Hartmann von Aue (1170?-1210?) was a German poet. He introduced the legends of King Arthur into German literature by adapting Erec and Enide and Yvain, two romances written about 1170 by the French poet Chrétien de Troyes.
In Hartmann’s Erec (about 1190), he retold the story of an Arthurian hero who gave up knighthood for love. Iwein (about 1200), Hartmann’s retelling of Yvain, is the story of an Arthurian hero who gave up love for knighthood. Poor Henry and Gregorius (both about 1190) are two original verse epics by Hartmann. They deal with sin and redemption. Hartmann also wrote love poetry and crusade songs.
Hartmann was born in Swabia. He was a knight in the service of a Swabian lord.
