Johnny Corncob

Kukorica Jancsi (Johnny Corn) was found abandoned in a corn field as an infant; he was taken in by a peasant landowner, and by his adolescent years, is a cowherd for his master. He is in love with an orphan girl, Illuska, who is being raised by her wicked stepmother. Jancsi and Illuska hope to be married, but the stepmother devises a plot to have Jancsi chased from the village. Dejected, he joins up with a band of hussars, who are en route to France to fight the Turkish invasion there. The Hussars journey from Hungary to France (crossing the many countries in between, such as Poland and India), where they arrive just in time for the battle. Jancsi saves the French princess from capture, and the king in gratitude offers him her hand in marriage and half the kingdom. Jancsi, to the princess’ distress, turns both down; he asks only for some money, by which he may win Illuska’s hand. The king, saddened, agrees, and also knights Jancsi, who becomes thenceforth János Vitéz.