[2] Within German folklore, Störtebecker is a legendary figure similar to Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to help the poor, and amassing and hiding great treasure.

The moniker refers to the pirate's supposed ability to empty a four-litre (about 1 US gal) mug of beer in one gulp.

Störtebeker entered public consciousness around 1398, after the expulsion of the Victual Brothers from the Baltic Sea island of Gotland, where they had set up a stronghold and headquarters in the town of Visby.

During the following years, Störtebeker and some of his fellow captains (the most famous of whom were Gödeke Michels, Hennig Wichmann and Magister Wigbold) captured Hanseatic ships, irrespective of their origin.

Legend says that Störtebeker offered a chain of gold long enough to enclose the whole of Hamburg in exchange for his life and freedom.

Following the granting of this request and the subsequent beheading, Störtebeker's body arose and walked past eleven of his men before the executioner tripped him with an outstretched foot.

In fact, the Hanseatic fleet that attacked Störtebeker was commanded by Hermann Langhe (also Lange) and Nikolaus Schoke (Nicoalus Schocke), who set sail for Heligoland in August 1400, and the course of the battle is not described by any reliable sources.

An etching made by fifteenth century German artist Daniel Hopfer, often erroneously identified as a portrait of Klaus Störtebeker, is actually of Kunz von der Rosen (1470–1519), court jester of Emperor Maximilian I.