Dorestad
Encyclopedia
In the Early Middle Ages
, Dorestad was the largest settlement (emporia
) of northwestern Europe. It was a large, flourishing trading place, three kilometers long, situated where the rivers Rhine and Lek
diverge southeast of Utrecht
in the Netherlands
near the modern town of Wijk bij Duurstede
. In Roman times a Roman fortress was built there that was still in use during the existence of Dorestad. Between 600 and around 719 Dorestad was often fought over between the Frisians
and the Franks
.
Dorestad was a North Sea trading centre between the 7th century and the middle of the 9th century, primarily handling goods from the Middle Rhineland
. Wine
was among the major products traded at Dorestad, likely from vineyards south of Mainz
.
The place was widely known because it had a mint
. Around 640, the master of the mint in Dorestad was Madelinus. Later, sceat
tas and Carolingian coins were minted there.
Because of its success as a trading place, according to medieval Christian written sources Dorestad drew the attention of Vikings, who frequently raided the place (834
, 835
, 836
, 837
, 844
, 857
and 863
). Vikings were involved in the first raid in 834. The raid of 857 was led by Rorik of Dorestad. Dorestad became the capital of the Viking Kingdom of Dorestad, which lasted from 850
to 885
.
Dorestad declined around 850 and shrunk to a small agricultural site. However, in 896 king Zwentibold
of Lotharingia
refers to the rights and privilege
s of Dorestad in a document. The town's remains have been partially washed away by the river.
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
, Dorestad was the largest settlement (emporia
Emporia (early medieval)
The term 'emporia' is applied to trading settlements which emerged in north-western Europe in the sixth to seventh centuries, and persisted into the ninth century...
) of northwestern Europe. It was a large, flourishing trading place, three kilometers long, situated where the rivers Rhine and Lek
Lek River
The Lek is a river in the western Netherlands of some 60 km in length. It is the continuation of the Nederrijn after the Kromme Rijn branches off at the town of Wijk bij Duurstede. The main westbound waterway is hereafter called the Lek River...
diverge southeast of Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
in 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...
near the modern town of Wijk bij Duurstede
Wijk bij Duurstede
- The city of Wijk bij Duurstede :The city is located on the Rhine. At Wijk bij Duurstede, the Kromme Rijn branches off, and the main branch is called Lek River downstream from Wijk bij Duurstede....
. In Roman times a Roman fortress was built there that was still in use during the existence of Dorestad. Between 600 and around 719 Dorestad was often fought over between the Frisians
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
and the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
.
Dorestad was a North Sea trading centre between the 7th century and the middle of the 9th century, primarily handling goods from the Middle Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
. Wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
was among the major products traded at Dorestad, likely from vineyards south of Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
.
The place was widely known because it had a mint
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
. Around 640, the master of the mint in Dorestad was Madelinus. Later, sceat
Sceat
Sceattas were small, thick silver coins minted in England, Frisia and Jutland during the Anglo-Saxon period.-History:Their name derives from an Old English word meaning 'wealth', which has been applied to these coins since the seventeenth century, based on interpretations of the law-code of King...
tas and Carolingian coins were minted there.
Because of its success as a trading place, according to medieval Christian written sources Dorestad drew the attention of Vikings, who frequently raided the place (834
834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
, 835
835
Year 835 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ragnar Lodbrok rises to power ....
, 836
836
Year 836 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Abbasid caliph al-Mutasim establishes a new capital at Samarra, Iraq.- Europe :...
, 837
837
Year 837 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Pietro Tradonico is elected Doge of Venice.* Uen succeeds Drest IV as king of the Picts....
, 844
844
Year 844 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Rhodri Mawr becomes king of Gwynedd....
, 857
857
Year 857 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* Michael III of Byzantium, under the influence of his uncle Bardas, banishes his mother Theodora...
and 863
863
Year 863 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Constantine I succeeds as king of Scotland ....
). Vikings were involved in the first raid in 834. The raid of 857 was led by Rorik of Dorestad. Dorestad became the capital of the Viking Kingdom of Dorestad, which lasted from 850
850
Year 850 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Montoku succeeds Emperor Nimmyō as Emperor of Japan.- Europe :...
to 885
885
Year 885 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings besiege Paris.* Godfrith, the Sea King is killed in Lobith...
.
Dorestad declined around 850 and shrunk to a small agricultural site. However, in 896 king Zwentibold
Zwentibold
Zwentibold was the illegitimate son of the Carolingian Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. In 895 his father, then king of East Francia, granted him the Kingdom of Lotharingia, which he ruled until his death.After his death he was declared a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church.- Life :Zwentibold...
of Lotharingia
Lotharingia
Lotharingia was a region in northwest Europe, comprising the Low Countries, the western Rhineland, the lands today on the border between France and Germany, and what is now western Switzerland. It was born of the tripartite division in 855, of the kingdom of Middle Francia, itself formed of the...
refers to the rights and privilege
Privilege
A privilege is a special entitlement to immunity granted by the state or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. It can be revoked in certain circumstances. In modern democratic states, a privilege is conditional and granted only after birth...
s of Dorestad in a document. The town's remains have been partially washed away by the river.
Further reading
- Navis II project, The Early-Medieval harbour of Dorestad
- Extensive information on Dorestad (Dutch), Dorestad onthuld (Dorestad revealed)
- Rise and fall of Dorestad (English), The Danish role in the decay of Dorestad