Gottfried Michaelsen

Gödeke Michels († 1401 in Hamburg), Gottfried Michaelsen, was a pirate and a leader of the brothers Vitali.

Life

Together with Klaus Störtebeker, Hennig Wichmann, Klaus Scheld and MA Wigbold, also leader of the brothers Vitali, the ship's captain end of the 14th century, the North Sea and Baltic made ​​uncertain. They had fast ships, the lightning mustered up the cogs of the Hanseatic League and boarded. The aim was to them primarily about making loot, and not about the fight, so that those who can not defend themselves, were mostly "just" thrown overboard.

Gödeke Michels was executed in 1401, shortly after Störtebeker along with 79 companions on the Grasbrookhafen outside the harbor of Hamburg. In the Hamburg chronicles in Lower Saxon language states:

At that time, Michels was known as Störtebeker. Both Gödeke Michels and Störtebeker are first mentioned by name at the beginning of 1394.

Gödeke Michels should - have grown up in Ruschvitz on the Jasmund peninsula of Rügen as a farmer's son - as well as Klaus Störtebeker. He then said to have worked as a laborer on the local estate. In Mecklenburg an old hillfort of goods Schulenburg at Suelz at the Recknitz is shown as a castle of Störtebeker and Michels.

Literary adaptations

The fate Gödeke Michels ' is the theme of the ballad " Lullaby " by Lulu Strauss and Torney.

Representation in film

Michels is one of the main characters in Sven Taddickens movie 12 meters without a head, he is played by Matthias Schweighofer. The film deals with the life of Klaus Störtebeker, Michels here is his friend.