Krabat

Krabat (from Croatian Hrvat meaning Croatian person) is a mythical hero of the Sorbs. His legend is centered around the area of Lusatia, most notably the settlement of Čorny Chołmc, which today is a district of the city of Hoyerswerda, where Krabat is said to have learned his sorcerous powers. Over the course of time, the figure of Krabat has changed from an evil sorcerer to a folk hero and beneficial trickster. Krabat is believed to be based on Janko Šajatović (germanised to Johann Schadowitz), a Croatian soldier serving Johann Georg II., the prince-elector of Saxony.
The Krabat story has been adapted into several novels notably:

• Mišter Krabat (Master Krabat) (1954) by Měrćin Nowak-Njechorński.
• Čorny młyn (The Black Mill) (1968) by Jurij Brězan, on which the film Die Schwarze Mühle was based.
• Krabat (1971) by Ottfried Preußler, which inspired the Czech film Čarodějův učeň (1977) and the German film Krabat (2008). The Krabat album by German Goth band ASP is also inspired by this version of the legend.