- Visio Godeschalci
"Visio Godeschalci" is a 12th century text relating the vision of a peasant of Horchen in
Holstein , named Gottschalk. Gottschalk in December1189 , during the siege ofSegeberg castle fell ill, and during five days was presumed dead.His visions were recorded by two authors, surviving in two distinct but congruent accounts, both in
Latin , an extensive one (text A: Godeschalcus) and a shorter one (text B: Visio Godeschalci).Two versions
"Godeschalcus"
The longer text presumably dates to between August and October 1190. The author presumably was a canonicus of
Neumünster monastery, originally fromLower Saxony , and shows literary and philosophical education. In the section onpurgatory , the author adds observations on current events, incidentally doubling as a primary source of everyday and legal affairs of the late 12th century Holy Roman Empire."Visio Godeschalci"
The author of the shorter version was presumably the priest of
Nortorf . It is uncertain whether he had access to the longer text. The text is an account in the first person. This version is mentioned byCaesarius von Heisterbach in his "Dialogus miraculorum ".Manuscripts
*Wolfenbüttel, Herzog-August-Bibliothek, Cod. 558 Helst., 1v-24r (Autograph)
*Hannover, Niedersächsische Landesbibliothek, Ms. XXIII 163, f.1-81The vision
The vision shows the influence both of local
folklore and ofChristian mythology .Gottschalk experiences separation from his body and is received to the afterlife by two angels. He is shown a vision of
purgatory , where he recognizes several prominent deceased atoning for their sins. He then seesHeavenly Jerusalem , but is not allowed to set foot in it. Instead, he returns to his body.Modern editions
*Erwin Assman: "Godeschalcus und Visio Godeschalci." (Quellen und Forschungen zur Geschichte Schleswig-Holsteins, 74) Neumünster 1979 ISBN 3-529-02174-1
Bibliography
* Enno Bünz: "Visio Godeschalci/Godeschalcus." In: Verfasserlexikon, 10, Sp. 404-408
* Peter Dinzelbacher: "Visio Godesc(h)alci." In: Lexikon des Mittelalters 8, Sp. 1731
* Hedwig Röckelein: "Otloh, Gottschalk, Tnugdal: Individuelle und kollektive Visionsmuster des Hochmittelalters." (Europäische Hochschulschriften. Reihe III. Geschichte und Hilfswissenschaften. Bd. 319) Dissertation Tübingen. Frankfurt am Main 1987.External links
* http://www.gottschalg.com/genealogy/ahnen/sonstige-hinweise/1173215767.html
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