ABSTRACT
In the Middle High German Romance Parzival by Wolfram Von Eschenbach, the practical interest of Lady Herzeloydë in the welfare and training of her young son, progeny of the dead knighterrant Gahmuret, takes a different turn from what we might expect of the typical medieval mother who prepares her son to contribute to the family economy, protect her dower property, and advance family interests. Then again, Lady Herzeloydë is unlike any other queen or courtly lady in medieval romance. Although she appears only in Book II and briefly in Book III, her influence on her son throughout the remainder of the narrative is not only that of a natural mother but also a spiritual mother.
