“The ancient Barbarossa, Friedrich, the Kaiser great, Within the castle-cavern Sits in an enchanted state.” “Der alte Barbarossa, Der Kaiser Friedrich, Im unterird′schen Schlosse Hält er verzaubert sich.” So begins the poem “The Great Barbarossa” by Friedrich Ruckert. Say those words out loud near Germans of a certain age, and they will recite the legend of the great king back…
