The Story of “The Twelve Huntsmen”
There was once a Prince, who was betrothed to a Maiden, the daughter of a King, whom he loved very much. One day when they were together, and very happy, a messenger came from the Prince’s father, who was lying ill, to summon him home as he wished to see him before he died. He said to his beloved, ‘I must go away, and leave you now; but I give you this ring as a keepsake. When I am King, I will come and fetch you away.’
Then he rode off, and when he got home he found his father on his death-bed. His father said, ‘My dear son, I wanted to see you once more before I die. Promise to marry the bride I have chosen for you,’ and he named a certain Princess.
His son was very sad, and without reflecting promised to do what his father wished, and thereupon the King closed his eyes and died.
Now, when the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the period of mourning was past, the time came when he had to keep his promise to his father. He made his offer to the Princess, and it was accepted. His betrothed heard of this, and grieved so much over his faithlessness that she very nearly died. The King her father asked, ‘Dear child, why are you so sad? You shall have whatever you desire.’
She thought for a moment, then said, ‘Dear father, I want eleven maidens all exactly like me in face, figure, and height.’
The King said, ‘If it is possible, your wish shall be fulfilled.’
Then he caused a search to be made all over his kingdom, till the eleven maidens were found, all exactly like his daughter. The Princess ordered twelve huntsmen’s dresses to be made, which she commanded the maidens to wear, putting on the twelfth herself. Then she took leave of her father, and rode away with the maidens to the court of her former bridegroom whom she loved so dearly. She asked him if he wanted any Huntsmen, and whether he would take them all into his service. The King did not recognise her, but, as they were all so handsome, he said Yes, he would engage them. So they all entered the King’s service.
Now, the King had a Lion which was a wonderful creature, for he knew all secret and hidden things. He said to the King one evening, ‘You fancy you have twelve Huntsmen there, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ said the King.
‘You are mistaken,’ said the Lion. ‘They are twelve maidens.’
The King answered, ‘That can’t be true! How can you prove it?’
‘Oh, have some peas strewn in your ante-room to-morrow, and you will soon see. Men have a firm tread, and when they walk on peas they don’t move; but maidens trip and trot and slide, and make the peas roll about.’
The King was pleased with the Lion’s advice, and ordered the peas to be strewn on the floor.
There was, however, a servant of the King who favoured the Huntsmen, and when he heard that they were to be put to this test, he went and told them all about it, and said, ‘The Lion is going to prove to the King that you are maidens.’
The Princess thanked him, and said afterwards to her maidens, ‘Do your utmost to tread firmly on the peas.’
Next morning, when the King ordered them to be called, they walked into the ante-chamber with so firm a tread that not a pea moved When they had gone away, the King said to the Lion, ‘You lied; they walked just like men.’
But the Lion answered, ‘They had been warned of the test, and were prepared for it. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber, and they will be delighted at the sight, as no man would be.’
This plan also pleased the King, and he ordered the spinning wheels. But again the kind servant warned the Huntsmen of the plan. When they were alone, the Princess said to her maidens, ‘Control yourselves, and don’t so much as look at the spinning-wheels.’
When the King next morning sent for the Huntsmen, they walked through the ante-chamber without even glancing at the spinning-wheels.
Then the King said to the Lion, ‘You lied tome. They are men; they never looked at the spinning-wheels.’
The Lion answered, ‘They knew that they were on their trial, and restrained themselves.’
But the King would not believe him any more.
The twelve Huntsmen always went with the King on his hunting expeditions, and the longer he had them, the better he liked them. Now, it happened one day when they were out hunting, that the news came of the royal bride’s approach.
When the true bride heard it, the shock was so great that her heart nearly stopped, and she fell down in a dead faint. The King, thinking something had happened to his favourite Huntsman, ran to help him, and pulled off his glove. Then he saw the ring which he had given to his first betrothed, and when he looked her in the face he recognised her. He was so moved that he kissed her, and when she opened her eyes he said, ‘Thou art mine, and I am thine, and nobody in the world shall separate us.’
Then he sent a messenger to the other bride, and begged her to go home, as he already had a wife, and he who has an old dish does not need a new one. Their marriage was then celebrated, and the Lion was taken into favour again, as, after all, he had spoken the truth.
The Story of “The Twelve Huntsmen”
– Grimm’s Fairy Tales –
The Meaningful Lessons from the Grimm Fairy Tale “The Twelve Huntsmen”
“The Twelve Huntsmen” is a Grimm fairy tale that conveys profound lessons about love, loyalty, and wisdom in facing challenges and choosing one’s fate. The story tells of a princess whose fiancé breaks his promise to marry her because of a vow to his dying father. Yet instead of giving in to despair, she disguises herself as a huntsman and embarks on a quiet quest to reclaim the heart of her beloved.
The story takes readers on a journey full of surprises, using simple yet symbolic details like walking across peas or resisting the lure of spinning wheels. Beneath its magical and fantastical surface lie timeless messages about human nature and personal values.
So what makes “The Twelve Huntsmen” such a memorable and thought-provoking tale? Let’s explore the meaningful lessons this classic Grimm fairy tale has to offer.
1. True love can overcome all trials
The story begins with a beautiful romance that quickly turns bitter when the prince, bound by a promise to his dying father, becomes engaged to another woman. Just when it seems that love has come to an end, the princess’s steadfastness and loyalty begin to shine.
Instead of surrendering, she actively seeks to reclaim her happiness. Not through tears or blame, but through intelligence, patience, and quiet courage. She disguises herself as a huntsman, enters the palace, and faces many hidden trials — all to protect the love she believes in.
“The Twelve Huntsmen” shows that true love is not effortless. It must be tested and strengthened by hardships. And when hearts still long for each other, even distance and misunderstanding cannot extinguish the flame of true affection.
2. A woman’s wisdom and quiet strength
A remarkable feature of this Grimm fairy tale is the proactive role of the female protagonist. The princess does not simply wait for fate to rescue her. Instead, she devises her own plan, chooses companions who resemble her, and cleverly overcomes the challenges set by the lion.
Whether walking steadily across a floor covered in peas or ignoring the spinning wheels, her actions reflect quiet strength and thoughtful restraint. She relies not only on emotion, but on intellect and subtle strategy to protect what she holds dear.
3. Responsibility and the weight of promises
The story also explores the ethics of promises and personal responsibility. The prince, in his effort to honor his father’s dying wish, unintentionally breaks the heart of the woman he loves. Though his choice is rooted in filial piety, it still causes pain.
It is only when he recognizes the loyal huntsman as his former bride that he truly confronts his own feelings and makes the right decision. “The Twelve Huntsmen” does not harshly condemn him, but gently reminds us of the importance of staying true to one’s heart rather than following duty alone.
Conclusion
“The Twelve Huntsmen” may not be among the longest or most famous Grimm fairy tales, but it holds layers of meaning about love, responsibility, intelligence, and quiet perseverance. Through disguise, patience, and unwavering belief in her cause, the heroine reminds us that happiness is not simply granted, it blossoms from faith, patience, and the quiet courage to follow one’s heart.
💡 Main Lesson of the Story: True love requires patience, loyalty, and quiet perseverance. When we stay true to our hearts, even lost love can find its way back.