Rosalia St. Clair

Rosalia St. Clair. Ulrica of Saxony:  A Romantic Tale of the Fifteenth Century

London:  A. K. Newman and Co., 1828.

 

Synopsis of Ulrica of Saxony

"Rosalia St Clair" (fl. 1819-34) is a pseudonym for Agnes C. Hall, who wrote 13 novels using the pseudonym. Minerva Press published her earlier works and A.K. Newman published many of her other novels. Hall felt it necessary to publish under the pseudonym. Her works were later described as 'inculcating the purest morals, and the most patriotic and virtuous principles.' (GM, 98) In Ulrica of Saxony, we find a tale of romance, love, religious conflict, the scorned lover, climatic battles, knights, and damsels in distress, and the search for true self. Despite the misnomer in the title, this novel transports the reader to feudal Germany of 1530. The fairy tale quality breaks only by the author's use of lively and sometimes vivid combat scenes. It differs from other genre tales because it is decidedly from a woman's point of view. It is a moral novel. It is very pro-Catholic. The novel suffers a little from intrusive narration and the lack of historical accuracy concerning the religious issues of Saxony. In the end, though, it is a Gothic Romance, blending two key, divisive elements of the early nineteenth century: companionate versus strategic marriages and class conflict.

Key characters for this novel are: Ulrica Mansfeldt, our protagonist and sole heir to Count Mansfeldt's fortune; Leopold, our hero, who through a series of coincidences is blessed to marrying Ulrica by her dying mother; Baron Falkenheim, our antagonist, who sows deceit, treachery, and corruption throughout the novel; Count Mansfeldt, father to Ulrica, the deceit of Falkenheim causes misfortune through his actions; Muhlenberg, a character of interest who transforms from the role of an evil henchman to loyal and heroic knight; Wallenstein, the loyal battle captain to Leopold, and Weinhold, a character that hides his true loyalties from the other characters until the end.

In Volume 1, St. Clair introduces the major characters and background for the novel. The novel begins at an Abbey where Ulrica has been for twelve years. Her parents, the Count and Countess Mansfeldt, felt it best for their daughter to live and learn at the Abbey. A few nights prior to her return to home, she stands on a balcony in the moonlight and hears a flute serenade. She assumes that it is a peasant from the wood next to the convent. This occurs again the next night. At morning, she witnesses a young nobleman waving to her from the forest. Her mother then arrives to bring Ulrica home but first they must visit the village by the convent. Ulrica and a friend decide to enter the forest to find the young man. In the forest, a wolf attacks Ulrica. A man in peasant's clothes springs forward and defeats the wolf; in the process, the wolf removes the disguise and wounds our young nobleman. The villagers then arrive to find Ulrica taking care of the young nobleman. Ulrica's mother knows this man and he then introduces himself to Ulrica. He is Leopold, son of a Count, who is also a dear friend to Ulrica's parents. Ulrica's mother "forces" Leopold to promise to visit the Mansfeldts upon his return to good health. Ulrica leaves with a smitten heart for her hero and his promise to her that he will see her soon.
Upon Ulrica's return to the Mansfeldt castle, her father decides to hold a tournament for her return. In the tournament, many of the knights act within the chivalric code but one who emerges as the probable champion skirts the line of proper behavior. This knight is Baron Falkenheim, our antagonist and a minor landholder near the Mansfeldt land holdings. Falkenheim's goal is to win the tournament and woo Ulrica. Suddenly another knight arrives and challenges Falkenheim to single combat. The strange knight defeats Falkenheim not once but twice demonstrating just how dastardly Falkenheim is in his not following the code. The unknown knight reveals himself; it is Leopold. Ulrica and Leopold begin courting and quickly arrange a marriage. Sadly, Ulrica's mother falls as she ascends the stairs into the church for their wedding. The couple delays the wedding out of respect. The wound becomes infected and before her death, she places Ulrica and Leopold's hands together and makes them swear in front of the Count that they will be married.

In this volume, the author introduces the background for the novel. She discusses the impact upon the nobility and peasantry due to the Reformation. She ensures that Ulrica's faith will never change by using the Abbess to warn Ulrica of not to allow any religious change. This is the springboard for Falkenheim's treachery. Soon after the Countess Mansfeldt's death, Leopold receives word to return to his father. His father soon after Leopold's return dies, forcing Leopold to assume the role as Count and thus delaying his return to Ulrica. During this absence, Falkenheim further becomes Count Mansfeldt's "loyal" advisor. Falkenheim convinces the Count that the Protestants will win the growing civil war. He also entwines the Count into believing that Ulrica can only marry a Protestant. Falkenheim knows that Leopold will not convert. Finally, Leopold returns after fighting for the German King but Falkenheim's henchmen ambush him along the route. He escapes and finds Ulrica distraught over her father's conversion. They swear to each other to remain faithful to each other always and at Ulrica's urging that if she fails, Leopold will kill her. To conclude this volume, Leopold then leaves to join the King's war but Muhelenberg, a henchman of Falkenheim, captures Leopold and brings him to Falkenheim's castle.

In Volume 2, St. Clair brings the wars of the Reformation to the forefront. Falkenheim's vassals rebel against his tyranny and religious intolerance. He convinces Count Mansfeldt that he needs the Count's forces to regain his castle. During this time, Leopold escapes but finds that the peasants need his assistance in fighting Count Mansfeldt's army. The Count's army lays siege and destroys a cathedral. Ulrica rides with her father in her armor. After news of the cathedral attack, she longs for Leopold. She witnesses him on top of the ramparts of Falkenheim's castle. She quickly pushes her way past the fighting and all of the corpses in the moat to re-unite with her love. She then joins him in fighting her father's army. The Count quickly sues for peace and a temporary peace ensues. The Count becomes sick and Falkenheim uses his position to his advantage. At this same time, Leopold and the other nobles receive word to join their King to fight in the civil war. Muhlenberg assassinates the Count as he attempts to join the King. This leaves Falkenheim as Ulrica's guardian. Falkenheim makes the best of his new opportunity by attempting to rape Ulrica. He stops only because the peasants of the Mansfeldt estates lay siege to the castle. The peasants rally because of Father Jerome, a confidant to Ulrica, and the arrival of Wallenstein, Leopold's battle captain. Falkenheim begins a plan to force Ulrica to marry him and thus make him sovereign of the Mansfeldt estates. This volume concludes with the civil war ending and Leopold beginning to plan revenge against Falkenheim.

In Volume 3, Falkenheim brings Father Jerome to conduct the wedding ceremony. Father Jerome finds that Ulrica does remain true to Leopold and her faith. Leopold does not know this and assumes the impending nuptials are for real. He sneaks into the castle and finds Ulrica. He challenges her and she swears her love and allegiance. She begs him to hide because the ceremony was to begin soon. Leopold stops the ceremony and his promptly captured. Falkenheim convenes a trial by council. The council finds Leopold guilty of spying. Weinhold's vote shows duplicity in contrast to his earlier helping of Ulrica with weapons to fight off Falkenheim's advances. Weinhold then aids Ulrica in rescuing Leopold. Muhlenberg aids their attempt because he is sick of his earlier evil deeds. Weinhold and Father Jerome then tell their secrets to Leopold about their loyalty and that the Count lives. St. Clair reunites Ulrica with her father. Falkenheim finds the secret passage that allowed Ulrica and Leopold to escape. He captures them. Wallenstein, with the assistance of Weinhold, rescues the young lovers and captures Falkenheim. The Count returns to power and peace returns. The Count banishes Falkenheim from the German feudal states. The story then turns to the searching of the dungeons to see who else faced Falkenheim's wrath. This is where the author introduces Black Jasper. Chapter IX is all about who Black Jasper is. Black Jasper is an orphan tale where the protagonist is actually the son of a deceased count. Finally, the conclusion is at hand. Falkenheim attempts one more attack on Leopold but Muhlenberg strikes Falkenheim down. Muhlenberg then receives all of Falkenheim's estate. The King restores Black Jasper to his rightful place and Black Jasper marries Ulrica's friend, Constance. And FINALLY, Leopold and Ulrica are married. They live happily ever after with their friends and family.

-- Prepared by David C. Wood, University of Nebraska, Ap[ril 2006
© David C. Wood, 2006.