Motif Index of German Secular Narratives                 
Published by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna
 Introduction   Matière de Bretagne   Chansons de Geste   Miscellaneous Romances   Oriental Romances   Heroic Epic   Maere and Novellas   Romances of Antiquity   Index 

Herzog Ernst A (1160/70) (Prager Bruchstücke)
HerEA-1
HerEA-2
HerEA-3
HerEA-4
HerEA-5
HerEA-6
HerEA-7
HerEA-8
  

Oriental Romances

Herzog Ernst A (1160/70) (Prager Bruchstücke)
Sowinski, B. (ed.): Herzog Ernst. Stuttgart 1979, p.341-350.

HerEA-1:   I,1 The emperor very favorably disposes toward Duke Ernst, inviting him to come to court as often as possible. He then invests him with many large fiefs, treats him as a son and enfeoffs him with property, wants him to hold law-court which Duke Ernst accepts. He repays the monarch’s good will with many large gifts of silver and gold.
Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
P 510 Law courts

HerEA-2:   I,25 This annoys a certain Heinrich, a relative and counselor of the emperor who destroys their friendship through treachery. The traitor goes to the monarch and tells him a lie that the duke was only pretending to be subject to him and wanted to be considered the emperor’s peer and gain his inheritance and authority.
Motif References:

K 2100 False accusation
K 2298 Treacherous counselor

HerEA-3:   II,1 When the duke learns that the emperor has summoned the princes to a council at Speyer, he decides to travel across the Rhine. He picks two of his men whose bravery he knows and rides off with them. He takes Count Wetzel with him and asks the other man to guard the horses. Two chamberlains are standing in front of the emperor’s door. The emperor is sitting in private council as the knights come in and swiftly draw their swords. The emperor jumps up in dismay, leaps over a bench, and barely manages to escape into a chapel. The treacherous Heinrich pays for the advice he has given, as the duke cuts off his head.
Motif References:

Q 261 Treachery punished
Q 263 Lying (perjury) punished
Q 411 Death as punishment
Q 421 Punishment: beheading

HerEA-4:   III,1 Knights and foot soldiers die in large numbers. The duke’s men charge in squadrons out of the city gate and fall upon the emperor and his troops. A furious battle begins. Attackers and defenders inflict heavy casualties. The battle lasts until nightfall. They then retire to the city, while their enemies pitch camp on the plain around it. Those who have died fighting bravely are placed on litters and borne away. The emperor loses more than a thousand men in the attack.
Motif References:

P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

HerEA-5:   III,40 The inhabitants of the city also suffer casualties. The emperor begins a massive siege. The order to attack is given, the entire invading army presses forward from all sides almost to the wall. The carnage is terrible as sharp missiles and stones are hurled from the crenels. When he has besieged the city in vain for more than six months, the emperor is infuriated. He quickly has roofed battering rams and siege towers built, and prepares for a long siege. He brings the siege weapons. The emperor orders a general assault, while his catapults demolish all of the parapets within range and the missiles from the siege towers cause great distress. The assault goes on with fury all day.
Motif References:

P 552.4 War-machines
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege

HerEA-6:   IV, 1 Unable to carry on the struggle against the emperor any longer, Duke Ernst acts wisely. He sends for all of his knights and chooses from the battle-tested warriors fifty of the very best. These he wants to go with him into exile. He commands no further resistance to the emperor.
Motif References:

Q 431 Punishment: banishment (exile)
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

HerEA-7:   IV,36 Together with his faithful men he decides to journey overseas and take the cross for the sake of God and enter the service of the holy grave. They want to do penance. They are well equipped with bright hauberks, iron greaves, helmets of hard steel and sharp swords. The queen sends him 500 marks, a great deal of fine cloth, splendid bedding, and clothing of silk ermine which is neatly stitched with gold. He divides it with his companions. His companions swear to support him in everything he undertakes. He receives them as brothers and comrades and promises to treat them as equals during the journey. He has a thousand well-equipped knights in his band, first-rate warriors who left the land with him as their leader and swore to be subject to him.
Motif References:

M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance
V 531 Pilgrimage to Holy Land

HerEA-8:   V,1 They hold their shields up in front of them because they want to fight their way out of the city. By then the gates on both sides of the city are blocked, and the knights are surrounded. The only way to get out is to cut a path through the enemies. Holding up their shields before them and swinging their swords fiercely, the two jump bravely into the crowd and behead a great number. The knights cut off the arrows with their swords and trample them underfoot. Hearing the sounds of battle their men come to their aid carrying heavy swords to the city gate to help them. Some of the enemies go up on the parapets and hurl down stones. The knights break off the fight and leave.
Motif References:

F 628.2 Strong man kills men