Eppelein von Gailingen, latinized as Apollonius von Gailingen (born c. 1315 in Illesheim,

Middle Franconia Middle Franconia (german: Mittelfranken, ) is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the west of Bavaria and borders the state of Baden-Württemberg. The administrative seat is Ansbach; however, ...

; died 15 May 1381 in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz) was a famous

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

robber baron in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

Life

Von Gailingen's date of birth is not confirmed, different sources name dates between 1300 and 1330. Starting in the 1360s he robbed merchant vehicles traveling to and from the rich merchant town of

Nuremberg Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...

. In 1369, he was indicted for his robberies by the Court of Nuremberg which declared the

imperial ban The imperial ban (german: Reichsacht) was a form of outlawry in the Holy Roman Empire. At different times, it could be declared by the Holy Roman Emperor, by the Imperial Diet, or by courts like the League of the Holy Court (''Vehmgericht'') or th ...

on him. When his castle was destroyed in 1372 Eppelein first escaped but was betrayed shortly after and captured at Forchheim. He was sentenced to death by hanging in

As legend tells it, when the day of the hanging came his final wish was to sit on his horse for one last time. Since the execution took place inside

Nuremberg Castle Nuremberg Castle (german: Nürnberger Burg) is a group of medieval fortified buildings on a sandstone ridge dominating the historical center of Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany. The castle, together with the city walls, is considered to be one ...

, the wish was granted. Eppelein took the opportunity to escape by galloping to the wall and forcing his horse to jump above it into the moat. On his flight from Nuremberg, he was met by a peasant who wanted to witness the execution of the famous robber baron and asked him if he would be in time to see the hanging. Eppelein's purportedly responded, "The Nurembergians will hang nobody - if they hadn't him before" ("''Die Nürnberger hängen keinen – sie hätten ihn denn zuvor!''"). In 1381 he was caught together with his men at a drinking feast in

Postbauer-Heng Postbauer-Heng is a municipality in the district of Neumarkt in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russi ...

and executed by

breaking wheel The breaking wheel or execution wheel, also known as the Wheel of Catherine or simply the Wheel, was a torture method used for public execution primarily in Europe from antiquity through the Middle Ages into the early modern period by breakin ...

Aftermath

The jump from the walls of Nuremberg Castle was an exciting incident at that time. In the 16th century, the first

folk songs Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has be ...

were recorded about him and gradually he became a legendary

romantic hero The Romantic hero is a literary archetype referring to a character that rejects established norms and conventions, has been rejected by society, and has themselves at the center of their own existence. The Romantic hero is often the protagonist in ...

. This was supported by the fact that 50 years after Eppelein's jump the walls were destroyed and rebuilt much more massive than before. Today markings are shown on the castle wall as remains of the jump. 1310 births 1381 deaths 14th-century executions Executed people from Bavaria Criminals from Bavaria German outlaws People executed by breaking wheel People executed for robbery People executed by Germany People from Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim People of medieval Bavaria {{Germany-crime-bio-stub