The Codex Buranus: Where was it written? Who commissioned it, and why?

Abstract

Recent proposals to reject Steer’s finding that the Codex Buranus was written in South Tyrol in favor of a scriptorium in Aquileia, Friesach, or Seckau are discussed and found to be unconvincing. The narrower window for the compilation and writing of the manuscript (1218 – 1230) recently put forward suggests Berthold von Neuffen, bishop of Brixen 1216 – 24, protonotarius of Frederick II, crusader in Egypt, and uncle of Minnesänger, Gottfried von Neifen, as the likeliest candidate to have commissioned it, probably for personal rather than pedagogical reasons.