🧚 Legends and Tales., part 2

Just at this period the doctrines of the Christian faith had penetrated into the Harz; Egbert had become a convert, and had won Thusnelda also for the new faith.1

But the lovers were betrayed to Thusnelda's father, the wild and savage Luitprand, and he, in fury, having promised her to a companion in arms, shut her up in a gloomy room, deaf to all her entreaties, and laid in wait for Egbert; but Egbert assembled all the Christians of the neighbourhood, and set off in the night to storm Luitprand's castle.2

Suddenly a wall of rock rose before them, and they were obliged to wait till morning, when lo! as far as they could see, only this formidable barrier that blocked up their way.3

Egbert encouraged his braves to climb it; but when half way up, the giant rocks fell upon them and crushed every daring knight to atoms.4

This wall the devil had built to prevent the spread of the new faith.5

The other legend says the devil wished to divide with Christ the empire of the world, and therefore began this wall as the border between the two kingdoms; but the work was not finished at the time agreed upon by the contracting parties, and the contract was broken.6 The devil, in wrath at having laboured so much for nought, broke in pieces his partly built defence.7

There is a tradition that the holy Vehm,[1] or Fehm, formerly held her court also in the Teufelsmauer, not far from the majestic Reinstein.8

[1] _Vehm_, or _Fehm_, old German for punishment.9

This celebrated tribunal had its origin in Westphalia, the land of the Red Earth, and was one of the most remarkable institutions of the middle ages.10

The Fehm is said to have been instituted by Charlemagne to prevent Saxony, which had been forced by his arms to embrace Christianity, from returning to Paganism.11 Others claim for it a much greater antiquity.12 [2]13

[2] See "History of the Fehm Tribunal; or, Secret History of Westphalia."14 By Fr.15 P. Usener.16 Frankfort, 1832.17

The Wunderstein.18

The vast plain north of the Harz mountains has been the scene of countless knightly feuds and battles.19

In 1115 the battle of Welfsholz--not far from the village of Warnstedt, nestling in the shadow of the Devil's Wall--was fought between the Kaiser and the allied princes of Saxony, in which the imperial forces were routed.20 There is a legend that the battle was lost through the Count von Mannsfeld, who seeing his men flee, exclaimed, placing his hand on a rock at his side, "This rock shall turn into wax before I move from the spot!" when immediately the soft wax yielded to the pressure, and took the print of his hand, and he fled in terror and fell under the Saxon swords.21

There is another version of the story.22

Before the battle, the Earl von Mannsfeld called his men in a circle around him, and addressed them thus: "My friends! fear not because the enemy outnumbers us; let the rebels come, we will be their death-angel, for, listen all of you, and doubt not of victory, for so sure as my hand presses itself into this rock as if it were dough, so sure will the victory rest with our flag as long as I fight with you."23

And before a thousand eager eyes he thrust his hand into the stone, leaving a deep rut.24

Enthusiasm inspired the souls of the soldiers at the sight, and shouts of joy went through the ranks.25

It is a fact that the brave Mannsfeld, impatient of victory, rushed on before his men and fell.26

In the old Kloster of Wenthusen in Dorf Thale--pronounced Talé--is still preserved a mysterious Wonderstone, which is said to protect the estate and family from misfortune.27 By some mishap this stone was once carried off, and disaster followed disaster till it was brought back.28

Charlotte of Blankenburg, Princess of Wolfenbüttel.29

On the north side of the Harz mountains lies the town of Blankenburg, the origin of which is long prior to the time of Charlemagne, probably during that of the Sassens.30 It existed during the stone and bronze age, as has been proved by the discovery of warlike implements which have been dug up in the neighbourhood.31

On a low mountain above the town stands Blankenburg[1] Schloss, white and shining in the summer's sun, and looks out on the vast plain, the Devil's Wall, and the mountains.32 Its long suites of bright and homelike apartments are adorned with many costly works of art, the most precious of which being the wondrously carved ivory crucifix in the chapel, by Michael Angelo.33 With all this we have at present nothing to do, but rather with the singular destiny of a lady who was born here, whose portrait hangs in the drawing and billiard room.34

[1] _Blankenburg_, the shining castle.35

Duke Ludwig Rudolph, second son of Duke Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, was presented by his father with the Earldom of Blankenburg.36 He lived with his wife, Princess Christine Louise von Oettingen, thirty years in Schloss Blankenburg.37

They were the parents of three princesses, noted as well for goodness of heart as for grace and beauty.38 The eldest was Elizabeth Christine, born in 1691.39 The second, Charlotte Christiane Sophie, was a year younger.40 The youngest, Antoinette Amalie, was born in 1696.41

The eldest, Elizabeth, was chosen at the age of thirteen, by Kaiser Leopold, as consort of his son Carl III., king of Spain, later Carl VI. of Germany.42 She was the mother of the great Maria Theresa.43 The young princess went over to the Romish faith, and met her royal bridegroom in Barcelona, where they were married.44 In consequence of this alliance with the Imperial family, the Earldom was raised to a Principality by Joseph I. It now belongs to the Duchy of Brunswick.45

The second, Princess Charlotte, was chosen by the Czar, Peter the Great, who spent some time here, as consort for his son and throne-heir, Alexis.46

The third, Antoinette, the loveliest of the three sisters, married Duke Ferdinand Albert of Brunswick-Bevern.47 She is the ancestress of the now reigning family of Brunswick.48

It is the history of the second sister, Princess Charlotte, with which we have to do.49 Her marriage with the Czarewitch Alexis took place in 1711, in the great hall in Torgau.50

The savage, vulgar Prince had made his character still more degraded by a dissipated life.51 An unconquerable aversion to the amiable and refined Princess led him to the horrible decision of poisoning her.52 He made three attempts, all of which failed.53

The inhuman treatment of this monster increased daily, and no courtier dared to defend the unhappy Princess against his brutality.54 He so far forgot his manhood as frequently to strike, and even kick her.55

At length, one day, the Czar and Catherine being on a distant journey, Alexis rushed into Charlotte's presence, made the most brutal demands, struck her with his fists, kicked her repeatedly, and left her lying insensible.56

Directly after this revolting scene the raging monster set off on a journey, without troubling himself to learn the result of his barbarous and fiendish cruelty.57 A premature birth was the result.58

But now the friends of the Princess united for her rescue; the opportunity was too favourable to let slip.59

A courier was despatched to the Czar, and also to Alexis, with the news of Charlotte's sudden death.60 In his terror of the Czar, Alexis ordered an immediate interment.61 The funeral followed as had been commanded, but the coffin contained only a wooden doll.62

While all the courts of Europe put on mourning, and the father wept for his untimely loss, and caused a commemorative coin to be struck, Charlotte, with the aid of confidential friends, especially the famous Aurora von Königsmark, escaped, weak and ill, from her palace.63 With gold and jewels, and as much money as could be commanded in the hurry, the Princess left St. Petersburg with a single _femme de Chambre_ and a faithful man-servant, reached Paris unrecognized, sailed for America, and lived many years in Louisiana.64