The Burgraves

The “burgraves” were medieval princes who inhabited the fortified castles of the Rhine and ranked second only to kings. They mostly led a lawless life, harrying the country and stopping at no crime. Through four generations of burgraves evil and corruption are shown driving out the rough ideas of honor which had hitherto existed side by side with ferocity. The complete failure of this play when produced on March 7, 1843 at the Coméédie-Franççaise was the end of Hugo’s career as a dramatist.