Martin Krpan
Martin Krpan is a fictional character created based on the Inner Carniolan oral tradition[1] by the 19th-century Slovene writer Fran Levstik in the short story Martin Krpan from Vrh pri Sveti Trojici (Template:Langx). Published in 1858 in the literary journal, Slovenski glasnik, the story's popularity led it to become a part of Slovene folklore and made its lead character a folk hero.[2]
The story
A Slovene subject of the Habsburg Empire and one of the strongest men in it, Martin Krpan hails from a fictional village in Inner Carniola, Hilltop by the Holy Trinity [church] (Script error: No such module "Lang".). A smuggler by profession, he makes a living by illegally transporting "English salt" (perhaps a euphemism for a constituent of gunpowder, a laxative, or a smelling salt[nb 1]). With the help of his loyal, diminutive mare, they transport the "salt" from the Adriatic coast throughout the Slovene Lands and Inner Austria. On one of his trips, after Krpan meets the imperial carriage on a snowbound road and makes way for it by simply picking up his laden horse and moving it aside, his extraordinary strength is noted by Emperor John (Script error: No such module "Lang".). Several years later, the Emperor summons Krpan to Vienna as his last hope against Brdaus (Template:Langx), a brutal warrior who has set up camp outside the imperial capital and issued a challenge to single combat, and has already slain most of the city's knights, including the Crown Prince. Reluctantly, Krpan accepts the challenge, scandalizing the court with his uncouthness, honesty and homespun manner before defeating the brute in a duel by using not only his strength but an unexpected reserve of ingenuity. In gratitude, the Emperor bestows him with a pouch of gold pieces and a royal license to legally traffic "English salt," as well as an offer of his daughter's hand in marriage.[4]
Figural representations
The story of Martin Krpan as rendered by Levstik in his epic story was first illustrated in 1917 by Hinko Smrekar. Today, Smrekar's illustrations are mainly known from the images on tarot playing cards.
In 1954, the expressionist painter Tone Kralj created a series of large full-page color illustrations of the story. His picture book, reprinted thirteen times, is now the most recognisable image of Martin Krpan.[5]
Krpan is often depicted carrying his mare, a reference to in an iconic scene from the story in which he moves his horse to make way for the imperial carriage.
Translation in foreign languages
- English: Martin Krpan, 2014 Template:ISBN
- Martin Krpan (picture book), 2017 Template:ISBN
- Esperanto: Martin Krpan z Vrha, 1954 Template:Catalog lookup link
- Croatian: Martin Krpan, 1986 Template:Catalog lookup link
- Italian: Martin Krpan, 1983 Template:Catalog lookup link
- Hungarian: Martin Krpan, 1963 Template:Catalog lookup link
- Macedonian: Martin Krpan, 1965 Template:Catalog lookup link
- German: Martín Krpán, 2004 Template:ISBN
- Russian: Martin Krpan : slovenskaja narodnaja povest, 2011 Template:ISBN
- Slovak: Martin Krpan z Vrhcu, 1950 Template:Catalog lookup link
- Serbian: Martin Krpan, 1962 Template:Catalog lookup link
- Belarusian. Marcin Krpan, 1982 Template:Catalog lookup link
- Swedish: Martin Krpan från Vrh, 2004 Template:ISBN
- Multilingual: Martin Krpan, 2015 Template:ISBN
Notes
- ↑ The exact nature of this substance is a matter of dispute: it might have been potassium nitrate (saltpeter), magnesium sulfate or ammonium carbonate.[3]
References
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- ↑ Ambivalent Dealings with an Imperial Past: The Habsburg Legacy and New Nationhood in ex-Yugoslavia
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Amonijak Template:In lang
- ↑ Martin Krpan - In Slovenian Post's stamps
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links
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- Martin Kerpan z Verha. The original story published in Slovenski glasnik (1858).
- Martin Krpan - summary of the story