How the residents of Büdingen got their nickname "Fräääsch"

It’s the year 1522. Count Anton of Ysenburg and Büdingen has just married Elisabeth of Wied in her home county. The newly-wed pair then returned to Büdingen where the citizens gave them a warm reception: there were wedding banners; decorated ceremonial entrances; gun salutes; bonfires; maids of honour dressed in white and archers in uniform. At last, after the strain of the journey; the strenuous welcome ritual, the ceremonial addresses and the substantial banquet in the castle, the time came for Count Anton to carry his young wife over the threshold into the room where the bed was prepared for a refreshing sleep. Count Anton fell asleep straightaway and even began to snore; Countess Elisabeth only dozed lightly, but then woke up with a start. A loud, but not necessarily tuneful concert had begun outside: the sound of hundreds of frogs croaking, gurgling and splashing rose up from the wide moat which surrounded the old castle.

Countess Elisabeth jabbed her elbow in her husband’s ribs, so he woke up too. ”You’ve kept very quiet about this. I can’t stand it. I have grounds for divorce,” she shouted . Count Anton:”What on earth are you talking about ???” Elisabeth: “This croaking, this noise, of course. It’s giving me a headache. I’m leaving tomorrow and going back to my father!” Count Anton:” It can’t be that bad. I’ve got used to it and don’t even hear it any more. I’ve grown up with this sound, just like all the citizens of Büdingen. They would wake up if they didn’t hear this noise.” Elisabeth:” I will never get used to it! Do something about it or you will lose me. I’ll annul our marriage on the grounds that noise terror prevented the consummation of out marriage.”

With a sigh, Count Anton got up and rang for his valet, who sent for Master of Court, who called the overnight Council of the Court together to wait obediently for their official orders. Count Anton proclaimed: “The citizens of Büdingen must act today in the interests of peace to ensure that all the frogs are either exterminated or driven away. That is my wish and my official order.”