Although the subject of many fantastic medieval romances, historians believe the character of Lohengrin may have been based on a real person. According to Wolfram Von Eschenbach, he was the son of Parzival and a member of the Grail Family.
In Von Eschenbach’s romance, Lohengrin hears a chapel bell spontaneously ringing, signaling that someone needed his help. Lohengrin discovers this “someone” is none other than the Duchess of Brabant. Other romanciers claim the damsel in distress is the Duchess of Bouillon.
Lohengrin arrives to champion the duchess in a boat drawn by magical swans, for which he is known as the “Swan Knight.” He defeats the lady’s antagonist and marries her, with the stipulation that she never ask him about his lineage. Although the duchess complies for many years, one day she asks the forbidden question, and Lohengrin immediately abandons her and his infant son. According to some romanciers, this child is the grandfather of Godfroi de Bouillon.