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The King of the Golden Mountain facts for kids

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The King of the Golden Mountain
GrimmsGoblins-114-TheKingOfTheGoldenMountain.jpg
1876 illustration by George Cruikshank
Folk tale
Name The King of the Golden Mountain
Data
Aarne–Thompson grouping ATU 810
Country Germany
Published in Grimm's Fairy Tales

The King of the Golden Mountain (which is Der König vom goldenen Berg in German) is a classic fairy tale from Germany. It was collected by the famous Brothers Grimm and published in their well-known book, Grimms' Fairy Tales. This story is number 92 in their collection.

The main version of this tale was first heard from a soldier. It shares themes with other popular stories, like enchanted princesses and magic items.

The Story of the Golden Mountain King

The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm (1916) (14596040220)
A father and son talk with the mysterious black man, illustrated by Arthur Rackham, 1916

The story begins with a rich merchant who lost almost everything he owned. He only had one field left. One day, while walking in his field, he met a small, dark man. This man promised to make the merchant rich again.

A Strange Promise and a Son's Fate

The dwarf had one condition: in twelve years, the merchant had to give him the first thing that touched his leg when he got home. The merchant agreed to this strange deal. When he arrived home, his young son ran up and rubbed against his leg. The merchant became very sad, realizing what he had promised.

He found a lot of money in his attic, just as the dwarf had said. Twelve years later, the merchant grew sad again as the time for the promise drew near. His son learned about the deal. He bravely told his father that the dwarf had no power over him. The son then went to a priest to be blessed. After that, he went to meet the black man.

A Journey to a New World

The dwarf finally agreed to a different plan. The boy would be put into a small boat and pushed out into the water. The boat carried him far away to a new shore. There, he met a snake. This snake was actually a transformed princess.

The princess told him that she could be freed from her snake form. To do this, he had to let twelve black men beat him for three nights. The brave young man agreed. He endured the beatings, and the princess was finally freed.

Becoming a King and a Family

The princess married the young man, and he became the King of the Golden Mountain. In time, they had a son. When their son was seven years old, the king wanted to visit his own parents. His wife, the queen, felt that this trip would bring trouble.

However, she gave him a magic ring. This ring could wish him to his parents and back again. She warned him not to wish her to come with him. The king traveled to his old town. To enter, he had to change his royal clothes for a simple shepherd's outfit.

A King's Mistake and a Queen's Return

First, he had to convince his parents that he was truly their son. Then, he tried to tell them he was a king, but they did not believe him. Feeling frustrated, the king wished his wife and son were with him.

When he fell asleep, his wife took the magic ring. She wished herself and their son back to the Golden Mountain. The king woke up alone and had to walk a long way.

Magic Objects and a Hero's Return

Eventually, he found three giants arguing. They were fighting over their inheritance. These were a magic sword, a cloak of invisibility, and boots that could take the wearer anywhere.

The sword could cut off all heads except the owner's if commanded. The cloak made him invisible. The boots allowed instant travel. The king tricked the giants into letting him try the items. He used them to return to the Golden Mountain.

Reclaiming the Throne

When he arrived, his wife was about to marry another man. At the wedding feast, the king used his cloak to become invisible. He took all the food and wine away from the banquet table. The queen could not enjoy anything.

Dismayed, the queen ran to her room. The king then revealed himself to her. He reminded her of her betrayal. He then went back to the hall and told the guests the wedding was off. He declared himself the rightful ruler and asked everyone to leave. When they refused and tried to grab him, the king used his magic sword. All the other heads rolled off. He had now taken back his place as the King of the Golden Mountain.

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