Europa Stamps on Postcards.

Once upon a time, very long ago the Slovene lands were ruled by a rich and just king named Matjaž. He was the leaf of our mountain. Peace and happiness ruled the land. But form the east came a tribe of horrible Turks and the attacked the land.

In an unequal fight Matjaž and his army fought, but soldiers fell one after the other until only a few men were defending the land by the side of their king. When the king realized that the Turks are too strong he fled into the mountain with his men. And because he was a good king and a just ruler he was not killed because the mountain opened up for him and took him. There he now sleeps at a table with his sol - diers and when his beard will circle the table nine times the Slovene king will awake and come to save his people oppressed by foreigners.

Other stories about king Matjaž:

The story tells the legend of king Matjaž who is summoned to fight the Turks on the morning after his wedding night. So the king has to leave his new wife home alone and go into battle. To give her some protection he leaves her with his horse Svit who can think and talk like a human. If anything were to happen to the queen the horse could come and tell the king. Later the Turks come and the Sultan chooses Alenka to be his wife. So the king must go and rescue her. He disguises himself as a Turk and mixes with their army. Because he is incredibly brave the Sultan allows him a dance with his wife. Alenčica recognizes him by the wedding ring he is wearing on his hand. So he manages to kidnap her. On the way back they are almost stopped by floodwaters which they cannot cross with the horse. Their love trapped in the ring helps them and the water parts. They arrive home safely.

Thank you so much, Alenka :-)