Visio Godeschalci is a 12th-century text relating the vision of a peasant of Harrie, now Großharrie in Holstein, named Gottschalk. In December 1189, during the siege of Segeberg castle, Gottschalk fell ill, and during five days was presumed dead.
Contents
His visions were recorded by two authors, surviving in two distinct but congruent accounts, both in Latin, an extensive one (text A: Godeschalcus) and a shorter one (text B: Visio Godeschalci).
Godeschalcus
The longer text presumably dates to between August and October 1190. The author presumably was a canonicus of Neumünster monastery, originally from Lower Saxony, and shows literary and philosophical education. In the section on purgatory, the author adds observations on current events, incidentally doubling as a primary source of everyday and legal affairs of the late 12th century Holy Roman Empire.
Visio Godeschalci
The author of the shorter version was presumably the priest of Nortorf. It is uncertain whether he had access to the longer text. The text is an account in the first person. This version is mentioned by Caesarius von Heisterbach in his Dialogus miraculorum.
Manuscripts
The vision
The vision shows the influence both of local folklore and of Christian mythology.
Gottschalk experiences separation from his body and is received to the afterlife by two angels. He is shown a vision of purgatory, where he recognizes several prominent deceased atoning for their sins. He then sees Heavenly Jerusalem, but is not allowed to set foot in it. Instead, he returns to his body.