Waltharius, a Latin poem founded on German popular tradition, relates the exploits of the west Gothic hero Walter of Aquitaine.
A secular work, it introduces classical hexameter into German literature.
Our knowledge of the author, Ekkehard, a monk of St. Gall, is due to a later Ekkehard, known as Ekkehard IV (d. 1060), who gives some account of him in the Casus Sancti Galli (ch. 80).
If Ekkehart IV's account, much discussed among scholars, is true, which seems to be confirmed by another monk of St. Gall, Herimannus, the author of the later (ca 1075) life of St. Wiborada of St. Gall where he cites verse 51 of the Waltharius, the poem was written by Ekkehard, generally distinguished as Ekkehard I, for his master Geraldus in his schooldays, probably therefore not later than 920, since he is probably no longer young when he becomes deacon (in charge of ten monks) in 957.
He will die in 973.
