The city of Zara in medieval German literature

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show how Zara was portrayed in late medieval German literature. The capital of Venetian Dalmatia in later Middle Ages occurs several times rather as a city under (nominal) Hungarian rule, unlike the undoubtedly Italian Pola. This is probably due to the bond between Germany and Hungary. In the very end of the Middle Ages, Zara is mostly described as a Venetian stronghold. German pilgrims describe the city in details: a stop at the shrine of St Simeon the Elder had become customary in their travel schedule.