When one thinks of the Middle Ages, many think of King Arthur and handsome, chivalrous knights, chastened maidens, Beowulf, and lots of war. These figures have been depicted countless times over the years, but there’s one that stands out as odd. So strange that it makes one wonder if it may, in fact, be true.The story of the pied piper of Hamelin can be dated back to around the year 1300. During this time, a stained glass window was erected in a church in Hamelin, depicting the bizarre tale.
THE LOST CHILDREN OF HAMELIN
According to the account by the Brothers Grimm, the story went something like this…
In 1284, Hamelin was an important place for trade. Nestled beside the Weser River, Hamelin was home to lots of commerce, and the city thrived. Everything was going well until the city began to have an infestation of rats. The small, destructive creatures ravaged the town until one day, a mysterious piper emerged with a promise to lure the rats into the river with a song.
This would cost the citizens a certain sum of money, of course. They came to an agreement, and the deal was made. As soon as the piper began to play, rats squirmed from their dens and surrounded the piper. When he believed all the rats were around him, he walked into the river, still playing his song, and the rats followed, drowning each and every one of them.
Now that the pied piper had kept his deal of the bargain, he looked to the citizens to pay up, but they regretted having agreed to spend so much. They made excuse after excuse to try to wiggle their way out of paying the piper his share. And the piper left, bitter and angry.
Related: Historic True Crime of Marie LaFarge
He wouldn’t be gone for long, though. He returned to the city on June 26th, Saint John’s and Saint Paul’s Day. He was dressed in a hunter’s costume with a red hat. He sounded his fife, but this time, it wasn’t the rats that flocked toward him. It was the children of the village. As if the children weren’t enough, even the mayor’s grown daughter fell into the piper’s trance. He led them all into a cave in the mountain where they disappeared.
A total of 130 were gone. Two returned, but one was blind and the other mute. So, the fate and destination of the children were sealed forever. Another one never made it because he wasn’t quick enough to catch up to the piper.
The mountain where they’d disappeared is called Poppenburg. Two stone monuments were erected there.
Some believe that the children went into the cave and came out in Transylvania.
The citizens of Hamelin recorded this event and began dating their proclamations by the years it’d been since they lost their children.
The following was inscribed on the town hall some 272 years after the event.
In the year 1284 after the birth of Christ
From Hameln were led away
One hundred thirty children, born at this place
Led away by a piper into a mountain.
A coin was also minted to memorialize the children of Hamelin.
This was a recount of what the Grimm’s first published in 1816. Remembering that the Brothers Grimm did not record the “fairy tales” as we know them for their story value, rather for their contribution to history, wise historians wouldn’t quickly dismiss the tale as fiction.
We Fabled followers all know by now that truth is stranger than fiction, right?
SO, DID IT REALLY HAPPEN?
Remember the church glass I spoke of earlier? Several witness accounts remain of people who’d seen the stained glass in the 14th and 17th centuries. The church was torn down in 1660, though. Based on the witnessed accounts, a modern glass has been remade by historian Hans Dobbertin. The glass was said to have been originally made to memorialize the tragic tale of the lost children of Hamelin, which lends some credence to it being true.
Also, in 1384, the Hamelin Chronicle reported when a century had passed since the children had left town. Further credence to the tale having been true.
As with most fairy tales, there are roots of truth in the story.
Related: The History and Lore of Rapunzel
Some scholars believe that sickness or disease could have been the cause of the children’s deaths. Or perhaps it was another case of the dancing plague, which had spread through Europe during the same time, that’d taken them.
Others claim the children could have drowned in the river or been killed in a landslide.
Still, others believe that the children had migrated north to settle into other areas to further develop the land. Many were lured into working the land and populating sparser regions.
The Lüneburg manuscript, dated 1440-50, gives an early German account of the event. Inscribed on a house called the “Rat Catcher’s House” or the “Pied Piper House,” it reads:
A.D. 1284—on the 26th of June—the day of St. John and St. Paul—130 children—born in Hamelin—were led out of the town by a piper wearing multicolored clothes. After passing the Calvary near the Koppenberg, they disappeared for ever.
This may be the earliest surviving record of the tale.
INCONSISTANCY
Scholars have heavily researched the story, and one major inconsistency emerged. It wasn’t until 1559 that rats were included in the tale. Before then, they were not a part of the story. This addition gave the story a sort of Bubonic Plague twist.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY
Despite this inconsistency, there is a clear and solid moral. I know, I know. Modern readers don’t like a moral in the story. Morals give stories purpose, though, so here we go…The moral of the story is that you reap what you sow. A solid one that’s withstood the test of time, for sure. You see, the citizens of Hamelin had wronged the piper and paid a heavy price for that offense. Readers are to walk away committing never to break a deal or promise. If so, we should expect horrible consequences.
THE PIED PIPER TODAY
If you visit Hamelin today, you just may run into the Pied Piper himself, dressed in his multi-colored coat and red hat. Tour guides dressed as the Pied Piper will gladly show you around and explore the legend that has solidified Hamelin’s place in history and lore.
THE MYSTERIOUS PIED PIPER
Much can be said about the mysterious Pied Piper. Was he a fictitious character invented to help the people of Hamelin deal with the natural deaths of so many of their children? The Pied Piper Theory suggests this. Children being taken is symbolic of innocence lost. What robbed Hamelin of its innocence? The piper or the intentional breaking of a deal? Who’s truly to blame for the children’s disappearance?
Pied Piper has been portrayed as a man of mystery, sorcery, and perhaps even one who wields dark magic. Either way, he is a figure of death.
CONCLUSION
The wicked tale of the Pied Piper and the lost children of Hamelin, whether it be true or fictitious, will forever serve as a reminder for us to carry out what we say we’ll do and never make a promise we don’t intend to keep. We must always pay the piper.
THANKS!
Many thanks to Katie Coughran from the How to be a Minimalist podcast for suggesting this topic. If you’re interested in living more simply and reducing your stress level, I highly recommend Katie’s podcast, How to be a Minimalist.
Music:
-Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4397-sovereign
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
-Touching Moments Three – Deeper by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4538-touching-moments-three—deeper
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
-Ghostpocalypse – 6 Crossing the Threshold by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
