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Meersburg Castle

Coordinates:47°41′38″N9°16′13″E/ 47.69389°N 9.27028°E/47.69389; 9.27028
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Burg Meersburg and the town of Meersburg, fromLake Constance
Burg Meersburg from the Steigstraße below the castle
Northwest side of the castle, Lake Constance is in the background

Meersburg Castle(German:Burg Meersburg), also known as theAlte Burg(English: Old Castle), inMeersburgonLake Constancein Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited castles in Germany. The central tower was first built during the 7th century, though the original structure is no longer visible. Burg Meersburg is known as the old castle, in the reference to the neighboring 18th centuryNew Castle.

Location[edit]

The Burg Meersburg is located on a rocky outcropping near Lake Constance (German:Bodensee). The castle is located about 440 m above sea level and towers above the Lower City, but is about level with the rest of the city.

History[edit]

Construction theories[edit]

There are two theories about the construction of the Meersburg. The first is that theMerovingiankingDagobert Ibuilt theDagobertturm(Dagobert's Tower), the centralkeepof the Meersburg, in 630. Around 630, Dagobert was in the Lake Constance region working on theChristianizationof theAlamanni.[1]This theory is based on a source from 1548,[2]and was supported byJoseph von Laßbergwho lived in the castle during the 19th century. A charter issued byFrederick Barbarossaon 27 November 1155, citing older, questionable sources, mentions that the boundaries of theBishopric of Constancewere established by Dagobert himself[3]indicating that Dagobert was personally involved in establishing rulers in the region.

The second theory is that the castle was built in the early 12th century, and based on the name of the tower an association with the earlier Merovingian king was created. It is based on the observation that in the Lake Constance region there are no records of any castles being founded in the 7th century, but in the 12th century to early 13th century many castles were built in the region. TheMerdesburchCastle was first mentioned in 1113,[1]which implies a construction date before the early 12th century.

The stones at the base of theDagobertturmare very large roughly squared stones that according toarchitectural historycould date from either the 7th century[4]or from the 12th century to early 13th century. Because the stones could have come from either era, it is not clear which theory is correct. However, similarities between the Meersburg and other 12th-century castles have been noted.

Joseph von Laßberg also presents the theory that the tower was built on the site of an earlier destroyed castle. He states that the castle was destroyed by DukeGotfridof Alemannia who was at war with Dagobert's successor and rebuilt 80 years later byCharles Martel.From 730 until 911 the Meersburg was aCarolingiancastle and owned by the Counts ofLinzgau,but administered by the Counts ofBuchhorn.Following the extinction of the Buchhorn line, it would have passed to the Counts of Welf. A contract between the Counts of Welf and the Bishopric of Constance indicated that the Meersburg would be given to the Bishopric if the count died without any male heirs. It appears that the Welfs and the Bishopric had close ties, asBishop Conradwas of Welf descent.[5]

Seat of the Prince-Bishops of Constance[edit]

Coat of arms of the Bishop of Constance

The castle may have been owned by several different lords during the following centuries. It appears that the castle was owned by theHohenstaufensfor a while, because in 1213King Frederick IIcelebrated theHoly Weekin Meersburg. Then, in 1233 Meersburg was granted theweekly market rightby Frederick II. Shortly before his death in 1254,Conrad IV,having been deposed andexcommunicatedbyPope Innocent IVasked Eberhard II, the High Steward of Meersburg to care for his two-year-old sonConradin.In 1261 Conradin became theDuke of Swabia,raising an army in theRavensburgarea. He departed from Meersburg[6]to head south intoItalyto fightCharles I of Anjouand attempt to reclaim the titles stripped by the Pope from his father. While Conradin was able to take Rome, he was soon afterward captured and executed.

Window of theGuards' Roomat the castle. The walls are nearly 3m thick which creates this large opening to a small window

A few years later, in 1268 the castle came totally under the ownership of the Bishopric of Constance[7]

However, even as a residence for a bishop, the Meersburg was the site of several battles over the following centuries. In 1334, there were two candidates for the position of Bishop of Constance. Baron Nikolaus I ofKenzingenwas elected bishop by supporters of the Pope while Albrecht ofHohenbergwas chosen by theHoly Roman Emperor.Nikolaus quickly traveled toAvignon,in France the seat ofPope John XXIIto have his appointment confirmed. He then returned to Meersburg and quickly had the defenses improved. Albrecht, meanwhile, had raised an army from the southern German princes and was joined by an Imperial army led by the Emperor. During the summer of 1334, the Imperial armybesiegedBurg Meersburg. During the siege,cannonswere used for the first time in Germany.[8]However, even with the new gunpowder weapons the Imperial troops were unable to take the castle. At the end of August,Emperor Louis IVwas growing tired of the siege. When DukeOtto of Austriarequested his help against theBohemians,Louis left Meersburg and confirmed Nikolaus as bishop. Albrecht was granted theBishopric of Würzburgin 1345 to replace the lost Bishopric.[8]

Following Nikolaus, Urich Pfefferhardt was bishop from 1345 until 1351. In 1352 Johann III Windlock fromConstancewas installed at the castle, he proved to be an autocratic ruler and was disliked by the people and local nobles. Following a dispute with Konrad of Homberg-Markdorfand theAbbotEberhard ofReichenau,he was killed by soldiers while in his palace in Constance.[8]

View of the Dagobert's tower, showing the Crow-stepped gable (stepped roofline instead of a smooth one)

Over the next century at least thirteen other Bishops were installed. Then in 1436 Heinrich IV ofHewenwas appointed bishop. His belligerent and arbitrary style caused friction between himself and the town. Following a riot, the town was fined 4,000florinsfor breaking the peace within the castle grounds.[8]Later attempts by the town to secureFree Imperial Citystatus led to further hostilities in 1457. The inhabitants of the city stormed the castle and captured it. Bishop Heinrich responded by besieging the city. Following intervention bySiegmund of Austriaas well as Constance andZüricha compromise was reached. Heinrich then withdrew, but attacked the city a short while later. Catching the citizens off guard, his soldiers stormed the city and captured all the leaders of the revolution. Heinrich executed the leaders of the rebellion and stripped rights away from the city.

Thecrow-stepped gable(a stepped roof line instead of a smooth roof line) on the tower was added by the Constance Prince-BishopHugo von Hohenlandenberg(Served 1496–1532). Before his time, the Meersburg was a summer residence of the bishops. Following a conflict with the city of Constance in 1526, Hugo moved to the Meersburg. The castle remained the bishops' primary residence until the move to the New Schloss in the 18th century.

In 1647 the castle was attacked bySwedish troopsduring theThirty Years' War,however only the roof timbers were burned during the attack.

During the beginning of the 18th century, the bishops began to build theNew Castle at Meersburgas a modern residence castle. After 1750 the old castle served as a house for the administration of the city.

Secularization[edit]

The German poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoffs deathbed at Castle Meersburg
TheKnight's Hallat the castle. The hall is decorated in the style of the 13th century
Meersburg, Germany, Meersburg Castle, at the entrance: Bust of Annette von Droste Hülshoff

In theSecularizationof 1803 the Meersburg came under the control of theGrand Duchy of Baden.In 1838 the Grand Duke sold the castle to a private owner. The collectorJoseph von Laßbergand his wife Baroness Maria Anna von Droste-Hülshoff, who was also called Jenny, acquired the castle. In 1841 Jenny's sisterAnnette von Droste-Hülshoff,the famous German poet, moved to the castle where she would spend the last eight years of her life. Following the death of the Laßbergs, the castle went to their twin daughters, Hildegard and Hildegunde. However they couldn't afford the upkeep and sold the castle in 1877. Karl Mayer von Mayerfels fromMunichbought the castle and established a Medieval Museum in the castle. Today portions of the castle are open visitors on self-guided tours. The remainder of the castle is occupied by his descendants.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abNaessl (1995).Die Meersburg (English Edition).Regensburg, Germany: Verlag Schnell & Steiner. p. 4.ISBN3-7954-0489-4.
  2. ^Naessl refers toStumpf, Schweizerchronik II, p. 52which reports that "Meersburg is an ancient place established by King Dagobert as a landing for traffic and shipping en route to Constance"
  3. ^Naessl (1995).Die Meersburg (English Edition).Regensburg, Germany: Verlag Schnell & Steiner. p. 5.ISBN3-7954-0489-4.
  4. ^Naessl (1995).Die Meersburg (English Edition).Regensburg, Germany: Verlag Schnell & Steiner. p. 5.ISBN3-7954-0489-4.;Quoting Professor Linde, the former Director of the Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments in Baden
  5. ^Naessl (1995).Die Meersburg (English Edition).Regensburg, Germany: Verlag Schnell & Steiner. pp. 5–6.ISBN3-7954-0489-4.
  6. ^Naessl (1995).Die Meersburg (English Edition).Regensburg, Germany: Verlag Schnell & Steiner. p. 6.ISBN3-7954-0489-4.
  7. ^Burgenwelt.de(in German)
  8. ^abcdNaessl (1995).Die Meersburg (English Edition).Regensburg, Germany: Verlag Schnell & Steiner. p. 8.ISBN3-7954-0489-4.

External links[edit]

Media related toBurg Meersburgat Wikimedia Commons

47°41′38″N9°16′13″E/ 47.69389°N 9.27028°E/47.69389; 9.27028

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