HerEB-1: People strongly dispute the tales, suppress them as only lies. No heed is given to their protests if worthy knights are present whose boldness has them take perilous journeys in foreign lands. One among the stories is about Duke Ernst, who suffered when he was expelled from Bavaria. He ruled the lands of the Bavarians and rich and poor which brought him high praise. The youth bravely defended the inheritance left him by his father until a monarch with all power of the empire drove him away.

Motif References:

W 33 Heroism
P 527 (Li) Problems of inheritance (legacy)

HerEB-70: Duke Ernst is a dauntless hero. His father dies when he is a small child, leaving him many worthy liegemen who raise the boy. His mother, Adelheid, who has manifold virtues, teaches him both Latin and Italian and also sends him for further training to France and Greece, where he meets scholars of several branches of knowledge. He masters all sorts of skills and becomes greatly respected and widely known in many kingdoms.

Motif References:

J 146.2 (Li) The educated youth

HerEB-125: Duchess Adelheid is so renowned for good breeding, wisdom, and wealth that princes want her as a wife, but she does not wish to remarry. The Holy Roman Empire is governed by a mighty emperor, Otto by name. A great number of lands have to do him homage and he is highly esteemed among monarchs. The emperor makes his lands more secure within and without than it had ever been before or will be again. He founds the bishopric Magdeburg dedicated to St. Mauritius. The virtuous emperor is a defender of faith and peace in the whole Roman empire. The virtuous ruler’s first wife Ottegebe, a saintly Englishwoman, has died and now the widowed emperor wants to remarry. So he summons the princes to help him find a wife. The princes meet in council to decide how to carry out the emperor’s wishes and agree that they know no one as suitable as the duchess Adelheid. The princes go before the emperor and tell him about the excellent lady. When the emperor hears their advice, he is pleased. He delays no longer but, with his own hand, writes a letter and sends it to Bavaria with a prince whom he considers a fitting emissary. The lady receives him cordially.

Motif References:

T 51 Wooing by emissary
H 1381.3.1.1 Quest for bride for king (prince)

HerEB-345: The lady sends for her chaplain to have the letter read to her and after she sends for her son. The young man is told of the proposal she has received. The son declares the proposal to be suitable and advises to send the courier back with friendly words and a message written by duchess Adelheid to the monarch that she would do whatever he wishes. The message of the lady pleases both his retinue and the monarch, the wedding is to take place outside the rich city of Mainz in six weeks and they make all the needful preparations. Many brave warriors in shining armor gather on the broad fields outside Mainz in many tents. The emperor’s marriage offers all sorts of amusement: singing and various kinds of string music is to be heard. He gives silver, gold, fine silk, mules with riding equipment to the knights and a host of wandering minstrels receives plenty of gifts.

Motif References:

T 131.1 Relative’s consent to marriage necessary
T 132 Preparation for wedding
T 136.1 Wedding feast
T 136.4.2 Parting gifts after wedding
T 136.3.2 Marriage odes sung at wedding feast
T 136.3 Amusements at wedding

HerEB-545: The couple lives in harmony. Under their reign the empire is at peace. The emperor very favorably disposes toward Duke Ernst because of his mother sending him a messenger to come to visit the queen. The emperor 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

HerEB-646: 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

HerEB-705: The emperor gathers a large army and renounces his stepson with burning and pillage. The latter can do nothing but defend his castle. The count does a lot of damage to the duke’s strongholds and cities; the rest he captures and garrisons with his own troops.

Motif References:

P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

HerEB-718: The emperor at first doesn’t believe it, but the traitor insists. At last the monarch is convinced by his relative and decides to destroy Duke Ernst by seizing the castles of his land with an army. Because his vassals will support him with many troops, they try to prevent that and avoid injury. They gather an army without anyone finding out where until the attack takes place.

Motif References:

K 2110 Slanders
K 2126 Knight falsely accused of sedition

HerEB-858: After Count Heinrich has caused great havoc in the land, he begins a fierce siege of Nuremberg. Here he finds large numbers of experienced warriors, who defend themselves very well and defeat the host of attackers which storm the moats and slopes before the walls: most of the carnage takes place at the city gate. They barely escape, leaving the city untaken.

Motif References:

P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege

HerEB-911: The duke knows that it is done on the authority of the emperor. One of the duke’s vassals advises against doing battle and to win the emperor’s favor. The duke therefore sends a messenger to his mother to tell her the story. She grieves, lamenting the injury. He doesn’t know how he lost the emperor’s grace completely without accusation or trial. He will gladly give the emperor whatever he wants from him. But the emperor insists that the duke has insulted him and promises that he’ll be his bitter enemy to the end of his life.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
M161.1 Vow to attack (kill) the enemy or die

HerEB-1023: The queen quickly sends the messenger back to his land with word to her son that the count has so grossly slandered him to the emperor that truly no one could help. The emperor has sent for the princes, with whom he intends to discuss the duke’s matter in law-court. The duke then dispatches a messenger who rides hastily to the princes and tells them of the distressing state of affairs. They are very sorry about the great injury and declare that they will gladly intercede for him and beg the emperor to hear his stepson in court.

Motif References:

P 310 Friendship
K 2150 Innocent made to appear guilty

HerEB-1170: The emperor remains adamant and threatens to destroy Duke Ernst’s countries entirely. Even his relatives are ordered to fight against him. When the duke learns that the emperor has summoned the princes to a council at Speyer, he decides to journey across the Rhine. He picks out 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 vassal 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

HerEB-1351: When the duke has thus avenged himself the emperor learns that his relative is dead and the duke is able to elope unharmed. The emperor has the corpse laid out suitably on a bier and a night watch placed over it (as is still the custom today) and buried with great ceremony. He can never forgive the duke for the death of his kinsman. The emperor and his palatines decide at once to make war on the duke and to divest him of all his possessions. The emperor places Duke Ernst and his followers under the imperial ban and orders a campaign of the princes against the duke’s land. More than 30,000 bold warriors from the German lands are summoned.

Motif References:

V 69 Funeral rites - miscellaneous
P 552.6 (Tu) Conscription of troops: summoning allies as preparation for war

HerEB-1453: The emperor’s banner is carried up by strong men, they surround the city of Regensburg, storm the walls on all sides in great force and 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]

HerEB-1521: 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

HerEB-1610: Duke Ernst decides to appease the wrath of the emperor by leaving the city. They surrender. The emperor orders his banner raised on a high tower and moves into the city. Many orphans remain behind. The ruler stations a garrison of his own men in the city, a huge and mighty army. The powerful monarch then moves ruthlessly through the duke’s land and does him much harm by looting and burning villages and breaking down his strongholds.

Motif References:

R 75 Surrendering
R 75.1 Defeated surrender their city

HerEB-1710: Duke Ernst rides into the emperor’s domain, where his men ravage large areas with fire and destroy castles. He mutilates some of the emperor’s vassals and kills others. He raids against the emperor for more than five years and remains in his land against the will of his enemies. 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

HerEB-1810: Together with count Wetzel 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 among 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

HerEB-2010: They come thus into Hungary, its king welcomes the duke heartily. He prepares night quarters for them and happily gives the duke presents, then orders that they be conducted with honor through his land. The king helps them through the forested mountains of Bulgaria. Then they reach the Greek Empire. When the army approaches Constantinople, the duke bides his marshal to ride ahead with the squires and look for quarters. The empire’s ruler welcomes the duke and his companions as guests, gives orders that all of his people should take good care of the strangers. They get everything they desire. The duke stays for six weeks or more before the emperor can get a vessel suitable for his guests, to carry food, clothing, and armor, as well as men. They find the right ship for the voyage and carry a six months supply of goods.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality
P 324 Host greets guest with gifts [Welcome and parting gifts]
P 324.1 Host treats guest with food and everything possible

HerEB-2079: The emperor then orders that Ernst be given much more gold, which is carried to the ship. They have greatly pleased the Greeks, large numbers of whom sailed with them (in over fifty ships) and are subject to the duke. The sails are hoisted for Syria with plenty of supplies and in high spirits. But a violent storm comes up, scatters the ships, and sinks twelve of them. The good knights are driven about for more than three months without sighting land and despair of their lives because all of the provisions are gone.

Motif References:

N 399 Additional unlucky accidents

HerEB-2205: Then they catch sight of a beautiful land racing toward them: it is called Grippia. They steer toward it and sail into a harbor where they cast anchor and find firm bottom. A high wall of precious marble surrounds the city. Inside they see an orderly design like a chessboard and here and there all sorts of pictures of familiar and strange things. Around the wall is a moat through which runs a river that fully encloses the city. The battlements are skillfully adorned inside and out with gold and jewels, large and small, all wrought with great craft. The city is strongly fortified with barbicans, towers, and parapets, many-colored and artfully carved. Strange people live in this city. The knights draw near and anchor to buy provisions.

Motif References:

F 730 Extraordinary island

HerEB-2295: The warriors put on hauberks and row ashore with a small-boat. Duke Ernst ties a banner with a red cross to a spear and orders Count Wetzel to carry it. The gate is open, and the knights see no one on either the outer or inner battlements. They enter the city, unopposed, they go to the middle of the city and find a cool, shady courtyard at the center of which, arranged in a circle, are many chairs and tables. The tables are well supplied: on each is bread, fish, the meat of tame and wild beasts, and wines from mulberry, honey, herbs, and grapes. The cups and goblets are of gold, the dishes of finely wrought silver. They eat but decide to leave at daybreak, thinking that the townsfolk are somewhere close by and will soon return.

Motif References:

P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols - coat-of-arms
F 760 Extraordinary cities

HerEB-2456: After the meal they get up and walk about the city staring in wonder at the huge treasures of gold, precious stones, and beautiful ornaments. They enter a house where they find meat, wine, and bread. They are all very pleased and quickly load a full supply onto the ship. Duke Ernst and Count Wetzel ride back to the city for a closer look. They discover many lovely works of wondrous things made from gold and precious stones. They see stately palaces with arches and lofty doors which are more ornate than any others on earth and sparkle like stars.

Motif References:

F 761.1.1 City with hundred palaces and gardens

HerEB-2563: They discover a palace which has a gold roof and skillfully fashioned emerald walls that gleam. Duke Ernst finds a room which is decorated with jewels set in shining gold. He sees a golden decorated bed with pearls arranged in squares and other precious stones in strange patterns. Lions, dragons, and snakes, all skillfully wrought of gleaming gold, adorn the bedstead, and at the tops four large jewels shine like the sun. In front of it they see a large, heavy chair of white ivory which is covered with fine carvings and skillfully embossed with gold. Four huge blood-red amethysts rest on the knobs of the back, and a costly silk fabric covers the seat. A four-cornered carpet of blue velvet and adorned with a costly border, two golden goblets of the best wine are close to the bed.

Motif References:

F 771 Extraordinary castle (house, palace)
F 771.1.1.1 Castle paved with gold and gems
F 787 Extraordinary bed
F 787.2 Golden bed
F 786 Extraordinary chair

HerEB-2645: By the palace is a large and beautiful courtyard with many green cedars. Two streams flow out of the courtyard side by side: one with warm, the other with cold water. There is a bathhouse with a roof of green marble inside two red gold vats skillfully wrought silver pipes to supply warm or cold water. It drains off through a bronze pipe on side of the vats conducted over the entire city. The streets are of marble, green as grass. The water is made to flow through them to sweep every bit of dirt away. Duke Ernst likes to take a bath although the count advises against, but then agrees to bathe too. They take off their clothes and sit down in the vats. Then they lie down on the highly ornamented bed and rest after their bath.

Motif References:

F 771.7.1 (Tu) Palace surrounded by rivers of warm and cold water

HerEB-2817: They suddenly hear a strange cry sounding like the screeching of a huge flock of wild cranes. They catch sight of a strange throng of men and women in front of the city gate. Both young and old have well-formed hands and feet and are in every respect handsome people, except that their necks and heads are like those of cranes. They see a large army of them walking and riding toward the city, with shields, bows, and skillfully wrought quivers of deadly arrows. It is their city. Their king had sent many galleys to India and killed its monarch. He captured the Indian princess, whose life is saved because of her beauty. The mighty ruler of Grippia wants her as his wife. The great banquet in the park was prepared in her honor this morning. The ranks below the king are allowed to walk in front of him. They carry a golden shield, have bows and quivers of great value.

Motif References:

B 20 Beast-man
R 10.1 Princess (maiden) abducted
R 11.1.1 Abduction of girl by half bestial man
R 11.1 Princess (maiden) abducted by monster (ogre) [monstrous race]
F 511.0.9 Person with animal’s head

HerEB-3085: The king’s neck and head are those of a swan. The nobles walk close behind him. They lead between them the most beautiful girl ever born. Her skin is whiter than snow; her hair reaches to the ground, her beautiful features are those of human beings. The Indian princess is in distress because she can not comprehend either their speech or their behavior, but only hears cries like those of cranes. However, they gesture just as people do today. The lord high steward stands in front of the table and assigns seats to the nobles by pointing out chairs with a baton. He then sends servants to all to pour wine for them and gets them whatever they want.

Motif References:

B 29 Other combinations of beast and man
B 50 Birdman
F 575 Remarkable beauty
B 55 Man with bird’s head
F 510.1 Monstrous races

HerEB-3170: The king of Grippia walks in state to his table where the princess is waiting. Mead and wine are poured in many gold goblets. They don’t ask what happened to the food, thinking their own people ate it. The nobles go respectfully before the king and bow to him politely before sitting down. Servants come and bring meat, both wild and tame. All eat and drink except the girl. When the king kisses her, he thrusts his beak into her mouth. In India she has known nothing about such an expression of love.

Motif References:

P 90 Royalty and nobility - miscellaneous

HerEB-3256: Duke Ernst and the count hear her crying and are moved with pity that the beautiful lady had no friend in all the throng to turn to. They decide to come to her aid. Count Wetzel advises that they can help her far better after the crane people have left the tables. The warriors will leave the park when the king goes into the hall to his guests. Later they can easily slip into the bedroom and kill the king there. If those with him resist, they will cut many of them down, seize the lady and take her away. They’ll cover the lady with their shields. While they watch there is music and singing, courtly dancing and folk dancing, and cries like those of cranes and hawks: thus they do honor to the bride.

Motif References:

R 111.1 Princess (maiden) rescued from captor abducted

HerEB-3365: The Grippian people perform all sorts of wondrous games and feats in front of her. But the princess is so sad that the monarch becomes displeased and bides the people to leave as he wants to go to his bedroom. After the people have been sent away, there remain only twelve of the king’s most highborn vassals. When they notice the two armed knights they scream and seize the lady and stab her in many places with their beaks. This angers and grieves the knights. They cut down the king and his men, killing all of them except one. The duke speaks to the heavily injured princess, promising her to take revenge. She tells them of her father whose misfortune came from the king of Grippia, who attacked him at sea with his army and killed him, her mother, and all the retinue.

Motif References:

M 161.2 Vow to revenge (king, friends, father, [husband, queen]) (or die)
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

HerEB-3575: Then she dies and they place over her a cover of gold cloth. They hold their shields up in front of them because they want to fight. 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 it. 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. They hack their way in with swords and move towards them through the city. 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

HerEB-3705: They depart and hurry toward the sea. Then they see a mighty army of the landed nobility who are coming to see the bride. They have 12,000 or more powerful and highborn warriors in the host. They are armed with horn bows, strangely wrought quivers and shields and are riding the best steeds in the world. The duke demands that his men gather around for defense.

Motif References:

P 552.1 Battle-pen. Warriors fight in circle around leader

HerEB-3782: The duke takes the banner himself and begins the assault. Troop after troop attack Duke Ernst and his men by shooting at them from a distance. The knights are unable to get at the enemy with their swords and can only try to protect themselves with their shields. Since they avoid close contact they never bring their fast horses near enough for them to be seized. These tactics bring losses to the knights who consider it shameful that the enemy would not engage in hand-to-hand combat. The duke carries his banner with great effort right through the huge army and down to the sea where the ship is helping the others get away. The knights defend themselves while the sailors come with the small-boat.

Motif References:

F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
K 2350 Military strategy

HerEB-3854: The heathens are enraged and hurry after the poor strangers with fast galleys. But the knights leave them behind. On the twelfth day they see land and a large mountain, called the Lodestone, toward which the ship begins to move. Soon a whole forest of masts comes into view. When a strong current begins to drive them toward the harbor, one of the sailors climbs to the top of the mast. They realize that it is the Congealed Sea.

Motif References:

F 711.2 Sea of unusual substance
F 711.2.6 (Tu) Congealed Sea
F 754 Magnetic mountain
F 806.1 Lodestone draws ship to it
F 806 Magnetic stone

HerEB-3970: In their despair they all start to pray. They put themselves fully in God’s hands and they repent their sins. The magnet’s power drives the ship with such force that it dashes toward the rock. All the ships crash against each other and their masts collide again and again. Yet they reach the rock alive. They all jump from the ship without delay and look at the curious things in the large fleet which is crowded around the mountain. The knights find riches and a fortune of silver, gold, jewels, and manifold fine silks. They leave the ships and climb the mountain to find out if they can see land anywhere. Their supplies are gone. Finally almost everyone in the ship has starved to death, and only the duke and six men are still alive. The others are borne away by a griffin, one by one, after they died. It is their custom, and they have carried away corpses many times in the past. They decide to use the griffins to escape to the mainland and survive.

Motif References:

B 42 Griffin

HerEB-4113: The remaining six decide to sew each other into hides and lay each other up forward on the deck. They decide that the duke and the count should be the first to fly. Then each is sewn up into a skin. After sunrise, the knights carry the men, who are well hidden by the tough skins, to the deck and lay them down there. The griffins fly over the wide sea to the ships. The two are quickly seized with great force in the griffins’ claws and are dropped in front of the young griffins. They can’t even tear open the hides. Meanwhile the old griffins return to the nest with two more men.

Motif References:

K 521.1.1 Men sewed in animal’s hide carried off by birds
B 542.2.1 Transportation to fairyland on griffin’s back
B 552 Man carried by bird
K 1861.1 Hero sewed up in animal hide so as to be carried to height by bird

HerEB-4299: Ernst and his men save themselves from the young birds by getting out of the hides and climbing down the rock. The griffins fly a third time to the ship, where two men have already sewn themselves up. Duke Ernst is heartily pleased to see his men coming and, running up to them, kisses all four. They eat plants and go on until they come to a large, beautiful river full of fish and they catch enough with their hands to drive away hunger. They collect wood for a fire and broil the fish. The way is blocked upstream by mountains so high that their peaks reach the clouds.

Motif References:

F 55 Mountain reaches to sky [moon]

HerEB-4409: They decide to build a raft set to work at once and quickly make a large raft of mighty trees which they fell with their swords. They carry it to the bank, and bind it to strong crosspieces with willow twigs. Then the river enters a tunnel into the mountain. In the darkness they see jewels gleam in all colors. Duke Ernst sees one very bright, breaks it free from the rock and takes it with him.

Motif References:

F 757.1.1 Cave of gold, silver and crystal
F 826 Extraordinary jewels

HerEB-4463: Nowadays it is called “the orphan”, it adorns the imperial crown. The tale of the jewel has been written down in Latin and is therefore a true story with no lies. Then the cave widens and they joyfully floated out into a broad land. They find a large forest with clearings tilled by people whose language they don’t understand. The peasants soon find enough bread to still their hunger and they proceed into a beautiful land called Arimaspi with many lovely cities. The people of the country are strange and awesome for they have only a single eye, which is in the middle of their forehead. They are called the One-Stars – in Latin, Cycropides.

Motif References:

F 512.1 Person with one eye
F 512.1.1 Person with one eye in center of forehead
F 721.1 Underground passages

HerEB-4535: The strange people greet them in a most respectful and friendly manner. They lead the duke and his companions to a splendid palace where they are well cared for and are dressed in fine silks. They are offered all kinds of food and clothing. The king of the land sends out word for all of his vassals and kin to come to his court.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality

HerEB-4600: The duke and his companions are well received by the king, who has a strong and beautiful horse led into the courtyard before them, since he hopes to find out by this means which of the knights is the leader. The valiant Ernst rides it with skill. At this, the king gives orders that the duke and his companions are to be given such service as he himself requires. When the festival ends, the knights remain with the king who looks after them well for a long time. It is more than a year before they learn the language. The knight answers that he has been a duke at home and driven away without cause by the emperor. He also tells him about the manners and habits of his own country and how he has gotten to this one. The generous king orders his people to make every effort to take care of the knight, giving him silver, gold, and whatever else he wants.

Motif References:

H 41 Recognition of royalty [nobility] by personal characteristics or traits
H 1154.3.1 Task: bridling a wild horse
H 1567 Test of leadership

HerEB-4669: One of the neighbors of the king of Arimaspi is a strange race of people, called the Flat Hoofs, which often cause him trouble. Their feet are very broad and shaped like a swan’s. They wear no shoes and, when a storm comes up, lie down and raise one foot over themselves. If the storm lasts for some time, they lift the other foot to rest the first and thus are always protected from bad weather. The Flat Hoofs are arrogant people with frightful devices for hurling missiles and summon an army against the king of Arimaspi. They force the invasion by laying waste to the kingdom with fire and pillage. However, the king soon raises a strong army and moves it onto a broad heath where the enemy is encamped. A battle takes place, the duke enters the conflict by taking over the king’s banner and leading the foremost troops while the adversary moves platoon after platoon. The king of Arimaspi stands by the duke fearlessly with his army, and together they so crush the invaders. Few escape.

Motif References:

F 551.5 Single [Broad] footed people lie on their backs and shade themselves from sun with their soles
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

HerEB-4747: The battle is won; those who get away flee to their strongholds or into the forest. The king wants to reward the duke by offering him to govern whatever part of his land he wishes. Out of gratitude he enfeoffs him with so much that he may enjoy fame and esteem. The king invests Duke Ernst with a duchy, people and land. In taking over his land, the duke wins the support of the people with gifts of silver, gold, and fiefs: all accept gladly.

Motif References:

Q 111.8 Large quantity of land as reward
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

HerEB-4815: Duke Ernst hears of an unusual race of people who live by the sea in a land next to his own. Their ears are so long that they come down to their feet. They have no other clothing. They are big and strong, built like noble knights, and carry sharp javelins, shining and skillfully made, which kill whatever is struck. They have sworn enmity to the king, plague him with warfare. Ernst at once sends for his fighting men and, collecting a fine army, travels down to the sea. The ear-people have gathered a host of warriors who are eager to fight the duke.

Motif References:

F 511 Person unusual as to his head
F 511.2.5 (Bm) People with large ears used as clothing
F 542.1 Long ears
F 542.2 Big ears
W 212 Eagerness for combat

HerEB-4866: Soon the duke and his troops defeat the ears and his men cut them up with their swords, until most of the enemy’s army lies wounded or slain on the field. They camp. They have severe losses on both sides. Duke Ernst is told of another land close by, called Prechami, in which dwell the smallest people in the world. It is a kingdom which lives in constant fear. It is always full of cranes, which live in thick forests, terrorizing the birds even there. The eggs they stole from the cranes are their only food. They are quite defenseless against the cranes, except when they gather an army to do battle with them. As soon as the duke hears the story, he summons a hundred knights and journeys there by ship.

Motif References:

F 535 Remarkably small man (Pygmie)
F 535.5.1 War of pygmies and cranes
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

HerEB-4950: The duke asks the small people who their king is and they take him to their ruler. The cranes, a battle-hardened race, are attacked fiercely by the forces of the king, which kill many. The little people are partly avenged. Duke Ernst stays there for six weeks and helps the people to drive the cranes from the realm. After that they beg him to stay there always. But he wants to return home. He asks for two of the king’s men.

Motif References:

P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

HerEB-5013: Not far from Arimaspi is the country of Kananea. The inhabitants are giants and fierce warriors who have conquered many lands and forced them to pay tribute. They kill everyone who refuses payment. His men counsel the king of Canaan to send a messenger to the ruler of Arimaspi to tell him that if he values his life and wants to remain in his land he has to send tribute and come at once himself to receive his land as a fief and become a vassal of the Canaanite king. A mighty giant is therefore sent to Arimaspi. The king in dismay sends for the best of his nobles, among them Duke Ernst, to come to a council and tells them of the giant’s message.

Motif References:

F 531.6.9 Giants as warriors (in army)

HerEB-5061: The king’s vassals can think of nothing better than to advise him to send the tribute which would allow them to remain at peace with the giants. But the duke disagrees; telling the king that in his country a nobleman would rather die with honor than become the vassal of one of his peers. He advises to send back word to their monarch that he is too lowly to be the king’s liege. If he should attack him, he will defend his land.

Motif References:

P 531 Taxation and payment of fines and tribute

HerEB-5090: The king sends for the messenger and gives costly presents. He promises the other king if he wishes to become his vassal, he will treat him well, but if he insists on tribute he will wage war. The giant king swears fiercely to delay no longer, but to expel, capture, kill or hang Duke Ernst, who has given the advice. The monarch then calls up five hundred of his giants and leaves for Arimaspi.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
M 500 (Bm) Threats

HerEB-5175: They gather and prepare to fight against the mighty army in the manner which the duke has advised. He has caused swords and spears to be made for them. Weapons in hand they go to the forest through which they must pass, there the giants can’t use their rods. When the giants enter the forest, they swing away with their dreadful rods. The duke moves his troops back under the trees to safety. His men strike at the lower legs of their enemies with swords and spears and fell many of them. They crash down like trees.

Motif References:

F 531.4.3 Giant with iron club as weapon
K 1080 Persons duped [into injury] into injuring each other
K 2369 Military strategy - miscellaneous

HerEB-5222: The giants strike their comrades while vainly trying to hit their foes and thus suffer great harm from each other as well as from the duke’s men. When at last two hundred mighty giants lie dead, the others flee and the struggle is over. They run back to Canaan. The duke takes one wounded giant as prisoner, lets him live and turns him over to his men, who lead him back to their country. The king reigns in his land as noone’s vassal and is never again attacked by the giants. Old and young thank Duke Ernst, whose cunning has given them the victory. The king has a banquet for him after they return and rewards him with gold and precious stones.

Motif References:

F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 531.6.12.7 Giants driven away by men

HerEB-5297: Duke Ernst is very pleased at having the injured giant and takes good care of him, often treating his wounds until he fully recovers. The duke befriends the giant, gives him good clothes and allows him to go about freely wherever he wishes. The giant is only fifteen years old and by no means fully grown, and yet no pine in the forest would reach to his knee. Now the duke has two men of Picmey (pygmies), many Ears and Flat Hoofs, and the young giant.

Motif References:

W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
P 310.5 Defeated enemy turns true friend

HerEB-5333: Duke Ernst has ruled his duchy with honor for six years when one morning, as he is taking a stroll in front of his castle, he sees a ship enter the harbor. The duke admits to the captain that he has long wanted to go to Jerusalem. If they help him to get there, he would feel inclined to stay a while with their king before going on to Jerusalem. So late one evening, Duke Ernst secretly has many things brought to the ship: the best of his gold, silver, and other costly treasures, the finest silk cloth and clothing he can find, pearls and precious stones. He stealthily hurries to the ship together with his Flat Hoofs, Picmeys, and Ears. Two men of Arimaspi of whom he is fond are with him.

Motif References:

M 290 Bargains and promises - miscellaneous

HerEB-5440: They arrive at the country’s capital. Ernst and his retinue are treated well. The king and all his men are greatly astonished at these creatures and have to admit that they have never seen anything so strange or heard the like in the whole world. From that time on the king cares for Ernst as if he were his own son. News comes to the monarch that his realms are being invaded by many warriors under the command of the king of Babylon, the lord of Damascus and the prince of Halap. The latter intends to conquer and destroy the Christian lands. The king raises an army from the Christians of the land. Duke Ernst is happy to be in this battle and promises God to fight, and many die because of it. The duke enters the struggle early as a part of the king’s army, while the giant carries the banner and performs great deeds of valor.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
F 1084 Furious battle
P 557.0.3 (Li) Military aid (alliance)

HerEB-5570: After a furious battle, Duke Ernst valiantly captures the king. The lines of the heathens have been broken in so many places that at last they have to turn and flee. The heathen king’s injuries are treated and, when they have healed, he is sent back to his land with orders to urge his nobles to help him work out a pact with the Christian king. The ruler of Babylon gives hostages which are to be held until he has made amends to make peace as long as the two kings live. 2000 of the heathens are dead.

Motif References:

R 5 Capture on field of battle
R 51.6 (Bm) Captive as hostage
V 301 (Li) Heathens and Christians
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
P 559 (Li) Peace: making and conditions of peace (ransom, reparations, submission)
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

HerEB-5615: Duke Ernst then speaks to the king of the heathens about his journey to Jerusalem and the many hindrances in the way. The king commends him at once to the care of the king of Egypt who takes him safely to Jerusalem. The Egyptian monarch takes leave of the Ethiopian king and his vassals. The king has two pack horses laden with gold, and a fine dromedary. They travel to Babylon and the duke stays over a month. Then the king orders four of his noblemen to take the duke to Jerusalem and gives him so much gold and fine silk cloth because of his bravery that a camel is hardly able to carry it.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality

HerEB-5662: Then he leaves for Jerusalem with an escort of 2000 men. The duke spends the year in constant conflict with the heathens. Meanwhile, pilgrims from Germany come across the sea and tell him the news on the emperor’s court and back in Germany. The emperor lets all the princes know that Duke Ernst is alive and in Jerusalem. Empress Adelheit sends a messenger to Ernst

Motif References:

V 301 (Li) Heathens and Christians
V 350 Conflicts between religions

HerEB-5690: While the nobleman lives in Jerusalem, he is well liked for his bravery and for causing the heathens such distress. The duke learns that all of the princes are supporting his cause. Then he boards a ship in the harbor of Ackers and sails for more than six weeks. To the duke’s deep regret, his Flat Hoof dies. At last, the ship enters the harbor at Bari, where he is greeted warmly. He gives an offering on the grave of Saint Nicholas and soon approaches Rome. He is received with honor and visits the great Church of Saint Peter with many holy relics. He offers a splendid silk cloth and a fabric of silk interwoven with gold.

Motif References:

V 19 Religious sacrifices – miscellaneous
W 33 Heroism
W 34 Loyalty

HerEB-5815: The duke travels on, enters Bavaria without anyone knowing, and sends for a vassal who, he knows, would not reveal his presence. The man tells him that a meeting has been proclaimed for Babenberg at Christmas time and that the emperor will attend. The duke and the count set out for Babenberg at once, come to the dome, where they find the queen at prayer. They fall to her feet and she embraces her son. She persuades the emperor to grant these worthy knights his mercy or at least an ill-humored pardon. So the emperor raises up Ernst, whom he did not recognize, and kisses him on the lips.

Motif References:

W 34.2 Loyal friends refuse to fight against disgraced comrade
L 111.1 Exile returns and succeeds
N 735 Accidental meeting of mother and son

HerEB-5940: The Emperor recognizing him regrets his pardon and would not speak to Ernst. But then he is persuaded and even asks Duke Ernst where his strange retinue is, and learns that they are in Bavaria. They are brought to the monarch’s court and attract everyone’s attention. The man with the long ears sings sweetly. The great giant remains in Bavaria. Duke Ernst teaches him Christian faith and has him baptized. The duke relates his story and has a scribe write it down why and by what means he was banished, how long he held out before leaving his land, and how he departed and returned. The emperor then gives the duke back his lands to rule the country he has inherited. Thus ends the book.

Motif References:

V 332 Baptism of heathen
L 350 Mildness triumphs over violence

Oriental Romances

Herzog Ernst B (1208/09) Sowinski, B. (ed.): Herzog Ernst. Stuttgart 1979, p.358-361.

Herzog Ernst B (1208/09)
Sowinski, B. (ed.): Herzog Ernst. Stuttgart 1979, p.358-361.