The story goes that Protestant Rothenburg was taken by the Catholics in 1631. The mayor gave the conquering general a large tankard of local wine (as was the custom). Feeling jolly, the general said that instead of raping and pillaging Rothenburg (as was the custom), he would graciously spare the town if the mayor could down a three-liter tankard of wine in one go. The mayor does so and saves the town. Note: this did not happen; the story was invented in the 19th century for a very romanticized play about Rothenburg.