Differdange's unfulfilled love story: Josine of Florange and Erhard of Eltz

If ever you happen to be in Differdange, know that atop a rocky hill in the vicinity of the monastery, there once stood an hermitage that is linked to a tale of deep sorrow.

The tale speaks of a noble knight, Erhard von Elz, whose castle resided near the lordship of Differdange, where he spent his days hunting within the dense forests. One day, after a successful hunt, Erhard encountered an elderly man gathering wood. The old man was struggling, so Erhard humbly offered to carry the wood on his own back and bring it to the man's humble abode.

Differdange 1960. / © eluxemburgensia

Unknown to Erhard, his compassionate deed had caught the attention of Josine von Florange, an esteemed noblewoman who was riding past him with her father. Josine was deeply moved by his selfless action and greeted him. It was at that precise moment, when their eyes met, that both had instantly fallen in love.

Josine's father, Robert of Florange, who a descendant of the powerful House of Lorraine saw the affection that had sprouted between his daughter and the noble knight. He invited Erhard to come visit their house, and after multiple meetings, his daughter and the noble knight formed a bond that nobody could deny. Josine's father knew of Erhard's noble qualities and didn't hesitate to give his consent for them to marry. The wedding date was set, but unfortunately, their unfolding fresh love story was cut short by an event that none of them foresaw.

In 1386, Emperor Sigismund, successor to Wenceslaus of the House of Luxembourg, married the Princess of Hungary. Their union led to a conflict with the Turkish Emperor Bajazet, which in turn prompted a crusade against him. Erhard, was called to join the fight against the Turks, along with many other knights from Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

Detail of the fresco from 1417, in the Trinity Church in Luxembourg: the majestic figure of St. Sigismund, seated on a throne, adorned with the Imperial Orb and Scepter, displaying an uncanny resemblance to Emperor Sigismund himself. / © eluxemburgensia

The Christian knights fought bravely and valiantly and their first battles were victorious, but their victory was short-lived. The enemy decided to seek revenge and annihilate the Christian army. Bajazet launched a devastating attack that resulted in the knights being overwhelmed, captured and subjected to slavery. Among them, Erhard was captured, heart-broken at the thought of never seeing his beloved ever again.

In the meantime, Erhard's bride got the news that her beloved has been captured and will most probably be executed by the enemy's hands. Consumed by sorrow, the world that she knew crumbled before her. Instead, she decided to isolate herself and become a nun.

Unbeknownst to her, Erhard spent three years in captivity, enduring hardships and misery, until he had the opportunity to escape. Determined to find his bride once more, Erhard returned to his homeland only to meet despair.

He learned that that Josine, who believed him to be dead, took her vows at the monastery and devoted herself to becoming a nun. Devastated by the news, he wanted to see Josine one last time. Josine's father, in an effort to console the heartbroken knight, arranged a meeting between the two so they could see each other one last time. Josine was granted permission to go to her home for one day, where she would see Erhard.

Erhard was filled with anticipation and rode out to meet Josine and her father. Yet his heart skipped a beat the moment he recognized the veiled figure beside Robert of Florange. The lovers greeted each other, full of sorrow, and Erhard's heart sank even further when Josine extended him a helmet with the following last words "Take this helmet, my dear Erhard, and adorn your head with it. Our paths shall not cross again in this realm."

After this, Erhard decided to hang up his sword in the armoury and return to Differdange, where he built a hermitage on the rocky hill opposite the abbey where Josine resided. From his window, he had could always see into Josine's bedroom. He decided to follow in his bride's footsteps, devoting himself fully to God.

Whenever the bell for prayer would ring, the bride and groom were reunited at heart in prayer. One day however, the bell did not ring and Josine was found dead, kneeling in a prayer position. It seemed she had passed away while praying for her beloved Erhard.

And so Erhard continued to pray fervently by himself, wishing to one day reunite with Josine beyond the veil of death, where they could finally live their happily ever after.