“Jurg Yenach” Meyer in brief summary


At the time of the Thirty Years’ War in Graubünden, a century ago joined Valtellin, the head of the Catholic party, the influential patrician Pompeo Plant, was convicted of collusion with Austria-Spain. With the assistance of the young Protestant pastor Yurga Yonacha, the court sentences Plant to exile and deprives civil and property rights.

Former classmate Yurga Ynana Henrik Vaser makes sketches in the Julius Pass of Graubünden. Now this is a clever and well-intentioned Zurich protocolist with great hopes for the future. Unexpectedly, he meets Pompeo Planta with his daughter Lucretia. Jürg Enach, the son of a poor shepherd from Charans, and Lucretia grew up together, from childhood she chose him as her protector, feeling affection for him. While Pompeo Planta is conversing with Wazer, the girl secretly writes Enacha on the sketch of the protocolist of the warning word about impending disaster,

On the way to the Valtelline Berbenn, where Jurg Yenach preaches,

Vazer is not allowed to spend the night in one of the farmsteads. Wanting to know the reason, he peeps out the window, watching the old woman. She scolds the silly boy Agostino, afraid to entrust him a parcel. Taking advantage of the situation, Vaser offers his services and spends the night in his room. Involuntarily, he witnesses a conversation between Pompeo Plant and the hired killer Robustelli, from where he learns of the impending assassination of Yenin.

In the morning, Vazer goes with Agostino. A fanatically-minded boy says that the old woman ordered him to kill his sister, but Henry does not take seriously the words of a fool.

On arrival, Vazer was greeted by Jurg and his wife Lucia, a woman of perfect beauty and devotion. Her Valtellian cousins-Catholics are dissatisfied with the fact that she married a Protestant. Enach, explaining cruelty to a friend in relation to the Catholic clergy, speaks about the inevitability of the victims. He is a man of unbridled will, bold to despair and boundlessly proud, devoted to the heart of Graubunden. Noticing Vazer’s excitement, the pastor, putting a knife

to his throat, makes us tell about the attempted attempt.

Enach, accompanied by Vazer, tries unsuccessfully to penetrate the border Spanish fortress Fuentes. Then they visit the French Duke Henry Rogan, who is resting near Lake Como on his way to Venice. The former leader of the Huguenots in internal dissension is now commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu to guard France’s interests in political intrigue against Austria-Spain. Enach talks with the duke over the military map, revealing a fine knowledge of topography, Rogan, agreeing with the ardent statements of the pastor, observes that the military-political and spiritual authority should not be combined in one person.

On the way back to Ynacha and Vazer, news of the rebellion of Catholics comes. Jurga decides to remove the spiritual vestments, since “Graubunden needs a sword”.

The people besiege the pastoral house, in which the Protestant brethren, led by Enach, are. While Jurg is contemplating how to cross from Valtellina, the fanatic Agostino, shooting through the window, kills his sister Lucia. Enach with a sword in his right hand, carrying on his left wife, appears on the threshold of a burning house, rage and thirst for revenge rage in his soul.

The massacres in Berbenn are only one of the manifestations of strife, the instigator of which is Planta. The Spaniards come from Fuentes and occupy the military by Valtellin.

Enach, who became the leader of the People’s Party, besieged Plant Castle – Ridberg. After breaking into Rydberg, the avengers find Pompeo, hiding in the chimney of the fireplace, and severely deal with him, hacking with an ax. The old servant Auke hides the bloodied murder weapon, predicting retribution. Jurg is fighting against the Spanish and Austrian conquerors, his tales of courage and valor are made up of legends. They call him “Graubunden Tell”. But the resistance is suppressed by the superior forces of the usurpers.

Zurich, fearing Austria, takes the position of non-interference. Vazer, who earned respect, quickly moves up the career ladder, he is entrusted with resolving political issues with Graubunden.

Once Jurg Yenach asks Vazer for a night’s rest, here “Graubunden Tell” decides to leave his homeland and enter the German army.

He fights in Germany, then under Swedish banners and eventually moves to the service of the Venetian Republic. Managing affairs in Dolmatia, Enach proves to be a brave and talented warrior. Jurg is in correspondence with Rogan, considering the plans for the liberation of Graubunden.

The Venetian politician Grimani is interested in eliminating Yenach, as he feels in him a dangerous force capable of stirring up a rebellion in Graubunden.

But Enach voluntarily leaves Dolmatia and goes to Venice. He intercedes for the child, crushed by a drunk colonel rushing on a horse, and kills the offender in a duel.

In the Venetian cathedral there is a meeting of Duke Rogan and Yenach. Calling for the liberation of the homeland, Jurgus depicts an allegory: identifying himself with George the Victorious, he likens France to the Cappadocian princess, and Spain to the dragon. Duke, appreciating the openness and purposefulness of Yenacha, agrees to negotiate.

Lucretia finds shelter in her uncle in Milan. Cousin Rudolf unsuccessfully tries to achieve her favor. Once, in a friendly duty, he helped the nephew of the viceroy, Serbelloni, to enter the chambers of Lucrezia. But the girl stands up for her defense and injures Serbeloni. After that she allows to return to her homeland.

Arriving in Venice, Lucretia appeals to the duchess, and then to Rogan with a request to allow retribution for his father. Enach, who accidentally heard the pleas of Plant’s daughter, gives herself into her hands. Lucretia must decide who owns the life of Ehnacha – her or Graubunden. Despite Yurga’s nobility, she can not make peace. Rogan decides to take Echin to his service. But Grimani condemns the former pastor for killing the colonel. The Duke intercedes for Yenacha. Received the nickname “Cassandra” Grimani predicts the future fate of Rogan, pointing to the immense ambition Echin. Not understanding the venomian’s vision, Rogan insists on the release of Yurga. Jurg becomes an approximate Rogan, acting in Graubünden against the Spanish dominance. The Spaniards seize Yenacha, but, in order to make sure that this is really him, ask the local people to identify the prisoner. An employee who remembers the events of the bloody murder of Plant, confirms the identity of Yenach. Passing by, Lucretia reveals her incognito and claims that this is not the person who killed her father, and then, risking his own life, helps Jurga escape.

Further events unfold favorably for Graubunden, Rogan manages to oust Austrians and Spaniards. Enach won the respect and confidence of the Duke during his bold attacks against the enemies. Rogan with all his heart is rooting for the Graubunden land and its prosperity, popularly called the French “good duke.”

However, France is in no hurry to regain independence to Graubünden and withdraw troops, the war with Germany exhausted the treasury, so there is nothing to pay the Graubunden regiments. Among the local population there is growing discontent with French interference and at the same time a belief in Yurga-liberator. The “good duke” receives a dispatch in which the treaty approved by him in Kyuvenna is returned with a number of amendments: the troops must remain until the conclusion of universal peace, and Protestants live in Valtellina no more than two months a year. Rogan hides this document from Graubünden, reporting only Jurgu.

Enach, putting his humanity at stake, becomes Judas to the duke. He accepts the conditions of Spain: in exchange for a break with France, Graubünden gained independence. To conduct secret negotiations he entrusts Lucretia, with whom, stepping over all obstacles, hopes to unite. The homeland is dear to both of them – and Lucretia is leaving for Milan, immersed in the political struggle around Valtellina.

Lulling Rogan’s attention, Enach raises Graubundens against France. Having led the revolt and becoming the commander-in-chief of the troops of Graubünden, he presents an ultimatum: the French troops must leave the princean fortifications and Valtellin, and the duke remains in hostage. Rogan does not agree to the terms of Yenach, struck by his betrayal. But when it comes to those unwilling to reroute volunteers, the duke, to save them from reprisal, signs a scroll. Baron Lekk, close to Rogan, proposes to avenge the honor of France, but the duke believes that bloodshed and deceit can not restore the glory of his native country: “I prefer to keep the honor, even if I had to lose my homeland.” Further, Rogan enters the service of the Duke of Weimar as a simple soldier and in one of the battles dies of wounds.

Spain requires Catholicism in the Gruobunden and free passage of troops. Enach takes Catholicism, trying to persuade Austria-Spain to sign an agreement on the alliance. At the same time, he threatens to regain French influence and only then strives to sign an agreement on which the peace is concluded with Austria and Spain and the borders and liberties of Graubünden are restored.

On the day of delivery of the contract to the Cours, the Chief Burgomaster of Zurich Vaser arrives, who brings the news of the death of Rogan. Jürg hands Graubünden a letter of peace.

To Lucrezia comes cousin Rudolph, who is ready to commit blood feud to marry the girl. When he leaves the hired retinue during the holiday, taking with him the ax that Plant was killed, Lucrezia goes after the cousin,

Plant’s daughter arrives at Cours and finds Echin in the town hall, where he is surrounded by masked people. Rudolph takes an ax, but Jurgu manages to repel the attack, while he kills both Rudolph and the old servant Luka. Dying, the old man puts an ax in the hands of Lucretia. She, full of love and hate, executes Her, fulfilling the will of an inevitable fate.


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“Jurg Yenach” Meyer in brief summary