Hermann von Veldenz: Yolanda of Vianden. Current state of research and outlook

The Yolanda of Vianden, written around 1300 by the Dominican monk Hermann of Veldenz, is one of the most important literary works in Luxembourgish literature. The rediscovery of the Codex Mariendalensis (1999) and Claudine Moulin's faithful edition (2009) gave new impetus to research and at the same time pointed to a wide range of research desiderata that still exist. The question of the “Yolanda language” remains unanswered to this day, despite Fernand Hoffmann's assertion in 1964 that Yolanda was “the first poem in the Luxembourgish language”. The rich but far from exhausted potential of the text in terms of literary, cultural and gender-specific issues is also undisputed.

In the Grand Duchy, the count's daughter is revered as a kind of local saint, especially in connection with Vianden Castle. At the same time, she has been the inspiration for various modern adaptations, such as a novel. This makes it all the more problematic that Yolanda has received little attention in the Luxembourg education system to date.

Thursday, 16 October 2025 – Linguistic aspects

• 1:45 p.m. – Welcome coffee
• 2:00 p.m. – Welcome address
• 2:30 p.m. – Sam Mersch (Luxembourg): Assessing the language of the Codex Mariendalensis for the linguistic history of Luxembourgish
• 3:15 p.m. – Eva Büthe-Scheider (Leipzig): On the written language classification of the Yolanda
• 4:00 p.m. – Coffee break
• 4:30 p.m. – Peter Gilles (Luxembourg) Explorations into the vowel system of the Yolanda manuscript
• 5:15 p.m. – Thomas Jäger (Vienna): Vf gance rime ſetzen (V. 19): Investigations into Middle High German syntax under the conditions of epic rhyming couplets using the example of Yolanda von Vianden
• From approx. 7:00 p.m. – Dinner together

Friday, 17 October 2025 – Literary, local historical, codicological and editorial insights

• 9:30 a.m. – Mathias Herweg (Karlsruhe): Local saints and global saints: The ‘Questes religieuses’ of Yolanda of Vianden and Josaphat of India
• 10:15 a.m. – Maxine Thien / Maryvonne Hagby (Osnabrück): ich weiz vil wol, sô wy man des beginnen sol (V. 3649f.): The portrayal of kluocheit in Yolanda of Vianden: Between prudentia, conflicts and self-determination
• 11:00 a.m. – Coffee break
• 11:30 a.m. – Gilbert Haufs-Brusberg (Veldenz Castle) The mystery surrounding Brother Hermann of Veldenz
• 12:15 p.m. – N.N. (Vianden Castle) History and practice of a central Luxembourg cultural institution
• 1:00 p.m. – Lunch break
• 1:45 p.m. – Michel Margue (Luxembourg) Disturbed orders. Yolanda of Vianden as a problem case
• 2:30 p.m. – Alain Atten (Luxembourg) Insights into linguistic and economic history: the environment of Marienthal Abbey based on the “land register”
• 3:15 p.m. – Thomas Falmagne (Luxembourg) The Codex Mariendalensis: codicological notes as a contribution to the contemporary manuscripts of Marienthal
• 4:00 p.m. – Coffee break
• 4:30 p.m. – Miscellaneous and organisational matters
• 5:00 p.m. – Challenges of a digital Yolanda edition (moderator: Amelie Bendheim) With a contribution from Claudine Moulin (Trier)
• From approx. 7:00 p.m. – Dinner together

Saturday, 18 October 2025 – Literary perspectives and outlooks

• 9:30 a.m. – Heinz Sieburg (Luxembourg) ‘O ware ʃůce mīne ...’ (v. 1): Yolanda as a courtly romance?
• 10:15 a.m. – Ruth Reicher (Luxembourg) Dẏ velſe ho den diffen dal (V. 1603): Reflections on transgressions in Yolanda
• 11:00 a.m. – Summary and farewell coffee
• 12:00 p.m. – End of conference