GÖTZ VON BERLICHINGEN: SOLDIER, ENTREPRENEUR, RACONTEUR

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the life and times of Götz von Berlichingen (1480-1562), a German nobleman known for his iron fist and his legendary feuds. It argues that three identities defined Götz: a soldier, an entrepreneur, and a raconteur. The different layers of Götz’s identity emerged in response to the challenges in his life that sprang from the changes of the sixteenth century. These changes included the growth of the state, the decline of the nobility, the divisiveness of the Reformation, and the advent of a world view based on measurement. Despite some costly missteps, Götz responded well to new circumstances, so that by the end of his life he was more prosperous than many of his noble peers. Through a close reading of Götz’s autobiography, a social network analysis, and a comparative spatial study, the thesis elucidates the means of and the mentality behind Götz’s success.