Der Fechter von Ravenna

Fechter von Ravenna, Der, a blank-verse tragedy (Trauerspiel) in five acts, written in 1852-3 by F. Halm, and first performed at the Burgtheater, Vienna, on 18 October 1854. It was published in 1856. The play is set in ad 41 at the end of Caligula's reign. Thusnelda, wife of the defeated Cheruscan leader, Arminius, is held captive in Rome. Her son Thumelicus has been trained as a gladiator (Fechter) at Ravenna. On the suggestion of his consort Cäsonia, Caligula plans to have Thumelicus killed in the arena in the presence of his mother. Thusnelda, however, kills her son and then herself. The play ends with a hint at a plot to put an end to Caligula's life and reign the next day. It is dedicated to the actress Julie Rettich. Der Fechter von Ravenna proved a great stage success.

Halm submitted the play without indication of authorship, which was then claimed by a Bavarian schoolmaster, F. Bacherl; a noisy controversy ensued which was not ended by a declaration of authorship issued by Halm on 27 March 1856.