If you’re looking for strong historical female figures in LARP or reenactment, Hildegard von Bingen is the gold standard. She’s not a fictional heroine or a simplified cliché – she’s a real person with real struggles, real influence, and a life story that could fill novels.
Here’s what you can expect in this article
- Visionary, abbess, healer – and why she’s the best LARP character you haven’t played yet
- A character who has it all
- 1. A life that was quite something
- 1141: The mission
- 1147: The Battle of Rupertsberg
- 2. The visions: What Hildegard really saw
- Scivias (c. 1141 to 1151)
- Liber Vitae Meritorum (c. 1158 to 1163)
- Liber Divinorum Operum (c. 1163 to 1173)
- 3. Herbs, Healing and the Much-Cited Name
- From Hildegard’s Pharmacy
- What modern Hildegard medicine really is
- 4. Yes, a medieval nun wrote about sex
- 5. The music: ambient for your next camp
- The Ordo Virtutum: Europe’s earliest musical theatre
- 6. Places: Where Hildegard’s presence can still be felt
- Disibodenberg Abbey – ruins and history
- Rupertsberg Monastery – now only traces remain
- St. Hildegard Abbey, Eibingen – alive and active
- 7. Hildegard for LARP and Reenactment: Concrete and Playable
- Character concepts
- Monastic outfits for performances
- In-game recipes based on Hildegard motifs
- 8. Hildegard in research, film and pop culture
- 9. Frequently asked questions about Hildegard of Bingen
- Was Hildegard von Bingen actually officially canonised?
- How reliable is modern Hildegard medicine?
- Did Hildegard really write her works herself?
- Can you still visit the original sites today?
- How can I authentically incorporate Hildegard into LARP?
- Conclusion: A character for those who want more
Reading time approx. 13 mins.Visionary, abbess, healer – and why she’s the best LARP character you haven’t played yet
A character who has it all
Imagine this: you’re sitting around the campfire after a long day at the convention. Someone starts telling a story. About a 12th-century nun who wrote to Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to rebuke him. Who gave the Pope advice. Who publicly denounced the abuses in the Church – naming names, clearly and without mincing words. A woman who, at a time when women were barely allowed to speak, travelled through half of Germany and preached to the nobility and the common people.
That sounds like a damn good LARP character. And it’s no invention.
This woman was Hildegard von Bingen. Born around 1098 near Bermersheim in Rhineland-Palatinate, she died on 17 September 1179 at Rupertsberg Abbey near Bingen. Benedictine nun, mystic, abbess, author, composer and naturopath – all in one person. Her visions were not regarded as the ravings of a madwoman, but as divine revelations. Her writings on herbs and remedies continue to shape our understanding of medieval monastic medicine to this day. And in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially proclaimed her a Doctor of the Church – one of only four women ever to have received this title.
1. A life full of surprises
The story begins with a sober fact of the Middle Ages: Hildegard was the tenth child in her family. According to the custom of the time, this meant she was consecrated to God. Around 1106, when she was about eight years old, her parents entrusted her to the care of Jutta von Sponheim, a noblewoman and hermit living near the Disibodenberg monastery.
She grew up there. Latin, liturgy, psalm recitation. At the age of 14 or 15, she took her solemn vows. Following Jutta’s death in 1136, Hildegard was elected Magistra of the small community of women – its head – within a monastery of men, at a time when this was anything but the norm.
Hildegard’s biography offers several playable phases: the young novice, the first vision, the struggle for her own monastery, the travelling preacher, the elder and counsellor. Each phase has its own conflicts and potential.
1141: The Mission
Then, in 1141, everything changed. In a vision, Hildegard received the mission to write down her visions. She hesitated – a classic gesture of humility, but also genuine caution. Eventually, she began work on the Scivias, her first major theological work. She was supported by Volmar, a monk who stood by her side as a faithful scribe and editor, and by Richardis of Stade, her closest confidante.
1147: The Battle for Rupertsberg
The next major step was a real struggle. Hildegard wanted to found her own convent – on the Rupertsberg near Bingen. The monks of Disibodenberg blocked this. They argued over dowries and rights, and did not want to let the lucrative women’s community go. Hildegard prevailed. That alone is a scene worth dramatising.
In the decades that followed, she experienced her heyday: preaching tours through Mainz, Cologne and Trier. Correspondence with the Emperor and the Pope. From 1165 onwards, she also took charge of the convent in Eibingen near Rüdesheim. She maintained contacts across Europe right into her old age. She died on 17 September 1179 – after a life whose scope and depth are unparalleled.
2. The visions: What Hildegard really saw
The word ‘vision’ makes modern people think of trance or hallucination. Hildegard herself described it differently: she experienced her visions whilst fully awake, not in ecstasy. She saw inner images, visions of light, cosmic symbols – and heard a voice explaining their meaning and interpretation to her. She called this experience the ‘shadow-light of the living light’.
Pope Eugene III personally confirmed her prophetic gift at the Synod of Trier in 1147/48. This was no small matter: it meant she had papal backing for everything she wrote and said thereafter. And she made use of it.
Scivias (c. 1141 to 1151)
Hildegard’s first major work comprises 26 visions in three books: Creation, the Fall, Redemption, the End Times. The title says it all: Know the Ways. The famous illustrations in the Rupertsberg Codex depict cosmic circles, luminous female figures, a richly symbolic visual world that is so many things at once – theology, cosmology, visual narrative.
Liber Vitae Meritorum (c. 1158 to 1163)
Here, things take a psychological turn. Virtues and vices appear as characters and engage in dialogue. An inner drama that poses the question: How does a person truly struggle with doubt, temptation and remorse? Hildegard’s answers sound surprisingly modern. This is a treasure trove for character development in LARP.
Liber Divinorum Operum (c. 1163 to 1173)
Her last great work is world-building at its finest: humanity as a microcosm, God as a cosmic force, nature and revelation as one. Visions of spheres and elements, of celestial bodies and living creation. Anyone wishing to create fantasy settings with genuine theological depth will find more material here than in most rulebooks.
3. Herbs, healing and the much-quoted name
When people talk about Hildegard medicine today, it often carries a whiff of esoteric kitsch. Let’s set the record straight – it’s relevant, even for the game.
Hildegard did indeed write extensively on natural medicine. Two major works: the Physica, a sort of medieval natural history encyclopaedia featuring over 200 plants, dozens of animal species, stones and metals. And Causae et Curae, which delves deeper: causes of illness, lifestyle, disturbed humoral balance and their treatment. The basis is the ancient four-humours theory – blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile – which shaped the entire medieval view of medicine.
From Hildegard’s Pharmacy
| Remedies | Application according to Hildegard |
|---|---|
| Galangal | For heart and stomach complaints – warms the body |
| Bertram | For digestion and salivation |
| Spelt | The finest of grains – easily digestible and invigorating |
| Lavender | Calming, for clear vision and clear thinking |
Important: This information is historical, not medical. Please consult a doctor for genuine health issues. But for in-game recipes, authentic healer characters or props at the next convention? Perfect.
What modern Hildegard medicine really is
An important note: the term ‘Hildegard medicine’ as a movement only emerged in the 20th century, largely thanks to Gottfried Hertzka. What is sold under this name today blends historical material with modern interpretation – and the result is often more esoteric than medieval. The historical sources themselves are more authentic. Anyone who reads them gains a fascinating insight into how the 12th century viewed nature, body and soul as a unity.
For Hildegard, illness was a disruption of harmony – between humanity, the cosmos and God. This lends a healer’s character real depth. Not simply ‘chew-and-drink’ magic, but a complete world view.
4. Yes, a medieval nun wrote about sex
This surprises many: in *Causae et Curae* there are chapters that describe in detail how procreation works, what role heat and moisture play, and how desire arises. Hildegard was by no means prudish. For her, sexuality is part of God’s plan of creation – not a necessary evil, but a reality willed by God. Man and woman are equally involved in the act of procreation. This is remarkably open-minded for the 12th century.
Her view of the body follows the four humours theory: blood, warm and moist; phlegm, cold and moist; yellow bile, fiery and prone to anger; black bile, cold and associated with melancholy. Character, desire, fertility – for her, everything is linked to this balance. Not a modern scientific system, but a coherent worldview that holds its own.
She valued virginity as the highest form of life – she herself lived in a convent. Yet she did not despise marriage and sexuality. Both were legitimate and God-willed in her view. This distinction demonstrates her theological maturity and sets her apart from many contemporary church teachers.
A central concept in Hildegard’s worldview: viriditas – the green power. The living, creative force that permeates everything: herbs, body, soul, cosmos. Everything is connected. For healer characters who want to be more than just a monster-beater with a herb bag, this is a powerful concept.
5. The music: ambient for your next camp
If you’re at a medieval convention and someone plays these long, floating melodies – a quiet guess: it’s Hildegard. Her music works as ambient, as ritual background music, as a genuine atmosphere for monastery and church settings. And that’s no coincidence.
Hildegard composed around 77 liturgical choral works: antiphons, responsories, hymns, sequences. They are collected in the *Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum* – the Symphony of the Harmony of Heavenly Revelations. What distinguishes her style from standard Gregorian chant:
- Wide ranges: sometimes almost two octaves – unusually wide by medieval standards
- Unfamiliar intervals: fourths, fifths, leaps that surprise and linger
- Melismatic lines: a single syllable is given many notes – the melody flows, soars, and lingers
- Imaginative texts: light, the cosmos, the power of nature, the sounds of the spheres – Hildegard’s texts are not church formulas
For camps and gatherings: Simple antiphons from the Symphonia can be practised around the campfire – even without professional singers. The Ordo Virtutum serves as a template for your own sacred plays. And for those seeking atmospheric background music: Ensembles such as Sequentia have been recording the Symphonia since the 1980s – these recordings are the first choice for campsite ambience.
The Ordo Virtutum: Europe’s earliest musical theatre
The Ordo Virtutum, composed around 1151, is the earliest surviving sacred play with through-composed music. Plot: The soul is courted by the virtues and tempted by the devil. The key point – and this is typical of Hildegard: the devil does not sing. According to her conception, he has lost the gift of song. All the other 86 melodies are sung. No other medieval composer has ever written anything comparable.
6. Places: Where Hildegard is still tangible
History becomes tangible when you stand in the places where it happened. For those in the know, Hildegard’s places of activity offer more than just tourism – they offer atmosphere, photo shoots and a genuine historical connection.
Disibodenberg Abbey – Ruins and History
This early site lies in ruins near Odernheim am Glan in Rhineland-Palatinate. The grounds are open to the public, with information boards and meditative paths. Impressive archaeology, history you can touch. An ideal day trip, even for a small group in period costume.
Rupertsberg Abbey – now only traces remain
Hildegard’s own foundation was strategically situated at a Rhine crossing near Bingen. From here, she led her growing community for decades. In 1632, the monastery was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War. Today, only the foundations and the name remain as a reminder of it. Nevertheless, a visit is well worth it – with a little imagination and the right costume.
St. Hildegard Abbey, Eibingen – vibrant and active
This is the main point of interest. Following the destruction of Rupertsberg, the nuns moved to Eibingen. The present-day Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard was re-established in 1904 and houses the most important relics of St. Hildegard. An active monastery with visitor facilities and a monastery shop – and a view over the Rheingau that alone makes the journey worthwhile.
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Commemoration day | 17 September |
| Roman Martyrology | Included in 1584 |
| Doctor of the Church | Declared in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI |
| Pilgrimage route | Hildegard von Bingen Pilgrimage Route through Rhineland-Palatinate |
| Astronomy | Hildegard lunar crater – named in 2016 |
Scene trip: The Hildegard von Bingen Pilgrimage Trail connects the most important places in her life. For a multi-day pilgrimage convention with a group and period costume – this has more atmosphere than most outdoor events.
7. Hildegard for LARP and re-enactment: Concrete and playable
Now it gets practical. How do you use Hildegard as inspiration without turning her into a miracle healer or getting the history completely wrong?
Character concepts
- Nun with visions: A nun who sees and interprets inner visions – not as a madwoman, but as a respected advisor. Rarely played, instantly recognisable.
- Convent physician: An expert in herbs, the study of humours, and dietetics. Heals not through magic, but through knowledge and faith. Gives your healer concept depth rather than cliché.
- Itinerant preacher: Unusual for a woman, but historically documented. Travels the land, speaks before nobility and common folk – has a voice and a mandate.
- Court Advisor: Advises rulers based on prophetic gifts – both politically and spiritually. The sort of character who says uncomfortable things and gets away with it.
Monastic outfit for portrayals
A 12th-century Benedictine nun wore: a dark wool habit (undyed or black), a white veil beneath a dark outer veil, a simple belt – often with a rosary or small pouch. No ornamentation, no bright colours, no jewellery. Simplicity is the hallmark.
For props: herb pots, dried plants, writing implements, inkwell. For those seeking particular authenticity: a copy of a miniature from the Rupertsberg Codex as a manuscript prop.
In-game recipes based on Hildegard motifs
- Spelt biscuits as fortifying travel provisions – historically plausible and edible
- Herbal blends with galangal, bertram and lavender as fluff elements
- Herbal potions, prepared before the players’ eyes – adds real depth to scenes
This is a game, not therapy: in-game recipes inspired by Hildegard are great for setting the mood. But of course: what is a miracle cure in the game remains just a plant in real life. For real health problems – see a doctor.
8. Hildegard in research, film and pop culture
The 19th century saw the start of her scientific rediscovery: philologists edited her Latin texts, theologians analysed her visions, and medical historians discovered her natural history as a source.
From the 1980s onwards, ensembles such as Sequentia performed the Symphonia and the Ordo Virtutum – and suddenly there were Hildegard CDs in medieval shops, at cons, in esoteric shops and on relaxation compilations. Her music became the soundtrack to an entire movement.
The most significant film came in 2009 from Margarethe von Trotta: *Vision – Aus dem Leben der Hildegard von Bingen* (Vision – From the Life of Hildegard of Bingen), starring Barbara Sukowa in the lead role. Added to this are ZDF documentaries, radio plays and podcasts. And – one might forgive them for it – the band name pun Hildegard von Binge Drinking shows that the abbess is firmly anchored in the cultural memory.
Today, the St. Hildegard Academy in Eibingen (founded in 2018) is conducting systematic research into her work. The literature on her fills shelves. For those in the know who want to delve deeper: it’s well worth getting started.
9. Frequently asked questions about Hildegard von Bingen
Was Hildegard von Bingen officially canonised?
The matter is somewhat complicated. In the Middle Ages, she was venerated regionally, but a formal canonisation process was never completed. In 1584, she was included in the Martyrologium Romanum – effectively, she was thus regarded as a saint, even without an official seal of approval. Pope Benedict XVI rectified this in 2012: he officially included her in the calendar of saints of the universal Church and simultaneously elevated her to the status of Doctor of the Church. This means that her teachings are regarded as particularly significant for the entire Roman Catholic Church. Only four women hold this title – Hildegard is one of them.
How reliable is modern Hildegard medicine?
A distinction must be made: the historical sources – Physica and Causae et Curae – are genuine medieval texts. The modern Hildegard medicine movement is something else: interpretations, exaggerations, often a hybrid of folk medicine and esotericism, significantly shaped by Gottfried Hertzka in the 20th century. Hildegard’s own medicine is based on the ancient four humours theory – not modern science. For health problems: consult a doctor. As historical inspiration for cooking and LARP: wonderfully useful.
Did Hildegard really write her works herself?
Hildegard frequently describes herself as an uneducated woman or simplex homo. This was a literary trope – a gesture of humility to anchor her authority in God, not an honest self-assessment. In fact, she could read and write and was very familiar with the Bible, liturgy and monastic education. For her major works, she collaborated with the monk Volmar – he was a scribe and editor, not a ghostwriter. The works are clearly inspired by her and guided by her in terms of content. Created as a team, like almost all great medieval works.
Can one still visit the original sites today?
Yes. Disibodenberg – ruins, open to the public, good for photo tours. Eibingen/Rüdesheim – St Hildegard Abbey with relics and a monastery shop; an active monastery. Bermersheim – sites commemorating her childhood, although her exact place of birth is uncertain. And the Hildegard von Bingen Pilgrimage Trail connects the key stages of her life – ideal for group excursions in period costume.
How can I authentically incorporate Hildegard into LARP?
It’s better to play a character inspired by her rather than the historical Hildegard 1:1 – that gives you freedom. Focus on the key details: 12th century, Rhine-Main region, status as a nun and abbess, role as a visionary and advisor. Incorporate genuine Hildegard motifs: light, the cosmos, viriditas as the power of green, the image of humanity as part of the divine plan. A few Latin phrases or a whispered ‘Recognise the ways’ can add depth without seeming contrived.
Conclusion: A character for those who want more
Hildegard von Bingen is not a name from the history books that you learn by heart for the next exam. She is genuine substance for anyone seeking historical depth – in character, in portrayal, in atmosphere.
Visionary. Naturalist. Political force. Composer. Foundress of a monastery. Doctor of the Church. And all this in an era that officially left women with hardly any room to breathe. That doesn’t make her a saint of pop-culture esotericism – it makes her one of the most fascinating figures of the German Middle Ages. Full stop.
If you’re looking for suitable attire, props or equipment for a Benedictine character concept – or simply fancy delving deeper – do pop in and see us. We’re nerds just like you.
