TANNHAUSER, A German knight and minnesinger of the thirteenth century, probably a Bavarian by birth, who enjoyed the favor of Duke Frederick of Austria. Little is known historically of his career, and he dis appears entirely after the death of Conradin (1268). His verses are in the main mocking and sensuous. One of the latest of them, a penitential song, may have led to his identifica tion with the hero of the old Teutonic legend of the Venusberg or lIill of Venus. This was a region within a mountain near the Wartburg, in the Thuringian Forest, where Venus reigned, and whence no one save Tallith:fuser ever escaped. Here Tannhfiuser, in the legend, lived with her until conscience smote him. Ile escaped, with the aid of the Blessed Virgin, and set out on a pilgrimage to Rome, to obtain pardon for his grievous sin. According to the story, Pope Urban IV. refused to pardon the sin until the staff in the Pope's hand should sprout. Tann hiiuser returned to the Venusberg, but the wand meantime put forth green leaves by a miracle, to show the extent of the divine mercy. Modern
versions of the legend were made by Tieek, Heine, and Geibel; and in Swinburne's Lams Fcneris Tannhhuser is conceived as having returned ir redeemably to the Venusberg. But better known than any is the famous dramatic treatment by Richard Wagner in his opera Tonnhauser (1345), whose libretto follows Hoffmann in identifying Tannhliuser with Heinrich von Ofterdingen and introducing him into the contest of the minstrels on the Wartburg. The works of the historic Tannhfiuser were first edited by Von der Hagen in his Minnesinger (1848). For these consult: Oehlke (Kiinigsberg, 1890) and Siebert (Berlin. 1894) ; for the legend. Baring-Gould, Carious Myths of the Middle Ages (London, 18S4), and Griisse, Der Tannhiinser mind der °wise Jude (2d ed., Dresden, 1890).