Story Summary
Explore the chilling German legend of The Rattenfanger. When Hamelin breaks a promise to a mysterious piper, he leads their children away into the mountains.
In the year 1284, the town of Hamelin suffered a horrific infestation of rats that threatened to consume every scrap of grain. A stranger appeared, dressed in a coat of many-colored cloth, claiming to be a master rat-catcher. He promised the mayor he could rid the town of every rodent for a specific fee. The mayor greedily agreed. The stranger took out a wooden pipe and played a haunting melody. As he walked through the streets, every rat emerged from the houses and followed him into the River Weser, where they all drowned. However, once the rats were gone, the townspeople refused to pay the promised sum, mocking the piper. He left in a silent rage, only to return on the feast of Saints John and Paul. Dressed as a hunter, he played a new, even more enchanting tune. This time, it was not rats that followed him, but the children of Hamelin. One hundred and thirty boys and girls followed his music out of the town gates and into a cavern in the mountainside. The mountain sealed shut behind them, and they were never seen again. Only three children remained: one who was lame and couldn't keep up, one who was deaf and couldn't hear the music, and one who was blind and lost his way—left behind to tell the grieving parents where their children had gone.
The Moral
Always honor your promises and pay what is owed, for the cost of a broken vow may be far greater than the debt itself.
“A promise is a debt that must be paid, lest the piper call a tune you cannot bear.”
Fun Fact
The earliest record of this story is a stained-glass window in the Church of Hamelin dating to 1300; though the window was destroyed in 1660, descriptions of it still exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Rattenfanger?
The story serves as a stern warning against greed and the betrayal of trust. It illustrates that failing to keep a promise can result in a loss that no amount of gold can replace.
Is The Rattenfanger based on a true story?
Historians believe it is based on a real event from 1284 involving the mass disappearance of Hamelin's youth. Theories range from a tragic accident or plague to a massive migration of young people to colonize Eastern Europe.
Where does the story of the Pied Piper take place?
The legend is set in the town of Hameln (Hamelin) in Lower Saxony, Germany. To this day, the town maintains a law that no music may be played on the street where the children were last seen.
What does the name Rattenfanger mean?
Rattenfänger is a German word that literally translates to 'Rat-catcher.' It describes the Piper's original profession before he took his revenge on the town.
How many children disappeared in the legend?
Traditional accounts, including the earliest inscriptions in the town of Hamelin, state that exactly 130 children followed the Piper into the mountain and vanished forever.
Who wrote the most famous version of the story?
While it is an ancient folk legend, it was famously recorded by the Brothers Grimm in their collection of German sagas and later adapted into a famous poem by Robert Browning.