Who Is Faithful Henry (Iron Henry) (Iron Heinrich)?
A loyal servant with iron bands around his heart
Faithful Henry
Faithful Henry is the prince's servant in the Grimm fairy tale "The Frog King." The tale's subtitle, "Iron Henry," refers to him.
When his master was turned into a frog, Henry was so heartbroken that he had three iron bands placed around his chest to keep his heart from bursting with grief. The morning after the spell is broken, Henry arrives in a carriage drawn by eight white horses to bring the prince home. As he drives the prince and princess back to the kingdom, there is a loud cracking sound behind them three times. The prince asks if the carriage is breaking, but it is the iron bands snapping off Henry's heart one by one, out of joy that his master has been saved.
What makes this tale unusual is that it ends with the loyalty of a servant who is not even the main character. For this reason, Henry is often described as a symbol of faithfulness.
