The Hard-Hearted Countess

High up in a castle near Weingarten, there once lived a powerful count whom the people reverently called „Lord Isenbard.“ He was strict but just, and the people of the Schussengau region appreciated him for it. But his wife, Countess Irmentrud, was proud and had a heart as hard as a frozen lake in winter.

One day a poor woman came to the castle. Her dress was torn and her children clung timidly to her skirts. „Madam,“ she begged the countess imploringly, „please give us some bread. My children haven’t had a proper meal for days.“

But Irmentrud just looked at the poor woman with cold eyes. „Why do you have so many children if you can’t feed them?“ she scolded. The poor woman lowered her head sadly, but then she looked at the countess and spoke in a trembling voice: „As true as I live, I wish that one day you will have twelve children at once!“

The countess just laughed mockingly, but the woman’s words remained like a small shadow in her heart.

The Twelve Brothers

Some time later, something happened that no one had expected. The countess actually gave birth to twelve children at once — twelve tiny boys with rosy cheeks and golden curls. This should have been a cause for celebration, but at that time people thought so many babies at once couldn’t mean anything good.

Irmentrud became frightened. What would the count say? What would people say? The countess called her maid to her. „Take a large basket,“ she ordered, „and place eleven of the boys in it. Carry them to the river and drown them. The twelfth will stay here — he alone will be the count’s heir.“

The maid was shocked. Throw eleven defenseless children into the river? Her heart sank. But she didn’t dare to contradict the countess. So, she did as she was told, carefully placed the eleven brothers in the basket and sneaked out of the castle.

The Count Discovers the Truth

On the way to the river the maid ran sobbing through the forest. The birds chirped happily as if nothing had happened, but the maid felt as if her heart was breaking.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of hooves behind her. The count rode out of the forest on his magnificent horse. „What are you carrying, girl?“ he asked kindly.

The maid was so frightened that she could barely speak. „Nothing special, sir… just… eleven puppies. The countess wants me to drown them in the river because she doesn’t like the barking.“

The count frowned. „Let me see.“ Trembling, the maid lifted the lid of the basket. When the count saw the tiny babies his face turned as hard as stone. „Tell me the truth, girl,“ he said in a low, dangerous voice.

Then the maid burst into tears and told him everything. The count was silent for a while, then he said, „You will tell the countess that you have carried out her orders. But I will save the children.“

He took the basket and secretly brought the eleven brothers to a miller’s family who lived far from the castle.

A Great Feast and a Secret

Years passed and the eleven boys grew up to be cheerful, strong children in the miller’s care. They didn’t know that they were actually the sons of a count.

One day the count invited everyone to a great feast at his castle. All the noble people came and there was delicious food and music. During the feast the count suddenly told a story:

„Imagine, there once lived a mother who was so cruel that she had her own children thrown into the water like puppies. What punishment do you think such a mother deserves?“

The guests murmured indignantly and the countess turned pale. Finally, she said, trembling: „Such a mother deserves death.“

Then the great door opened, and eleven handsome boys entered the hall with the miller. Everyone fell silent in amazement.

„These are your sons,“ the count said firmly to his wife „and that is the truth you wanted to hide from me.“

The Guelphs

The countess fell to her knees and wept bitterly. „Forgive me!“ she begged.

The guests watched the scene in silence. Finally, the eleven brothers stepped forward and begged their father to forgive their mother.

After a long moment the count nodded. „Your mother shall live“ he said. „But everyone shall know what she did, so that no one repeats her mistakes.“

From that day on the brothers were called „the Guelphs“ and they became a strong and proud family. The countess regretted her actions and strove to be a better mother.

And so, the story of the Guelphs remained in people’s memories not only because of the brothers but also because of the message: honesty and forgiveness are stronger than any mistake.