Hans von Trotha

Hans von Trotha, also known as Hans Trapp (c. 1450 – 1503), 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.

Family Hans von Trotha was born into the aristocratic Trotha family who came from the area of the present-day county of Saalekreis, and was the fourth son of the Archbishop of Magdeburg's marshal, Thilo von Trotha. He was probably born in the mid-15th century in Krosigk (today in Saxony-Anhalt). His exact date of birth is not known, but he was the younger brother of Thilo von Trotha, the Bishop of Merseburg who was born in 1443.

Hans only had one son, Christoph, who succeeded his father as the lord of Berwartstein Castle. Because Christoph had no male issue, the line was extinguished upon his death in 1545 and the estate went to his son-in-law from the Alsatian House of Fleckenstein. 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 StarnehimmelUn bringt da Kinder a Ruada,Wu net dien singe un bata.Schoi, Hans Trapp, mir sin so kleinUn 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 SternenhimmelUnd bringt den Kindern eine Rute,Die nicht tun singen und beten.Schau, Hans Trapp, wir sind so kleinUnd 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 hatAnd a beard white like a roan.He comes from the beautiful starry skyAnd brings children a rodWho do not do singing and praying.Look, Hans Trapp, we are so smallAnd good and obedient at home.Shouldn't come with your stickBecause we can sing and pray too.