Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter

"Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter" (Prince Eugene, the Noble Knight) is an Austrian-German folksong about the victory of Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1717 during the Austro-Turkish War of 1716–1718.[1] It tells of the bravery of Prince Eugene, his companion Prince Ludwig who lost his life in the battle, and their soldiers in defeating the Turks and recovering the city of Belgrade for the Holy Roman Empire. The oldest known record of the song comes from a handwritten songbook of 1719. The lyricist is unknown.

Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter
folksong
LanguageGerman
MelodyAls Chursachsen das vernommen (1683)
Composedunknown

Theme

The song is a narrative of the Siege of Belgrade (1717). The text diverts from historical accuracy in two aspects. The day of the final assault on the defenders is given as the 21 August although it was 16 August. Second, the song tells of the death of one Prince Louis (Prinz Ludewig). Eugene had two brothers named Louis but none of them fell at Belgrade. The younger one, Louis Julius (1660–1683) who had entered Imperial service prior to Eugene was killed by Crimean Tatars at Petronell, whereas the older one, Louis Thomas (1657–1702) had died at the Siege of Landau (1702).[1]

Background and legacy

The author of the song is unknown. The melody derives from "Als Chursachsen das vernommen" (1683) and has also been adopted in the period before the German revolutions of 1848–1849 to Ob wir rote, gelbe Kragen (Whether we [wear] red or yellow collars). Josef Strauss composed in 1865 his Prinz Eugen March, Op. 186, for the unveiling of a statue of Prince Eugene at the Heldenplatz in Vienna; it uses elements of the folksong.[1]

Lyrics
Siege of Belgrade in 1717
Eugene of Savoy during the Battle of Belgrade

Prinz Eugen der edle Ritter,
wollt dem Kaiser wied'rum kriegen
Stadt und Festung Belgerad!
Er ließ schlagen eine Brukken,
daß man kunt hinüberrucken
mit der Armee vor die Stadt.

Als die Brucken nun war geschlagen,
daß man kunnt mit Stuck und Wagen
Frei passir'n den Donaufluß,
Bei Semlin schlug man das Lager,
Alle Türken zu verjagen,
Ihn'n zum Spott und zum Verdruß.

Am einundzwanzigsten August soeben
Kam ein Spion bei Sturm und Regen,
Schwur's dem Prinzen und zeigt's ihm an
Daß die Türken futragieren,
So viel, als man kunnt' verspüren,
An die dreimalhunderttausend Mann.

Als Prinz Eugenius dies vernommen,
Ließ er gleich zusammenkommen
Sein' Gen'ral und Feldmarschall.
Er tät sie recht instruieren,
Wie man sollt' die Truppen führen
Und den Feind recht greifen an.

Bei der Parol' tät er befehlen,
Daß man sollt' die Zwölfe zählen,
Bei der Uhr um Mitternacht.
Da sollt' all's zu Pferd aufsitzen,
Mit dem Feinde zu scharmützen,
Was zum Streit nur hätte Kraft.

Alles saß auch gleich zu Pferde,
Jeder griff nach seinem Schwerte,
Ganz still rückt' man aus der Schanz'.
Die Musketier' wie auch die Reiter
Täten alle tapfer streiten:
's war fürwahr ein schöner Tanz!

Ihr Konstabler auf der Schanzen,
Spielet auf zu diesem Tanzen
Mit Kartaunen groß und klein;
Mit den großen, mit den kleinen
Auf die Türken auf die Heiden,
Daß sie laufen all' davon!

Prinz Eugenius auf der Rechten
Tät als wie ein Löwe fechten,
Als Gen'ral und Feldmarschall.
Prinz Ludewig ritt auf und nieder'.
Halt't euch brav, ihr deutschen Brüder,
Greift den Feind nur herzhaft an!

Prinz Ludewig, der mußt' aufgeben
Seinen Geist und junges Leben,
Ward getroffen von dem Blei.
Prinz Eugen war sehr betrübet,
Weil er ihn so sehr geliebet,
Ließ ihn bring'n nach Peterwardein.[2]

Prince Eugene, the noble knight,
wished to recover for the Emperor
the city and fortress of Belgrade.
He had a bridge built
so that they could cross
with the army by the city.

When the bridge had been built
and cannon and wagons
could be transported across the Danube,
they set up camp at Semlin,
in order to drive all the Turks away,
to their shame and vexation.

Just on the 21st of August,
a spy came through wind and rain.
He renewed his oath of loyalty and showed him
that the Turks were looking for food supplies.
They were so many that one could have thought
that they were up to three hundred thousand.

As soon as Prince Eugene learnt this,
he gathered
his generals and field marshals.
He instructed them
how the troops should be manoeuvred
and attack the enemy properly.

He gave the order and created a password.
When the twelve chimes of midnight would strike,
(that it at twelve o'clock),
that all had to get on their horses
and start skirmishes with the enemy
who still had strength left.

All got on their horses immediately,
everyone unsheathed his sword
and got out of the camp without saying a word.
The musketeers and knights
fought valiantly.
It was really a beautiful dance!

You, constables of the fortification,
join this dance
with your big and small cannons.
With the big ones, with the small ones,
shoot the Turks and heathens.
Make them flee!

Prince Eugene attacked on the right flank
and fought like a lion,
as did the general and the fieldmarschall.
Prince Ludwig rode to and fro.
Fight bravely, German brothers,
attack the enemy with all your heart.

Prince Ludwig breathed his last,
he had to abandon his young life.
He was shot by a lead bullet.
Prince Eugene was shattered,
because he loved him so much.
He had him carried to Peterwardein.

References
  1. Osborne, C. (2012). The Concert Song Companion: A Guide to the Classical Repertoire. Springer US. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-4757-0049-7.
  2. Loewe, C. (1844). Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter: Ballade von Freiligrath ; für 1 Singstimme mit Begl. d. Pianoforte ; op. 92 (in German). Ed. Bote & G. Bock.
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