In the movie, the Horseman has a rather bloody past. A Hessian trooper sold to England's
services to battle the American troops, the Horseman did not come to fight because of
the money to be gained for his country, but for the blood he alone would get. He was of
imposing, huge frame, wearing a black and silver armor and having his teeth filed sharp,
with strange blue eyes, and was famous for taking his black steed, named Daredevil, into
battle hard, slashing off the enemies' heads with his sword and axe at full gallop.
He found his death in the winter of 79, when he was ambushed by a war party, and Daredevil
killed - after a quiet goodbye he took off into the woods to loose them quietly,
but was eventually given away by a young girl (and I won't spoil the movie for first-time
watchers, so I won't tell you who that girl is!), who, though realizing his desperate
situation, snapped the branch in her hands to lead the ambush party back on the right
track of the Hessian. After a short if fierce battle, he was eventually fatally
wounded and beheaded with his own sword, then buried underneath a gnarled tree
in the western woods - The Tree of the Dead - and his sword set into the ground as a
reminiscent of a tombstone.
He was eventually called forth again, but again I'm not going to spoil the ending.
And thus he takes to the night again, this time immortal and feared by all.
There's a few minor changes to the Hessian in the novel. As changes have it, these are both
interesting and less interesting, impressive and less impressive, in the end good or bad,
but in the end, they are important to me nevertheless.
First and foremost: The head - in the book - is never returned. The Horseman -
if it really was him at all, and not Brom, as some reviewers claim - continues
is existence in the disfigurement. Secondly, in the time of his living, he isn't
described as being a bloodthirsty fang-teethed monster. He was a Hessian trooper -
no more, no less - and was certainly not beheaded in a bloody battle in the woods,
ambushed and decapitated with his own sword. He was in a battle and was unfortunate
enough to get his head ripped clean off by a cannonball.
The Hessian's horse is never mentioned as Daredevil-instead, Daredevil is the name of
Brom Bones' prized horse. This has propably been changed in the movie because Brom-in
the book - brags about how he challenged the Hessian on a race and won with Daredevil.
Since this shows Daredevil is a pretty fast horse, it's reserved for the Hessian in
the movie.
The idea of the Horseman going actually into the Hollow to assault the Killians /
Van Rippers in their home would count as somewhat farfetched and odd in the book.
The Horseman has never been seen riding past the bridge into the town, he always
vanished before. This restriction is upheld in the "Are You Afraid of the Dark"
episode of the event - The Tale of the Midnight Ride - , though in the movie
the Hessian very clearly battles Brom and Ichabod on the bridge, on both sides,
and doesn't seem to make a fuss about it.
In the book, the Horseman, for the credit, also gains another title -
"The Gallopping Hessian", which isn't mentioned in the movie as far as I remember.
Hessians
Collective term for all German mercenaries, who were hired by Great Britian for the
battles in the american War of Independence, Approximately 17 000 of the about
30 000 men in the Hessian troops came from Hessen-Kassel, as Hessen's Count
was married to the daughter of the English king George IInd in his first marriage.
About 5 700 men came from Braunschweig, 2 400 from Hessen-Hanau, 2 400 from
Ansbach-Bayreuth and 1200 out of Waldeck and Anhalt-Zerbst respectivley.
They made 1/3rd of the British army in North America. About 17 000 Mercenaries
returned to Europe after the war was over, about 7 700 fell in battle and the rest
remained and settled in North America.
So...there you go. The source of this is the Chronik Handbuch Amerika written by
Dr. Hays A. Steilberg and Thomas Flemming, published by the Chronik Verlag,
to give credit where it is due.
Though I'm personally not from any of the parts of Germany
the Hessians were send from ( Look Below For More Information On Hessian Origins
) , I'm still quite proud of the general idea of
being the Hessian's "landsman" (well, landswoman). More than half of their
numbers survived and returned, which would make them pretty skilled. I'll
add more to this as soon as I find other books, the library in town isn't
the best you can ask for, but it'll have to do.
End Of Credit
Hesse
state (1990 est. pop. 5,661,000), 8,150 sq mi (24,064 sq km), central Germany.
Weisbaden is the capital. Hesse is largely agricultural, with heavily forested areas.
Fine wines are produced along the Rhine valley. Industries include textiles, chemicals,
metallurgy, and mining. Hesse emerged (1247) as a landgraviate under the Holy Roman
emperor and was divided (1567) among several lines; Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt
were the most important. In the 18th cent. the rulers of Hesse raised revenue by letting
mercenaries, called Hessians, for hire. Hesse-Kassel was made (1803) an electorate and
was annexed (1866) to PRUSSIA. Hesse-Darmstadt joined (1871)
the German Empire and was ruled by its own dynasty until 1918.
The Charm of Hessen
Hessen offers a fascinating variety of opportunities and attractions which enrich its
quality of life. Those who live here feel at home, whether in the big city, or in
the many historically-restored towns, or the countryside. Hessen's residents are cheerful
people, who know how to celebrate as can be seen in the scores of large and small wine
festivals in the city and country.
Picturesque towns with their half-timbered gabled houses are a common sight,
particularly in central and northern Hessen's countryside.
Countless forts and castles perched on crests overlooking the Rhine witnessed the
medieval heyday of knighthood and robber barons. Hessen is one of the most richly
wooded states in the Federal Republic of Germany and features nine large nature
reserves, all within easy reach of major cities.
Traditional inns invite to stay awhile and enjoy Hessen's national drink - "Äppelwoi"
(a form of cider)
with young and old locals in a "gemütliche" atmosphere.
