Krabat

Krabat (German: [ˈkʁaːbat] ⓘ) is a character in Sorbian folklore, also dubbed the "Wendish Faust".

First records of him were mentioned in 1839 minutes of the Akademischen Vereins für lausitzische Geschichte und Sprache, but all writings of the association were lost.

The character developed from an evil sorcerer into a folk hero and beneficial trickster in the course of the 19th century.

A thorough research of various historical documents established that Krabat was in fact Janko Šajatović (1624–1704), a Croat (Crabat) cavalry commander from Žumberak who came to the north of Germany in 1658 to defend the borders of Christian Europe.

[2] The folk tale is centered around the area of Lusatia,[3] most notably the settlement of Čorny Chołmc (Schwarzkollm), which today is a district of the city of Hoyerswerda, where Krabat is said to have learned his sorcerous powers.