Hrotsvitha

Hrotsvitha, also known by the given name Roswitha, was a female playwright, poet, and writer from East Francia. Born in the Duchy of Saxony around 935, she served as a canoness within the Benedictine order and resided at Gandersheim Abbey. Her religious affiliation was with the Catholic Church, and she was later recognized as a saint with a feast day on September 18.

Writing in medieval Latin, Hrotsvitha worked primarily in the field of poetry. Her literary output includes works such as *Ausgewählte Dichtungen*, *Oeuvres dramatiques de Hrotsvitha*, *Primordia coenobii Gandeshemensis*, *The non-dramatic works of Hrosvitha*, and *Hrotsvithae opera*. Some of her works are held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Hrotsvitha died in Bad Gandersheim in 968, though some sources indicate a death date of approximately 975. Her life and works have been documented in various reference sources, including the *Encyclopædia Britannica* 11th edition and the *Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie*.