The vow which Ludwig II made is important in medical and cultural history. He and his parents hoped that though prayer, fasting and making offerings, he would be cured the terrible disease. |
In this vow, St Valentin is mentioned several times. Of the well over 40 saints who were regarded as being able to ward off epilepsy, St Valentin was the most important. Rufach, in Upper Alsace, where the miraculous relic of the head of Valentin of Terni was kept, was the most famous place of pilgrimage for people with the falling sickness. Ludwig died in November 1457, just turned 18. It is not possible to find out the cause of his illness. The fact that two of his cousins on his father's side were also mentally ill suggests that there was a hereditary element to his illness (possibly a neurometabolic disease?). |
Auszug aus dem Gelübde Ludwigs II. (um 1453) | ||
Mins herre grafe Ludwigs, des jungen, verhaiß. Nota, dis sind die gelüpt, die von des hochgeborne mins gnedigen hern wegen verhaisen sind. 1. Item zu dem ersten sol er sin leptag ein vrieflein an sinem halß tragen, daran geschriben also: |
5. Item und wenn sin gnad zu sinen tagen kumpt, so sol sich sin gnad mit sin selbs lib gen Rufach dem lieben herren SANT VALENTIN antwurten und im ain bild mit im bringen, das X guldin wol wert sy, von welicherlay sin gnad wil. [...] 8. Item sin gnad sol ouch, dieweil er lebt, all fritag meß hörn und uff den tag dartzu meß frumen und opern mit pfennigen. [...] aus: H. Heintel: Quellen zur Geschichte der Epilepsie. Aus "Hubers Klassiker der Medizin und der Naturwissenschaften" Band XIV. Huber, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien 1975. S. 33f |