Albert of Stade, born at the end of the 12th century, became abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Stade in 1232, an important Hanseatic town at the mouth of the River Elbe. During his tenure, he attempted to introduce a stricter reform inspired by Cistercian rules and travelled to Rome to seek approval from Pope Gregory IX.

Despite papal approval, the reform was opposed by his fellow monks and by the Archbishop of Bremen for political reasons. Disillusioned, Albert resigned and joined the Franciscan order, devoting himself to writing the Annales Stadenses, a Latin chronicle of the ecclesiastical and political events of his time.

Within this work appears a dialogue on the pilgrimage routes to Rome, with detailed information on distances, stages and road conditions. The route described by Albert is now recognised as the official itinerary of the Via Romea Germanica.