Martin Krpan is a fictional character created on the basis of the Inner Carniolan oral tradition[1] by the 19th-century Slovene writer Fran Levstik in the short story Martin Krpan from Vrh pri Sveti Trojici (Slovenian: Martin Krpan z Vrha pri Sveti Trojici). Published in 1858 in the literary journal Slovenski glasnik, the popularity of the story led to it becoming a part of Slovene folklore and made its lead character a folk hero.[2]
A Slovene subject of the Habsburg Empire and one of the strongest men in it, Martin Krpan hails from a fictional village in Inner Carniola, Hilltop by the Holy Trinity [church] (Slovenian: Vrh pri Sveti Trojici). A smuggler by profession, he makes a living by illegally transporting "English salt" (probably a euphemism for gunpowder). With the help of his loyal, diminutive mare, they transport the "salt" from the Adriatic coast throughout the Slovene Lands and Inner Austria. On one of his trips, after Krpan meets the imperial carriage on a snowbound road and makes way for it by simply picking up his laden horse and moving it aside, his extraordinary strength is noted by the Emperor John (Slovenian: cesar Janez). Several years later, the Emperor summons Krpan to Vienna as his last hope against Brdaus (Slovenian: Brdavs), a brutal Saracen warrior who has set up camp outside the imperial capital and issued a challenge to single combat, and has already slain most of the city's knights, including the Crown Prince. Reluctantly, Krpan accepts the challenge, scandalizing the court with his uncouthness, honesty and homespun manner before defeating the brute in a duel by using not only his strength but an unexpected reserve of ingenuity. In gratitude, the Emperor bestows him with pouch of gold pieces and - more valuably - a royal license to legally traffic in "English salt," as well an offer of his daughter's hand in marriage.[3]
The story of Martin Krpan as rendered by Levstik in his epic story was first illustrated in 1917 by Hinko Smrekar. Today, Smrekar's illustrations are mainly known from the images on tarot playing cards.
In 1954, the expressionist painter Tone Kralj created a series of large full-page color illustrations of the story. His picture book, reprinted thirteen times, is now the most recognisable image of Martin Krpan.[4]
Krpan is often depicted carrying his mare, a reference to in an iconic scene from the story in which he moves his horse to make way for the imperial carriage.