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Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter

 German folk song celebrating the conquest of Belgrade

Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter (Prince Eugene, the Noble Knight) is a German folk song praising the victory of Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1717 during the Austro-Turkish War of 1716–1718.

The song is a stirring description of the Siege of Belgrade (1717). 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 Mohammedans during the Battle of Belgrade. They recovered the city for the Holy Roman Empire and made the Muslims and heathens flee.

The original song has nine verses – the recording only sings verses 1, 3, 4, 8, and 9, which are found below in navy font. We have included all the verses here for the enjoyment of our readers.

Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter is interpreted here by Erich Kunz.



Listen to Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter

Lyrics:

1. 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 d’r Armee wohl vor die Stadt. :||


2. 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. :||

3. Am einundzwanzigsten August so eben
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. :||

4. 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. :||


5. 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. :||

6. 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 :||

7. 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. :||

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

9. Prinz Ludwig, 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. :||





English translation:

1. 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
To the city with the army. :||

2. When the bridge was built
And the cannon and wagons
Were transported across the Danube,
||: They set up camp at Semlin,
In order to drive all the Turks away,
To their shame and vexation. :||

3. On exactly the 21st of August,
A spy came through wind and rain.
He renewed his oath of loyalty and told him
||: That the Turks were looking for food supplies.
They were so many that one could estimate
That they were up to three hundred thousand. :||

4. As soon as Prince Eugene learnt this,
He gathered right away
His generals and field-marshals.
||: He instructed them
How the troops should be maneuvered
And how they should attack the enemy properly. :||

5. He gave the order and made a password.
When the twelve chimes of midnight would strike,
At the stroke of twelve o'clock,
||: They should all mount their horse
And start to attack the enemy
Who were still quite strong. :||

6. [At the hour] All mounted immediately,
Each one unsheathed his sword
And left the camp without saying a word.
||: The musketeers and knights
Fought valiantly.
It was really a beautiful dance :||

7. 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. :||

8. Prince Eugene attacked on the right flank
And fought like a lion,
As did the general and the field-marshal.
||: Prince Ludwig rode to and fro, crying out:
Fight bravely, German brothers,
Attack the enemy with all your heart! :||

9. Prince Ludwig breathed his last,
He had to give up his young life.
He was shot by a lead bullet.
||: Prince Eugene was distressed,
Because he loved him so much.
He had him carried to Peterwardein. :||





For a high resolution PDF version, click here.



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Prinz Eugen
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