Burg Nassau
Encyclopedia
Nassau Castle, located in Nassau
, Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
, was the original seat of the House of Nassau
. The ruins
of the castle
are situated on a rock outcropping about 120 metres (393.7 ft) above the Lahn
River. The House of Nassau
was an aristocratic dynasty among whose descendants are the present-day rulers of the Netherlands
and Luxembourg
.
(German: Dudo-Heinrich von Laurenburg), the founder of the House of Nassau. In 1120, Dudo-Henry's sons and successors, Counts Robert I
(German: Ruprecht; also translated Rupert) and Arnold I of Laurenburg
, established themselves at Nassau Castle with its tower. They renovated and extended the castle complex in 1124.
Because the castle stood at that time on the territory of the Bishopric of Worms
, a bitter feud developed between the family of the two brothers and the Bishopric of Worms. Even when Robert I in 1124 inherited the position of the Bishopric of Worms' vogt
in Weilburg
, whose territory had included the former Königshof Nassau since 914, the conflict was not settled. When Robert I began calling himself the Count of Nassau after the castle, the Worms Bishopric disputed the title.
The dispute was only solved (and the title confirmed) in 1159, about five years after Robert’s death, under his son Walram I
by the intervention of the Archbishop of Trier
, Hillin von Fallemanien. The Laurenburger family gave up their claim to allodial title
and in return were given the fiefdom
over the castle and town of Nassau from the archbishop. Thereafter, the Laurenburger family were titled the Counts of Nassau.
Walram I's son Henry II
the Rich (Heinrich der Reiche) constructed the late-Romanesque
main building (palas) of the castle between 1220 to 1230. In 1255, the Countship of Nassau
was divided between Henry II's sons, Walram II
and Otto I
, in the so-called "Brothers' Division" (Bruderteilung). Nassau Castle, however, remained a common possession of the two brothers (the so-called Ganerbschaft in ancient Germanic hereditary laws).
In the first half of the 14th century, the still-extant five-sided 33 metres (108.3 ft) high keep
(or donjon) was built. A second castle tower is mentioned in 1346, but it no longer exists. During a family feud in 1372, the housing of the castle keepers was destroyed.
The counts lived in the castle until the end of the Middle Ages
, at which time they gave it up as their residence. An etching by Matthäus Merian
from 17th century shows an intact palas and keep as well as a gate building, but in the final phase of World War II
, the remaining ruins were destroyed. When archeological surveys were done in 1970 to uncover the rectangular walls, only ruins were found.
The castle came into the possession of the State Castle Administration of Rhineland-Palatinate (Staatliche Schlösserverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz) in 1965. Starting in 1976 restoration of the keep took place. Its hipped roof and merlon
, as well as the side towers, were again reconstructed after the etching by Merian and the six to eight meters high arcaded vault
in its interiors were restored. Furthermore, the opening to the dungeon of the tower was cleared. The reconstruction of the palas and its knights hall followed from 1979-80. During the course of the restoration the late-Gothic
window-arcades were rediscovered.
The main building today accommodates a restaurant, while the keep can be visited free of charge.
This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article, as of 2009-01-25.
Nassau, Germany
Nassau is a town located in the German Land of Rhineland-Palatinate. It lies in the Lahn River valley between the cities of Bad Ems and Limburg an der Lahn. Nassau is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde of Nassau. The town is on the German-Dutch holiday road, the Orange Route...
, Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, 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...
, was the original seat of the House of Nassau
House of Nassau
The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
. The ruins
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
of the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
are situated on a rock outcropping about 120 metres (393.7 ft) above the Lahn
Lahn
The Lahn River is a -long, right tributary of the Rhine River in Germany. Its course passes through the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia , Hesse , and Rhineland-Palatinate ....
River. The House of Nassau
House of Nassau
The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
was an aristocratic dynasty among whose descendants are the present-day rulers of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
.
History
The castle was founded around 1100 by Count Dudo-Henry of LaurenburgDudo-Henry of Laurenburg
Dudo-Henry of Laurenburg was Count of Laurenburg in 1093 and is considered the founder of the House of Nassau...
(German: Dudo-Heinrich von Laurenburg), the founder of the House of Nassau. In 1120, Dudo-Henry's sons and successors, Counts Robert I
Robert I of Nassau
Robert I of Nassau was from 1123 co-Count of Laurenburg and would later title himself the first Count of Nassau. The House of Nassau would become an important aristocratic family in Germany, from which are descended the present-day rulers of both the Netherlands and Luxembourg.-Biography:Robert...
(German: Ruprecht; also translated Rupert) and Arnold I of Laurenburg
Arnold I of Laurenburg
Arnold I of Laurenburg , an early member of the House of Nassau, was from 1123 co-Count of Laurenburg. The House of Nassau would become an important aristocratic family in Germany, from which are descended the present-day Kings of the Netherlands and Grand Dukes of Luxembourg.-Biography:Arnold was...
, established themselves at Nassau Castle with its tower. They renovated and extended the castle complex in 1124.
Because the castle stood at that time on the territory of the Bishopric of Worms
Bishopric of Worms
The Bishopric of Worms was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire. Located on both banks of the Rhine around Worms just north of the union of that river with the Neckar, it was largely surrounded by the Palatinate. Worms had been the seat of a bishop from Roman times...
, a bitter feud developed between the family of the two brothers and the Bishopric of Worms. Even when Robert I in 1124 inherited the position of the Bishopric of Worms' vogt
Vogt
A Vogt ; plural Vögte; Dutch voogd; Danish foged; ; ultimately from Latin [ad]vocatus) in the Holy Roman Empire was the German title of a reeve or advocate, an overlord exerting guardianship or military protection as well as secular justice...
in Weilburg
Weilburg
Weilburg is, with just under 14,000 inhabitants, the third biggest town in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany, after Limburg an der Lahn and Bad Camberg.- Location :...
, whose territory had included the former Königshof Nassau since 914, the conflict was not settled. When Robert I began calling himself the Count of Nassau after the castle, the Worms Bishopric disputed the title.
The dispute was only solved (and the title confirmed) in 1159, about five years after Robert’s death, under his son Walram I
Walram I of Nassau
Walram I of Nassau was the first Count of Nassau, reigning from 1154 to 1198. The House of Nassau would become an important aristocratic family in Germany, from which are descended the present-day rulers of both the Netherlands and Luxembourg.- Early life :Walram was the younger son of Count...
by the intervention of the Archbishop of Trier
Archbishopric of Trier
The Archbishopric of Trier was a Roman Catholic diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Its suffragans were the dioceses of Metz, Toul and Verdun. Since the 9th century the Archbishops of Trier were simultaneously princes and since the 11th...
, Hillin von Fallemanien. The Laurenburger family gave up their claim to allodial title
Allodial title
Allodial title constitutes ownership of real property that is independent of any superior landlord, but it should not be confused with anarchy as the owner of allodial land is not independent of his sovereign...
and in return were given the fiefdom
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
over the castle and town of Nassau from the archbishop. Thereafter, the Laurenburger family were titled the Counts of Nassau.
Walram I's son Henry II
Henry II of Nassau
Henry II the Rich was Count of Nassau between 1198 and 1247. Among his descendants are the present-day rulers of both Luxembourg and the Netherlands.-Biography:...
the Rich (Heinrich der Reiche) constructed the late-Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
main building (palas) of the castle between 1220 to 1230. In 1255, the Countship of Nassau
Nassau (state)
Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire and later in the German Confederation. Its ruling dynasty, now extinct in male line, was the House of Nassau.-Origins:...
was divided between Henry II's sons, Walram II
Walram II of Nassau
-Biography:Walram was the elder son of Count Henry II of Nassau and Matilda of Guelders. He was chief cavalry officer in the service of Emperor Rudolf I.In about 1247, Henry II abdicated, passing the reign to Walram's younger brother, Otto...
and Otto I
Otto I of Nassau
Otto I of Nassau , Count of Nassau was the younger son of Count Henry II of Nassau and Matilda of Geldern. Otto I became the count of Dillenburg, Hadamar, Siegen, Herborn and Beilstein after many years of quarrel with his brother Count Walram II. In the division of 17 December 1255 he received...
, in the so-called "Brothers' Division" (Bruderteilung). Nassau Castle, however, remained a common possession of the two brothers (the so-called Ganerbschaft in ancient Germanic hereditary laws).
In the first half of the 14th century, the still-extant five-sided 33 metres (108.3 ft) high keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
(or donjon) was built. A second castle tower is mentioned in 1346, but it no longer exists. During a family feud in 1372, the housing of the castle keepers was destroyed.
The counts lived in the castle until the end of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, at which time they gave it up as their residence. An etching by Matthäus Merian
Matthäus Merian
Matthäus Merian der Ältere was a Swiss-born engraver who worked in Frankfurt for most of his career, where he also ran a publishing house.-Early life and marriage:...
from 17th century shows an intact palas and keep as well as a gate building, but in the final phase of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the remaining ruins were destroyed. When archeological surveys were done in 1970 to uncover the rectangular walls, only ruins were found.
The castle came into the possession of the State Castle Administration of Rhineland-Palatinate (Staatliche Schlösserverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz) in 1965. Starting in 1976 restoration of the keep took place. Its hipped roof and merlon
Merlon
In architecture, a merlon forms the solid part of an embattled parapet, sometimes pierced by embrasures. The space between two merlons is usually called a crenel, although those later designed and used for cannons were called embrasures.-Etymology:...
, as well as the side towers, were again reconstructed after the etching by Merian and the six to eight meters high arcaded vault
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
in its interiors were restored. Furthermore, the opening to the dungeon of the tower was cleared. The reconstruction of the palas and its knights hall followed from 1979-80. During the course of the restoration the late-Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
window-arcades were rediscovered.
The main building today accommodates a restaurant, while the keep can be visited free of charge.
External links
- Homepage of the Castle-restaurant with a detailed history of the counts of Nassau
Sources
- Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Rheinland-Pfalz, Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser (Hrsg.): Staatliche Burgen, Schlösser und Altertümer in Rheinland-Pfalz. 6. überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage. Mainz 1997.
This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article, as of 2009-01-25.