Destruction of the Oberstift (Linz and Ahrweiler)
Encyclopedia
The destruction of the Oberstift , which included Linz, Ahrweiler, and other small towns and villages, occurred in the opening months of the Cologne War
, from Christmas Day, 1582 until the end of March, 1583. Over these few weeks, armies of the competing archbishops of Cologne burned the southern-most villages, cloisters, and small towns.
It the Cologne War
(1583–1589) two men competed for control of the Electorate of Cologne and sought to control one of the wealthiest Electorates in the Holy Roman Empire. Their contest lasted until 1589, when Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg
renounced his claim and moved to Strassbourg; Ernst of Bavaria became uncontested Prince elector of Cologne, the first Wittelsbach
to hold the position; his family maintained their hold on it until 1761. Under his direction, Jesuits introduced the Counter-Reformation
to the north-western German states and under the leadership of his successors, these territories remained a Catholic stronghold until the late eighteenth century.
(1548–1593), who had married Eleonore, Countess of Hohenzollern (1551–after 1598); his long time ally and supporter Count Adolph Neuenar and Herman Neuenar, a member of the Cathedral chapter, and Neuenar's his brother-in-law, Count Bentheim.
cloister to the ground.
Initially, in the Oberstift, Salentin von Isenburg took the cities of Linz
(Linz am Rhein) and Ahrweiler
and the district of Altenrath for the Catholic faction. The count Werner von of Reifferscheid, who was the hereditary marshal of the Archdiocese, took command of the Catholic faction’s troops. He occupied Bonn, and the castle at Alfter. All the villages and cloisters that lay there, he plundered and set to the torch. Reifferscheid overran Bonn and then took the village of Mehlem, from there he went to a powder supply that Karl Truchsess had established in the vicinity of the city, and took it, and then burned the faciiltiy. In the night,overran Bonn by the village of Mehlem. After that, in the middle of the night, he overcame the sentries, and overcame the enemy in deep sleep.
There passed a dreadful carnage. On both sides were the deaths enough. All of the villages by the Rhine were burned. There were dreadful crackling and glow in the deep night. Everything was destroyed, what the one side didn’t burn, the other side did. The victor moved toward Bonn and took it in Triumph.
During this early part of the war, the two factions became more clearly defined and from either side, the lines became clearer: if you are not for us, you are against us. It was not possible to remain neutral.
|
Bibliography
Cologne War
The Cologne War devastated the Electorate of Cologne, a historical ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire, present-day North-Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany...
, from Christmas Day, 1582 until the end of March, 1583. Over these few weeks, armies of the competing archbishops of Cologne burned the southern-most villages, cloisters, and small towns.
It the Cologne War
Cologne War
The Cologne War devastated the Electorate of Cologne, a historical ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire, present-day North-Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany...
(1583–1589) two men competed for control of the Electorate of Cologne and sought to control one of the wealthiest Electorates in the Holy Roman Empire. Their contest lasted until 1589, when Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg
Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg
Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. After pursuing an ecclesiastical career, he won a close election in the Cathedral chapter of Cologne over Ernst of Bavaria. After his election, he fell in love with and later married Agnes von Mansfeld-Eisleben, a Protestant...
renounced his claim and moved to Strassbourg; Ernst of Bavaria became uncontested Prince elector of Cologne, the first Wittelsbach
Wittelsbach
The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria.Members of the family served as Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria , Counts Palatine of the Rhine , Margraves of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland , Elector-Archbishops of Cologne , Dukes of...
to hold the position; his family maintained their hold on it until 1761. Under his direction, Jesuits introduced the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
to the north-western German states and under the leadership of his successors, these territories remained a Catholic stronghold until the late eighteenth century.
Context
In this phase of the war, it was a localized feud between supporters of Gebhard, and supporters of the Catholic core of the Cathedral chapter. In the initial outburst after Gebhard's conversion, several of the key men of the Electorate had taken sides. Salentin von Isenbur and his son in law, Count Arenberg, and the Duke Friedrich von Lauenburg stood against the supporters of Gebhard Truchsess. Gebhard had three primary supporters: his brother, Karl, Truchsess von WaldburgKarl, Truchsess von Waldburg
Karl, Truchsess von Waldburg , Baron and Steward of Waldburg in Trauchburg , Imperial minister. Karl was born in the Fürstenburg fortress of Heiligenberg, the third son of William, known as the younger, , Freiherr and Seneschal of Waldburg and an Imperial Councilor, and his wife, Johanna v...
(1548–1593), who had married Eleonore, Countess of Hohenzollern (1551–after 1598); his long time ally and supporter Count Adolph Neuenar and Herman Neuenar, a member of the Cathedral chapter, and Neuenar's his brother-in-law, Count Bentheim.
Campaign for the Upper Electorate
Karl Truchsess, the Elector’s brother, burned the DietkirchenDietkirchen
Dietkirchen an der Lahn is a borough of Limburg an der Lahn, seat of the district of Limburg-Weilburg in the state of Hesse, Germany. The formerly independent village was incorporated into Limburg in 1971. The town is dominated by the St...
cloister to the ground.
Initially, in the Oberstift, Salentin von Isenburg took the cities of Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
(Linz am Rhein) and Ahrweiler
Ahrweiler
Ahrweiler is a district in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the districts Euskirchen, Rhein-Sieg and the city Bonn in the state North Rhine-Westphalia, and the districts of Neuwied, Mayen-Koblenz and Vulkaneifel.- History :The region was conquered by the Romans under...
and the district of Altenrath for the Catholic faction. The count Werner von of Reifferscheid, who was the hereditary marshal of the Archdiocese, took command of the Catholic faction’s troops. He occupied Bonn, and the castle at Alfter. All the villages and cloisters that lay there, he plundered and set to the torch. Reifferscheid overran Bonn and then took the village of Mehlem, from there he went to a powder supply that Karl Truchsess had established in the vicinity of the city, and took it, and then burned the faciiltiy. In the night,overran Bonn by the village of Mehlem. After that, in the middle of the night, he overcame the sentries, and overcame the enemy in deep sleep.
There passed a dreadful carnage. On both sides were the deaths enough. All of the villages by the Rhine were burned. There were dreadful crackling and glow in the deep night. Everything was destroyed, what the one side didn’t burn, the other side did. The victor moved toward Bonn and took it in Triumph.
Siege of Poppelsdorf
In November 1583, Ernst's brother laid siege to the Elector's palace at Poppelsdorf. A gothic water fortress had been built in 1341 and was expanded the following year into a double-fortress. Despite its relatively low walls, it held out for two weeks, and Ernst's troops breached the gates on 18 November.Siege of Hülchrath
Campaign for the Lower Electorate
Rheinberg taken by count Neuenar. He had English and Scottish soldiers that he had recruited in the Netherlands. The church was plundered and the priests abused and mishandled.Consequences
At this point, on 22 March, in Rome, Pope Gregory XIII excommunicated Gebhard. He declared him alienated from all his possessions, funds, and everything to which he was entitled, including services of people who had promised loyalty to him.During this early part of the war, the two factions became more clearly defined and from either side, the lines became clearer: if you are not for us, you are against us. It was not possible to remain neutral.
Sources
Citations|
Bibliography