches his beloved, Mary of Burgundy, who is embodied in the poem through the image of beautiful Ehrenreich, daughter of glorious King Ruhmreich. Having decided that he is still not worthy of her hand, the hero goes on a crusade to do great things in honor of his fair lady. However, the text of the chapter on the crusade was never written, though there is an engraving depicting Theuerdank with the banner of St. George at the head of a unit of knights in the book.

Printed in 1517 in Nuremberg, the book appeared on sale only in 1519 after the Emperor’s death. The book is decorated with 118 woodcuts, made by engraver Jost de Negker on the basis of drawings by Hans Burgkmair, Leonhard Beck and Hans Leonhard Schäufelein.

The text is typed in Gothic script ‘Fraktur’, designed a few years earlier by the Emperor’s Secretary Vinzenz Rockner for publication of the Prayer Book. The script originated from the solemn form of writing used in clerks’ papers (that is why this script is also called ‘Kanzleischrift’).