Meldorf
Encyclopedia
Meldorf is a city in western Schleswig-Holstein
, in the district of Dithmarschen
, and straddling the Miele river. It was first mentioned in writing before 1250 ad, and it served as the capital of the Dithmarschen, a peasant republic with Allies in the Hanseatic league
dating from 1468. The city was sacked in 1500 AD when King John of the Kalmar Union
attempted to conquer the republic—his forces were self-assured and sloppy, and were routed by a force of poor arms and far inferior numbers in the Battle of Hemmingstedt
. However, in 1559, the republic was conquered, and the city lost its municipal rights, and wouldn’t regain them until 1869. Over time, it lost the capitalship to the town of Heide
, which developed a larger economy.
Meldorf is the birthplace of mathematician Olaus Henrici.
Meldorf is the seat of the Amt
("collective municipality") Mitteldithmarschen
.
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, in the district of Dithmarschen
Dithmarschen
Dithmarschen is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Flensburg, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, and Steinburg, by the state of Lower Saxony , and by the North Sea.-Geography:The district is located on the North Sea...
, and straddling the Miele river. It was first mentioned in writing before 1250 ad, and it served as the capital of the Dithmarschen, a peasant republic with Allies in the Hanseatic league
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
dating from 1468. The city was sacked in 1500 AD when King John of the Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
attempted to conquer the republic—his forces were self-assured and sloppy, and were routed by a force of poor arms and far inferior numbers in the Battle of Hemmingstedt
Battle of Hemmingstedt
The Battle of Hemmingstedt took place on February 17, 1500 south of the village of Hemmingstedt, near the present village of Epenwöhrden, in the western part of present-day Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. It was an attempt by Duke Friedrich and Duke Johann to subdue the peasantry of Dithmarschen,...
. However, in 1559, the republic was conquered, and the city lost its municipal rights, and wouldn’t regain them until 1869. Over time, it lost the capitalship to the town of Heide
Heide
Heide is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis Dithmarschen. Population: 21,000.The German word Heide means "heath". In the 15th century four adjoining villages decided to build a church in the "middle of the heath". This remained the town's name to date...
, which developed a larger economy.
Meldorf is the birthplace of mathematician Olaus Henrici.
Meldorf is the seat of the Amt
Amt (subnational entity)
Amt is a type of administrative division governing a group of municipalities, today only found in Germany, but formerly also common in northern European countries. Its size and functions differ by country and the term is roughly equivalent to a U.S...
("collective municipality") Mitteldithmarschen
Mitteldithmarschen
Mitteldithmarschen is an Amt in the district of Dithmarschen, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Its seat is in Meldorf. It was formed on 25 May 2008 from the former Ämter Albersdorf, Meldorf-Land and the town Meldorf....
.
External links
www.meldorf.de- (author uncertain) (visited 20 November 2005)
- E F Robertson, J.J. O'Connor (visited 21 November 2005)