Georg Sturmfeder witnesses the events during the struggle of Ulrich von Württemberg against the Swabian League under Georg, Truchsess von Waldburg-Zeil, who plays the part of foil to the positively-depicted Georg von Frundsberg. Hauff idealizes Ulrich as a wronged man, who, in his moment of need, is restored to his rights through the efforts of his people, symbolized by the character of the Piper of Hardt. The historical Ulrich is remembered largely for his exorbitant taxes on meat, wine and fruit, which provoked the Armer Konrad peasant uprising of 1514, quelled only with the help of his enemy the Steward of Waldburg-Zeil.
