Ottokar aus der Gaal#

b. around 1265, d. between 1319 and 1321, Styrian poet and historian from the family of the Lords of Strettweg. Was in the service of the Liechtensteins, probably at times a travelling poet; there is evidence of him in Styria from 1304. Fought in wars and travelled in diplomatic functions. His "Oesterreichische Reimchronik" in almost 100,000 verses is the first comprehensive work of history in German. It covers the years 1246-1309 and describes the history of the Holy Roman Empire and the history of Austria and Styria according to poetical and historical sources. His "Weltchronik", which was partly a history of Emperors, has not been preserved.

Edition: J. Seemueller in: Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Dt. Chroniken 5, 1893.

Literature#