Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170 – c. 1230) was a preeminent Minnesänger, celebrated as the greatest German lyric poet before Goethe. He composed love-songs and political songs (Sprüche) in Middle High German, and his work is considered the pinnacle of Minnesang, the medieval German courtly love song tradition. Walther's innovations revitalized this genre, and he was the first political poet to write in German, creating a significant body of encomium, satire, invective, and moralizing poetry.

Little is known about his life, but he was a travelling singer who performed at various princely courts in the Holy Roman Empire, particularly associated with the Babenberg court in Vienna. He received a small fief from Frederick II, the future Holy Roman Emperor, later in life. His works were widely celebrated and preserved in 32 manuscripts, with the largest collection in the Codex Manesse. Notable songs include "Under der linden," "Elegy," and "Palästinalied."

Walther's poetry emphasized virtues of a balanced life and critiqued those who disrupted harmony, including the pope. His antipapal sentiment emerged during the struggle for the kingship between the Hohenstaufen and Welf factions. Despite his support for various patrons, including Philip of Swabia and Otto IV, he often faced disappointment and turned to Frederick II, from whom he received a fief, likely in Würzburg, where he spent his remaining years. His poetry remains influential, blending courtly love with natural imagery and emotional depth, questioning rigid hierarchies and suggesting more egalitarian romantic relationships.