Ich muoz daz sprehen sunder schame, daz ich ein koufman bin genant (GG 5498f.)

Abstract This contribution tries to revitalize the mercantile class perspective in its socioliterary function for the interpretation of Rudolf’s presumed literary debut. In doing so, it is assumed to be a courtly poem, which is directed at an aristocratic audience with the pretension not only to follow literary traditions, but to bring these up to date with motives from a changing present. This shows Rudolf von Ems as a poetic witness to an overall social change, which is personified in the political ambitions of the young Staufer family member Heinrich (VII.). Just as spectacularly, the Good Gerhart succesfully completes a „subtle narrative experiment“, which centers around a merchant, which never proved worthy of the name, in such a way that it had to draw the attention of the entire cultural life at the arch duke’s court. In the figure of the merchant as a representative of urban patricians, a perspective of class emancipation is uncovered, and whose potential for conflict is made problematic in an epic elaboration, which contrasts with the aristocratic projection of discipline implicit in the voluntary subordination of the inferior classes. The verse epic is therefore interpreted as further proof of politicization in the courtly literary scene.