Meersburg Castle: Difference between revisions

Burg Meersburg, also known as the Alte Burg (English: Old Castle), in Meersburg on Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, Germany is the oldest inhabitated castle in Germany. The central tower was first built during the 7^th Century, though the orignal structure is no long visible. Burg Meersburg is known as the the old castle, in the reference to the neighboring 18^th Century New Castle.

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.

There are two theories about the construction of the Meersburg. The first is that the Merovingian king Dagobert I built the Dagobertturms (Dagobert's Tower), the central keep of the Meersburg, in 630. Around 630, Dagobert was in the Lake Constance region working on the Christianization of the Alamanni.^[1]. This theory is based on a source from 1548^[2], and was supported by Joseph von Laßberg who lived in the castle during the 19^th Century. A charter issued by Frederick Barbarossa on November 27, 1155, citing older, questionable sources, mentions that the boundaries of the Bishopric of Constance were 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 12^th 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 7^th Century, but in the 12^th Century to early 13^th Century many castles were built in the region. The Merdesburch Castle was first mentioned in 1113^[1], which implies a construction date before the early 12^th Century.

The stones at the base of the Dagobertturm are very large roughly squared stones that according to architectural history could date from either the 7^th Century^[4] or from the 12^th Century to early 13^th Century. Because the stones could have come from either era, it is not clear which theory is correct. However, similiarities between the Meersburg and other 12^th 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 Duke Gottfried of Alemannia who was at war with Dagobert's successor and rebuilt 80 years later by Charles Martel. From 730 until 911 the Meersburg was a Carolingian castle and owned by the Counts of Linzgau, but administered by the Counts of Buchhorn. Following the extinction of the Buchhorn line it would have passed to the Counts of Guelph. A contract between the Counts of Guelph 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 Guelphs and the Bishporic had close ties, as Bishop Conrad was of Guelph descent^[5].

The castle may have been owned by several different lords during the following centuries. It appears that the castle was owned by the Hohenstaufens for a while, because in 1213 King Frederick II celebrated the Holy Week in Meersburg. Then, in 1233 Meersburg was granted the weekly market right by Frederick II. Shortly before his death in 1254, Conrad IV, having been deposed and excommunicated by Pope Innocent IV asked Eberhard II, the High Steward of Meersburg to care for his two year old sonConradin. In 1261 Conradin became the Duke of Swabia, raising an army in the Ravensburg area. He departed from Meersburg^[6] to head south into Italy to fight Charles I of Anjou and 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.

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 canidates for the position of Bishop of Constance. Baron Nikolaus I of Kenzingen was elected Bishop by supporters of the Pope while Albrecht of Hohenberg was chosen by the Holy Roman Emperor. Nikolaus quickly traveled to Avignon, in France the seat of Pope John XXII to 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 army besieged Burg Meersburg. During the siege, cannons were 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 IV was growing tired of the siege. When Duke Otto of Austria requested his help against the Bohemians, Louis left Meersburg and confirmed Nikolaus as Bishop. Albrecht was granted the Bishopric of Würzburg in 1345 to replace the lost Bishopric^[8].

Following Nikolaus, Urich Pfefferhardt was Bishop from 1345 until 1351. In 1352 Johann III Windlock from Constance was 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-Markdorf and the Abbot Eberhard of Reichenau, he was killed by soldiers while in his palace in Constance^[8].

Over the next century at least thirteen other Bishops were installed. Then in 1436 Heinrich IV of Hewen was appointed Bishop. His belligerent and arbitrary style caused friction between himself and the town. Following a riot, the town was fined 4,000 florins for breaking the peace within the castle grounds^[8]. Later attempts by the town to secure Free Imperial City status led to further hostilites in 1457. The inhabitants of the city stormed the castle and captured it. Bishop Heinrich responded by besieging the city. Following intervention by Siegmund of Austria as well as Constance and Zürich and 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.

• List of castles in Baden-Württemberg
• Meersburg

• Meersburg on bergen.de Template:De icon
• Meersburg on Castle Inventory.de Template:De icon
• Meersburg Castle Website Template:De icon
• City of Meersburg Website

47°41′38″N 9°16′13″E / 47.69389°N 9.27028°E / 47.69389; 9.27028

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