image author: Peter Friedel (1801)@wikimedia.org

With its in 1807/08 originated and first time performed 1810 in Vienna drama in five acts 'Das Käthchen von Heilbronn or the Feuerprobe' the poet Heinrich von Kleist (1777 - 1811) produced one of his most successful plays. It unites a fill of fairytale and romantic motives with elements of the historical knight's play in a rather colourful and emotional plot.

image author: Helmut Schmolz, Hubert Weckbach@wikimedia.org

For a long time, Lisette Kornacher, daughter of the last mayor of the Reichs-town Heilbronn, was considered as the archetype of Kleist's Käthchen. But new research showed that this honour - if at all - is due to the Heilbronner merchant daughter Charlotte Elisabethe Zobel (1774 - 1806).
Until today it is not quite clear what Kleist really prompted to set his 'Käthchen'-play in Heilbronn.