page_title: Hans von Trotha
section_title: Significance
hierarchical_section_title: Hans von Trotha / Significance
caption_attribution_description: Christkindchen und Hans Trapp im Elsaß
context_page_description: Hans von Trotha was a German knight and marshal of the prince-elector of the Palatinate. He also bore the French honorary title of a Chevalier d’Or. In 1480, the elector enfeoffed him with the two castles of Berwartstein and Grafendahn which lay in the South Palatine part of the Wasgau region within the Palatinate Forest. In local folklore he is known as Hans Trapp or, more rarely, Hans Trott.
context_section_description: The events of von Trotha's feud with the abbey are depicted in the great hall of Berwartstein Castle. The hall is used as a restaurant that can seat 150 people, but it is open to the public to visit.
  Hans von Trotha, who was about 2 metres tall and even by today's standards would have been an imposing figure. became a local legend in the Palatinate region under the popular, corrupted name of "Hans Trapp", or occasionally "Hans Trott". He was not only described later as a robber baron, but over the course of time became portrayed as  figure of terror for children who, as the "Black Knight" (schwarzer Ritter), was a restless spirit who stalked through the Wasgau at night. Even in the Legend of the Jungfernsprung his name was associated with the fiend who wanted to take the young maiden's virginity.
  In neighbouring Alsace at the time of Saint Nicholas the name of Hans Trapp was used to frighten children and he was the one who accompanied the saint, not the usual figure of Knecht Ruprecht. The appearance and dress of Hans Trapp (white beard, pointed hat and rod) are described in an Alemannic German poem from the Alsace:
  
  
   
  D’r Hans Trapp
  Schoi, do kummt d’r Hans Trapp.
  Ar het a scheni Zepfelkapp’
  Un a Bart wiss wie a Schimmel.
  Ar kummt vum schena Starnehimmel
  Un bringt da Kinder a Ruada,
  Wu net dien singe un bata.
  Schoi, Hans Trapp, mir sin so klein
  Un brav un folje d’heim.
  Müesch net kumme mit dim Stacka,
  Denn mir kenne singe un oi bata.
   
  Translated to German
  Schau, da kommt der Hans Trapp.
  Er hat eine schöne Zipfelkapp’
  Und einen Bart weiß wie ein Schimmel.
  Er kommt vom schönen Sternenhimmel
  Und bringt den Kindern eine Rute,
  Die nicht tun singen und beten.
  Schau, Hans Trapp, wir sind so klein
  Und brav und folgen daheim.
  Musst nicht kommen mit dei’m Stecken,
  Denn wir können singen und auch beten.
   
  Translated to English
  Look, there comes Hans Trapp.
  He has a nice pointed hat
  And a beard white like a roan.
  He comes from the beautiful starry sky
  And brings children a rod
  Who do not do singing and praying.
  Look, Hans Trapp, we are so small
  And good and obedient at home.
  Shouldn't come with your stick
  Because we can sing and pray too.
caption: The Christ Child and Hans Trapp in Alsace (1863 illustration)
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