Peter Suchenwirt

Peter Suchenwirt(c. 1320 – 1395) was anAustrianpoet andherald.(Suchenwirt was the Medieval name for heralds of the Austrian dukes.)

He called himself "Knappe von den Wappen" which is a lower position as to theherald,with the duty toblazonand explain thearmsof the nobles.

Suchenwirt was the most outstanding representative of the so-called arms poetry (de: Heroldsdichtung). Since 1372 he lived in theViennacourt of the Austrian dukes. In 1377, he joined the campaign of duke Albrecht III toPrussia.His poems are full of heraldic blazon, documenting his proficiency in heraldic terminology.

Suchenwirt collected the material for hispoemsfrom the primary sources. For this reason he travelled a lot to the eminent personalities of his age. He was an outstanding observer, so his historical and cultural data proved to be authentic. He went to the location to give a laudation if he learnt about the death of an important person, or appeared there at the first anniversary of his death. He praised thetournamentresults, thevirtuesand field deeds ofkingsandnobles.As a rule, the speech ended with the description of the deceased person's arms.

He usedgemstonesto designate the tinctures, and to describe (c. 1355) the coat of arms of the Louis the Great (1342–1382),King of Hungary.

See also

• Tricking (heraldry)