“Griet, if she had done it!” “Jan, if he had known!”
This is the legend of Jan, the glorious cavalry general and Griet, the market woman.
On the Alter Markt in Cologne you can see scenes from the legend at the Jan von Werth fountain: first the sad Jan after he was rejected by Griet, and then (opposite) Griet, as she extends her hand to the outstanding warrior, who now wants nothing more to do with her.
Since 1884 the city of Cologne has also honored von Werth’s achievements with this monument. Yes, Jan von Werth really did exist:
Under Elector Maximilian I, von Werth won notable victories against the Swedes during the Thirty Years’ War and thus for the Catholic League.
And as quickly as the victories followed one another, he rose through the ranks just as quickly, eventually making it to the rank of field marshal. He owes his name “French Terror” to the liberation of the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress near Koblenz from the French in 1637. A few years later, under his leadership, the area around the Lower Rhine and Cologne were liberated from the enemy.
Towards the end of the Thirty Years’ War, Jan von Werth entered the service of the emperor and received the title of count and fiefdom as thanks for his services.
5 children were born from 3 marriages. Jan von Werth died in 1652 from the effects of blood poisoning.
With its distinctive Wallenstein uniform and the annual performance of the saga of Jan and Griet at the Severinstorburg on Shrove Tuesday, the “Jan von Werth” cavalry corps honors the legendary general.
The traditional Cologne trio was also formed from the ranks of the cavalry corps in 2020.
Every year on Shrove Tuesday you can experience the legend of Jan and Griet live in front of the Severinstorburg, always played by the Jan von Werth cavalry corps, like here in 2013.
You can find out how smart the people of Cologne used to be at our next destination, the Stapelhaus. We go down to the Rhine and then keep left
Image source 2nd image: © Raimond Spekking
