In the year 1284, a peculiar tale unfolded within the town of Hamelin. Plagued by a relentless rat infestation, the town’s residents were desperate for a solution. It was during this challenging time that a unique character emerged, a piper adorned in a vibrant array of clothing, often referred to as “pied.” This piper confidently declared himself a rat-catcher and presented a promise to the mayor – a promise that would alleviate their rodent predicament. The mayor, in return, pledged a substantial reward of 1,000 guilders for the successful removal of the rats.
With the deal struck, the piper set his melodious tune in motion, leading the rats in droves towards the Weser River. There, the rats met their watery demise, and the town was relieved of their furry tormentors.
Despite the piper’s triumph, a shocking twist unfolded. The mayor, perhaps driven by greed or distrust, reneged on his commitment and chose to withhold the agreed-upon payment. The sum, once promised to be 1,000 guilders, was unjustly reduced to a mere 50 guilders. In an audacious turn of events, the mayor even went so far as to lay blame upon the piper for orchestrating the rat invasion himself, suggesting an extortion scheme.
Infuriated by this betrayal, the piper left the town with a seething vow to seek retribution. His return came on Saint John and Paul’s day, a time when the town’s adults were attending church. Clad in the attire of a forest hunter, dressed in vivid green, and wielding his entrancing pipe, the piper’s tune once again filled the air. But this time, it was not rats that he lured; it was the town’s unsuspecting children.
A haunting procession unfolded as one hundred and thirty children followed the pied piper, leaving behind their families and familiar streets. These young souls ventured into a mysterious cave, vanishing from the sight of their loved ones forever. Depending on the various versions of the story, a few children remained behind due to their physical limitations – one was lame, another deaf, and the last blind. These remaining children later emerged from church and shared the chilling account of what transpired.
Alternate renditions of the tale take the children to the summit of Koppelberg Hill or even to distant lands like Transylvania. Some versions narrate that the piper led the children into the Weser River, mirroring the fate of the rats. In certain tellings, the piper only returned the children after the town paid an exorbitant sum in gold, while others claim that the children were never seen again.
The story’s enigmatic thread winds through the streets of Hamelin, particularly in a lane known as Bungelosenstrasse, or the “street without drums.” Legends claim that this is where the children were last sighted, leading to a prohibition of music and dance on this very street.
The earliest reference to this tale can be traced back to a stained-glass window installed in the Church of Hamelin around 1300. Accounts describing the window’s details emerged over the centuries, even though the original window was destroyed in 1660. Notably, historian Hans Dobbertin meticulously reconstructed the window based on these historical accounts. This recreated window features the iconic figure of the pied piper and young children garbed in white.
Interpreted as a commemoration of a tragic event in the town’s history, this stained-glass window is a poignant reminder of the past. It is believed that Hamelin’s town records commence with this pivotal event. The earliest written mention dates back to 1384, noting, “It is 100 years since our children left.”
For centuries, scholars and researchers have delved into this perplexing tale, attempting to unearth the truth behind the events. Despite their efforts, no universally accepted explanation for the historical occurrence has emerged. It’s worth noting that the inclusion of rats in the story is a later addition, absent from earlier renditions that have been documented.