Wolfger of Erla

Wolfger von Erla (c. 1140 – 23 January 1218), was the Bishop of Passau from 1191 until 1204, when he became Patriarch of Aquileia. Wolfger's diocesan court occupies a place of central importance in the history of German literature. His travel accounts provide the only contemporary and non-literary reference to the famous Minnesänger Walther von der Vogelweide. He may also have been the patron of the author of the Middle High German Nibelungenlied.

Wolfger was born to a noble family from Erla on the river Enns. He entered the church and became, in 1183, the dean of Pfaffmünster and in 1184 of Zell am See. He was married and had a least one son, being ordained to the priesthood only after being elected to the see of Passau. His son, who appears often in his episcopal expense account, regularly travelled with him while he was bishop. It is likely that Wolfger was either widowered at the time of his election, or else his wife had entered a convent.

In 1195, Wolfger pressed for the release of Richard the Lion-hearted, then imprisoned in Dürnstein under the care of Hadmar II of Kuenring. He joined the Crusade of 1197 alongside Frederick I of Austria, and on his return petitioned Pope Innocent III to formally approve the Teutonic Knights in 1199. He also urged the creation of another diocese out of the territory of the diocese of Passau, but this never came to fruition before he began vigorously seeking election to the patriarchate of Aquileia.

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