Achim
Encyclopedia
Achim (ˈaxɪm) is a municipality and the largest town (population 30.059 (December 2006)) in the district of Verden
, in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. It is situated on the right bank of the Weser, approx. 17 km northwest of Verden
, and 16 km southeast of Bremen
. The mayor is Uwe Kellner.
For Baden mountains and Oil Camp, see Baden, Lower Saxony
.
The Christian missionaries erected a baptismal church in Achim in the 12th century; it was the predecessor of St. Laurentius Church in Achim, built in 1257. Then it belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen.
In the course of the War on Lunenburgian Succession
(1370–1388) Achim was set on fire in 1381 because of the fights between Duke Albrecht of Saxe-Wittenberg, Duke-designate of Brunswick and Lunenburg
, and the Prince-Archbishop of Bremen, Albert II, titular Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg
.
From 1626 it was alternatingly controlled by Danes and Swedes. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was first ruled in personal union
by the Swedish Crown and — interrupted by a Danish occupation (1712–1715) — from 1715 on by the House of Hanover
. During the Third Silesian or Seven Years' War
(precipitated by the Anglo-French and Indian War
) it was controlled by France. In 1807 the ephemeric Kingdom of Westphalia
annexed the Duchy of Bremen, including Achim, before France
annexed it in 1810. Achim became the capital of a homonymous canton within the Département des Bouches-du-Weser
. In 1813 the Duchy was restored to the Electorate of Hanover
. In 1814 the Electorate was upgraded to the Kingdom of Hanover
at the Congress of Vienna
. In 1823 Hanover incorporated the Duchy in a real union
and the ducal territory, including Achim, became part of the Stade Region
, established in 1823.
A train station has existed in Achim since 1847. Achim lies on the track between Bremen
and Hannover.
with: Cēsis
, Latvia..
Verden (district)
Verden is a Kreis in the centre of Lower Saxony, Germany. Adjoining it are the districts of Osterholz, Rotenburg, Heidekreis, Nienburg and Diepholz, as well as the city of Bremen.-Geography:...
, in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is situated on the right bank of the Weser, approx. 17 km northwest of Verden
Verden, Germany
Verden an der Aller, also called Verden or simply Verden , is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the river Aller. It is the administrative centre of the district of Verden...
, and 16 km southeast of Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
. The mayor is Uwe Kellner.
Geography
Achim lies in a valley of the Weser. The area surrounding Achim is primarily moorland in its natural state. It has an elevation of 15 meters above sea level, and an area of 65.1 km2.For Baden mountains and Oil Camp, see Baden, Lower Saxony
Baden, Lower Saxony
Baden is a town near Bremen, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is known to Africanists and Phoneticians as the place where Diedrich Hermann Westermann was born and died.Baden is a borough of the town of Achim....
.
History
The first recorded mention of Achim came in 1091 as Arahem. The controlling heights of the Linden Mountains, south of Bremen, on which the old Arahem leaned, was a cult- and court-location. Achim was a meeting place of old Saxon courts. The court met three times annually.The Christian missionaries erected a baptismal church in Achim in the 12th century; it was the predecessor of St. Laurentius Church in Achim, built in 1257. Then it belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen.
In the course of the War on Lunenburgian Succession
Lüneburg War of Succession
The Lüneburg War of Succession was a conflict that broke out in 1370 in north Germany and lasted, with interruptions, for 18 years. The war was over the line of succession to the Principality of Lüneburg...
(1370–1388) Achim was set on fire in 1381 because of the fights between Duke Albrecht of Saxe-Wittenberg, Duke-designate of Brunswick and Lunenburg
Albert of Saxe-Wittenberg, Duke of Lüneburg
Albert of Saxe-Wittenberg was born as the son of Otto , a younger son of the prince-elector Rudolph I of Saxe-Wittenberg, and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Duke William II of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, and the Prince-Archbishop of Bremen, Albert II, titular Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg
Albert of Brunswick and Lunenburg-Wolfenbüttel
Duke Albert of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel line was as Albert II Prince-Archbishop of Bremen in the years 1361–1395.-Before ascending to the See of Bremen:...
.
From 1626 it was alternatingly controlled by Danes and Swedes. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was first ruled in personal union
Personal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
by the Swedish Crown and — interrupted by a Danish occupation (1712–1715) — from 1715 on by the House of Hanover
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. During the Third Silesian or Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
(precipitated by the Anglo-French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
) it was controlled by France. In 1807 the ephemeric Kingdom of Westphalia
Kingdom of Westphalia
The Kingdom of Westphalia was a new country of 2.6 million Germans that existed from 1807-1813. It included of territory in Hesse and other parts of present-day Germany. While formally independent, it was a vassal state of the First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte...
annexed the Duchy of Bremen, including Achim, before France
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
annexed it in 1810. Achim became the capital of a homonymous canton within the Département des Bouches-du-Weser
Bouches-du-Weser
Bouches-du-Weser is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Germany. It is named after the mouth of the river Weser. It was formed in 1811, when the region was annexed by France...
. In 1813 the Duchy was restored to the Electorate of Hanover
Electorate of Hanover
The Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg was the ninth Electorate of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation...
. In 1814 the Electorate was upgraded to the Kingdom of Hanover
Kingdom of Hanover
The Kingdom of Hanover was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg , and joined with 38 other sovereign states in the German...
at the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
. In 1823 Hanover incorporated the Duchy in a real union
Real union
Real union is a union of two or more states, which share some state institutions as in contrast to personal unions; however they are not as unified as states in a political union...
and the ducal territory, including Achim, became part of the Stade Region
Stade (region)
The Stade Region emerged in 1823 by an administrative reorganisation of the dominions of the Kingdom of Hanover, a sovereign state, whose then territory is almost completely part of today's German federal state of Lower Saxony...
, established in 1823.
A train station has existed in Achim since 1847. Achim lies on the track between Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
and Hannover.
Industry
Achim is home to several international companies including Vitakraft and Daybridge InternationalInternational relations
Achim is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Cēsis
Cesis
Cēsis , is a town in Latvia located in the northern part of the Central Vidzeme Upland. Cēsis is on the Gauja River valley, and is built on a series of ridges above the river overlooking the woods below...
, Latvia..