E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Oberthal (Count).
Lord of Dordrecht, near the Meuse. When Bertha, one of his vassals, asked permission to marry John of Leyden, the count refused, resolving to make her his mistress. This drove John into rebellion, and he joined the Anabaptists. The count was taken prisoner by Gio’na, a discarded servant, but liberated by John. When John was crowned Prophet-king, the count entered his banquet-hall to arrest
him, and perished with John in the flames of the burning palace. (Meyerbeer: Le Prophète, a romance.)
