Sintram and His Companions

The author of these tales, as well as of many more, was Friedrich,Baron de la Motte Fouque, one of the foremost of the minstrels ortale-tellers of the realm of spiritual chivalry-the realm whitherArthur's knights departed when they took the Sancgreal's holyquest, -whence Spenser's Red Cross knight and his fellows cameforth on their adventures, and in which the Knight of la Manchabelieved, and endeavoured to exist.La Motte Fouque derived his name and his title from the FrenchHuguenot ancestry, who had fled on the Revocation of the Edict ofNantes. His Christian name was taken from his godfather, Frederickthe Great, of whom his father was a faithful friend, withoutcompromising his religious principles and practice. Friedrich wasborn at Brandenburg on February 12, 1777, was educated by goodparents at home, served in the Prussian army through disaster andsuccess, took an enthusiastic part in the rising of his country againstNapoleon, inditing as many battle-songs as Korner. When victory wasachieved, he dedicated his sword in the church of Neunhausen wherehis estate lay. He lived there, with his beloved wife and his imagination,till his death in 1843.