„Er soldt mich hindenn leckhen“?

The autobiography „Mein Fehd und Handlungen“ by Götz von Berlichingen and its intention

Abstract

The following essay deals with the autobiography „Mein Fehd und Handlungen“ of the imperial knight (Reichsritter) Götz von Berlichingen (c. 1480–1562), who achieved fame as the „Knight with the Iron Hand“. The autobiography provides insights into aristocratic life at the transition between the mediaeval and the early modern period, pursuing the intention of writing down his deeds and actions from his perspective at the end of his life so that they are not forgotten for later generations.