Moritzberg (Hildesheim)
Encyclopedia
Moritzberg is a quarter in the city of Hildesheim
in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. It is on a hill in the west of the city, about a mile from the Cathedral
. It was an independent market town until 1911.
(815-835), founded a chapel on a hill called Zierenberg west of Hildesheim. Before Christianization, pagans had worshipped the Germanic god Týr at a sacred well at the same place. Some Germanic tribes called Týr Ziur, and Zierenberg simply meant Týr's Hill. Strategically, the former place of worship and the chapel were in a very advantageous position: the ancient Hellweg
trade route ran past the foot of the hill, which offered a clear view of the Innerste
valley where the town of Hildesheim was developing at a ford
.
One of Gunthar's successors, Bishop Godehard of Hildesheim (1022-38), founded a monastery beside the chapel on the Zierenberg about 1025 and had a church built there which was dedicated to Saint Maurice
and consecrated in 1028. Maurice means Mauritius or Moritz in German, and so the name of the hill was changed to Moritzberg ("Maurice Hill"). A village bearing the same name developed around the monastery and at the foot of the hill beside the trade route in the Early Middle Ages
. Most of its inhabitants worked for the monastery.
In the 12th century, many Flemish
immigrants settled in northern Germany. They were welcome as they were hard-working and experienced in colonizing the land. The provost
of Saint Maurice's monastery allowed Flemish settlers to found a new town between Moritzberg and Hildesheim in 1196. The new settlement, which was called Dammstadt, was supported by the Bishop of Hildesheim as well and quickly developed into a prosperous village which obtained town rights in 1232, i.e. even before Hildesheim was awarded town rights in 1249. The inhabitants of Hildesheim, who did not want to be governed by the bishop any longer, considered neighbouring Dammstadt to be a danger to the economic growth of their own town. They attacked Dammstadt on 24th December 1332 and destroyed it completely. As many inhabitants of Dammstadt sought refuge in Moritzberg, that village was attacked as well and suffered considerable damage. Dammstadt was never rebuilt and repopulated. In 1347, the townsfolk of Hildesheim attacked and looted Moritzberg, drove the inhabitants out of the village and destroyed it. Moritzberg, however, was rebuilt and repopulated.
In the 15th century, a moat and a rampart were built to fortify the village. In the east, Moritzberg was protected by the Kupferstrang, a small tributary of the Innerste. For many centuries, the Kupferstrang formed the border between Hildesheim and Moritzberg. There were three gates to the village. In 1430, the Katztor was mentioned for the first time in the records; it had a tower, 28 feet high. The Krehlator had a tower 25 feet high, and the third gate, the Dingworthtor, at the northern end of the high street, was mentioned for the first time in 1452.
When Protestantism
was introduced into Hildesheim and its surrounding area in 1542, the inhabitants of Moritzberg and several other villages, e.g. Sorsum
, refused to convert. Protestants were not even allowed to live in Moritzberg. There was, however, a Jewish community with a synagogue in the high street, a school and a Jewish cemetery which still exists. Several times, Jews from Hildesheim sought refuge in Moritzberg.
During the Thirty Years' War
, Moritzberg suffered much more damage than Hildesheim. After Christian IV of Denmark
had intervened in the fighting, Moritzberg was looted by Danish soldiers in 1626 and Saint Maurice's Church was heavily damaged. After the intervention of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
, Moritzberg was destroyed by Swedish troops in 1632. The village was rebuilt after the war. The oldest surviving house in the quarter today dates from 1645. The monastery and Saint Maurice's Church were rebuilt from 1644 to 1660.
After the Thirty Year's War, Moritzberg was granted market rights by Maximilian Henry of Bavaria
in 1652. He wanted to promote the economic recovery of the Roman Catholic village which had suffered from the ravages of war, but there has never been a dedicated market place in Moritzberg. Presumably the market was held along the ancient trade route in Dingworthstrasse which has always been the high street of Moritzberg. It might have been an oblong street market. Originally, the city of Hildesheim did not have a proper market place either, but an oblong street market in a street called Alter Markt (Old Market) which still exists today. In 1699, Moritzberg had a total of 114 houses.
In the 18th century, Moritzberg developed into a flourishing, but small town. There were several breweries and inns that were very profitable. As the beer tax of Hildesheim was higher than in Moritzberg, many citizens of Hildesheim went to Moritzberg frequently to buy beer. Saint Maurice's was transfomed into a baroque
church in 1744-47. The tower was built in 1765. When the first census was held in 1785 the population numbered 673 inhabitants.
During secularization
the monastery was dissolved. In 1810, Saint Maurice's became the parish church
of Moritzberg. The former parish church had to be demolished because of its dilapidated condition.
In 1803, Moritzberg had 757 inhabitants. Most of them were Roman Catholics and 64 were Jews. There were almost no Protestants. When the first factories were founded in Hildesheim in the 19th century, many workers preferred to live in Moritzberg because rents were lower there. So the number of Protestant residents gradually rose, and space was required to construct more and more houses. The medieval moat and rampart were levelled. Krehlator gate was demolished in 1818 and Katztor in 1832. In 1830, Moritzberg had 730 inhabitants. Its first factory was founded in 1857.
By the end of the 1870s most of the area between Moritzberg and Hildesheim had been built up, but the city of Hildesheim needed more and more ground to build factories and houses. Several authorities of Hildesheim claimed a complete incorporation of the market town of Moritzberg with all its fields and meadows into the city. The inhabitants of Moritzberg, most of whom were still Roman Catholics, opposed the incorporation as they did not want to live in a city where Protestants had the absolute majority. They asked Ludwig Windhorst, a Roman Catholic minister of the government in Berlin and president of the Centre Party
, for help. Windhorst managed to prevent its incorporation in 1882 so that Moritzberg could remain an independent market town. The citizens of Moritzberg were very thankful and built a large villa (Villa Windhorst) on the hill that was completed in 1886. They wanted to present the villa to Windhorst, but he declined the present as he lived in Berlin.
In 1885 the number of inhabitants amounted to 1,889, and in 1895 Moritzberg had 3,326 inhabitants of whom 1,652 were Roman Catholics and 1,674 were Protestants. From then on, there were more Protestant inhabitants in Moritzberg than Roman Catholics. A Protestant school was built in 1888.
At the beginning of the 20th century Moritzberg had 4,175 inhabitants. The first Protestant Church in Moritzberg, Christuskirche, was built 1904-1907 in a Neogothic style. The first town hall of Moritzberg was inaugurated in 1907.
On 1 April 1911 Moritzberg was incorporated into the city of Hildesheim and lost its independence to become a quarter of Hildesheim. The number of inhabitants amounted to 4,442. During World War II
, Moritzberg as a whole was spared severe bomb damage. On 22 March 1945
, however, one factory was heavily damaged and some houses were destroyed. The historic sights remained undamaged. On a house in Godehardistrasse, a sundial recalls the destruction of 22 March 1945 and the reconstruction in 1947.
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
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 on a hill in the west of the city, about a mile from the Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral, Hildesheim
St. Mary's Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, is an important medieval Catholic cathedral, that has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1985....
. It was an independent market town until 1911.
History
In the 9th century, Gunthar, the first bishop of HildesheimBishopric of Hildesheim
The Diocese of Hildesheim is a diocese or ecclesiastical territory of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 815 as a missionary diocese by King Louis the Pious, his son Louis the German appointed the famous former archbishop of Rheims, Ebbo, as bishop...
(815-835), founded a chapel on a hill called Zierenberg west of Hildesheim. Before Christianization, pagans had worshipped the Germanic god Týr at a sacred well at the same place. Some Germanic tribes called Týr Ziur, and Zierenberg simply meant Týr's Hill. Strategically, the former place of worship and the chapel were in a very advantageous position: the ancient Hellweg
Hellweg
In the Middle Ages the Hellweg was an ancient east-west route through Germany, the main corridor from the Rhine east to the mountains of the Teutoburger Wald, reaching from Duisburg, at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, to Paderborn, with the slopes of the Sauerland to its south.In the...
trade route ran past the foot of the hill, which offered a clear view of the Innerste
Innerste
The Innerste is a river in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a right tributary of the Leine river and 95 km in length.- Origin of the name :...
valley where the town of Hildesheim was developing at a ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
.
One of Gunthar's successors, Bishop Godehard of Hildesheim (1022-38), founded a monastery beside the chapel on the Zierenberg about 1025 and had a church built there which was dedicated to Saint Maurice
Saint Maurice
Saint Maurice was the leader of the legendary Roman Theban Legion in the 3rd century, and one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that group. He was the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms...
and consecrated in 1028. Maurice means Mauritius or Moritz in German, and so the name of the hill was changed to Moritzberg ("Maurice Hill"). A village bearing the same name developed around the monastery and at the foot of the hill beside the trade route in the Early Middle Ages
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...
. Most of its inhabitants worked for the monastery.
In the 12th century, many Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
immigrants settled in northern Germany. They were welcome as they were hard-working and experienced in colonizing the land. The provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Saint Maurice's monastery allowed Flemish settlers to found a new town between Moritzberg and Hildesheim in 1196. The new settlement, which was called Dammstadt, was supported by the Bishop of Hildesheim as well and quickly developed into a prosperous village which obtained town rights in 1232, i.e. even before Hildesheim was awarded town rights in 1249. The inhabitants of Hildesheim, who did not want to be governed by the bishop any longer, considered neighbouring Dammstadt to be a danger to the economic growth of their own town. They attacked Dammstadt on 24th December 1332 and destroyed it completely. As many inhabitants of Dammstadt sought refuge in Moritzberg, that village was attacked as well and suffered considerable damage. Dammstadt was never rebuilt and repopulated. In 1347, the townsfolk of Hildesheim attacked and looted Moritzberg, drove the inhabitants out of the village and destroyed it. Moritzberg, however, was rebuilt and repopulated.
In the 15th century, a moat and a rampart were built to fortify the village. In the east, Moritzberg was protected by the Kupferstrang, a small tributary of the Innerste. For many centuries, the Kupferstrang formed the border between Hildesheim and Moritzberg. There were three gates to the village. In 1430, the Katztor was mentioned for the first time in the records; it had a tower, 28 feet high. The Krehlator had a tower 25 feet high, and the third gate, the Dingworthtor, at the northern end of the high street, was mentioned for the first time in 1452.
When Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
was introduced into Hildesheim and its surrounding area in 1542, the inhabitants of Moritzberg and several other villages, e.g. Sorsum
Sorsum
Sorsum, a district of the city of Hildesheim, is a small village in northern Germany.- History :Over 800 years ago in the year 1125 Sutterem, later Sorsum, was first mentioned in literature. A memorial in the middle of the village was raised in 2000 to remind on the first mention...
, refused to convert. Protestants were not even allowed to live in Moritzberg. There was, however, a Jewish community with a synagogue in the high street, a school and a Jewish cemetery which still exists. Several times, Jews from Hildesheim sought refuge in Moritzberg.
During the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, Moritzberg suffered much more damage than Hildesheim. After Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
had intervened in the fighting, Moritzberg was looted by Danish soldiers in 1626 and Saint Maurice's Church was heavily damaged. After the intervention of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
, Moritzberg was destroyed by Swedish troops in 1632. The village was rebuilt after the war. The oldest surviving house in the quarter today dates from 1645. The monastery and Saint Maurice's Church were rebuilt from 1644 to 1660.
After the Thirty Year's War, Moritzberg was granted market rights by Maximilian Henry of Bavaria
Maximilian Henry of Bavaria
thumb|154 px|Maximilian Heinrich of BavariaMaximilian Henry of Bavaria was the third son and fourth child of Albert VI, landgrave of Leuchtenberg and his wife, Mechthilde von Leuchtenberg. In 1650, he was named Archbishop of Cologne, Bishop of Hildesheim and Bishop of Liège succeeding his uncle,...
in 1652. He wanted to promote the economic recovery of the Roman Catholic village which had suffered from the ravages of war, but there has never been a dedicated market place in Moritzberg. Presumably the market was held along the ancient trade route in Dingworthstrasse which has always been the high street of Moritzberg. It might have been an oblong street market. Originally, the city of Hildesheim did not have a proper market place either, but an oblong street market in a street called Alter Markt (Old Market) which still exists today. In 1699, Moritzberg had a total of 114 houses.
In the 18th century, Moritzberg developed into a flourishing, but small town. There were several breweries and inns that were very profitable. As the beer tax of Hildesheim was higher than in Moritzberg, many citizens of Hildesheim went to Moritzberg frequently to buy beer. Saint Maurice's was transfomed into a baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
church in 1744-47. The tower was built in 1765. When the first census was held in 1785 the population numbered 673 inhabitants.
During secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
the monastery was dissolved. In 1810, Saint Maurice's became the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of Moritzberg. The former parish church had to be demolished because of its dilapidated condition.
In 1803, Moritzberg had 757 inhabitants. Most of them were Roman Catholics and 64 were Jews. There were almost no Protestants. When the first factories were founded in Hildesheim in the 19th century, many workers preferred to live in Moritzberg because rents were lower there. So the number of Protestant residents gradually rose, and space was required to construct more and more houses. The medieval moat and rampart were levelled. Krehlator gate was demolished in 1818 and Katztor in 1832. In 1830, Moritzberg had 730 inhabitants. Its first factory was founded in 1857.
By the end of the 1870s most of the area between Moritzberg and Hildesheim had been built up, but the city of Hildesheim needed more and more ground to build factories and houses. Several authorities of Hildesheim claimed a complete incorporation of the market town of Moritzberg with all its fields and meadows into the city. The inhabitants of Moritzberg, most of whom were still Roman Catholics, opposed the incorporation as they did not want to live in a city where Protestants had the absolute majority. They asked Ludwig Windhorst, a Roman Catholic minister of the government in Berlin and president of the Centre Party
Centre Party (Germany)
The German Centre Party was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. Formed in 1870, it battled the Kulturkampf which the Prussian government launched to reduce the power of the Catholic Church...
, for help. Windhorst managed to prevent its incorporation in 1882 so that Moritzberg could remain an independent market town. The citizens of Moritzberg were very thankful and built a large villa (Villa Windhorst) on the hill that was completed in 1886. They wanted to present the villa to Windhorst, but he declined the present as he lived in Berlin.
In 1885 the number of inhabitants amounted to 1,889, and in 1895 Moritzberg had 3,326 inhabitants of whom 1,652 were Roman Catholics and 1,674 were Protestants. From then on, there were more Protestant inhabitants in Moritzberg than Roman Catholics. A Protestant school was built in 1888.
At the beginning of the 20th century Moritzberg had 4,175 inhabitants. The first Protestant Church in Moritzberg, Christuskirche, was built 1904-1907 in a Neogothic style. The first town hall of Moritzberg was inaugurated in 1907.
On 1 April 1911 Moritzberg was incorporated into the city of Hildesheim and lost its independence to become a quarter of Hildesheim. The number of inhabitants amounted to 4,442. During 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...
, Moritzberg as a whole was spared severe bomb damage. On 22 March 1945
Bombing of Hildesheim in World War II
The German city of Hildesheim, ca. 30 kilometres south of Hanover was target of several Allied air raids in 1945.-Hildesheim during World War II:In 1939, Hildesheim had about 72,000 inhabitants...
, however, one factory was heavily damaged and some houses were destroyed. The historic sights remained undamaged. On a house in Godehardistrasse, a sundial recalls the destruction of 22 March 1945 and the reconstruction in 1947.
Moritzberg today
After the war, new residential areas were built, especially in the west and south of the old town centre of Moritzberg. Historic Dingworthstrasse, which was mentioned for the first time in 1728, is still the high street with several shops. Every year a traditional market, the Pflockflötchenmarkt, is held in Bergstrasse on Whit Monday. The name refers to flutes carved from willow branches which were sold there in former times. The art of carving flutes from willow branches is demonstrated by elderly citizens. There is still a Roman Catholic primary school as well as a Protestant primary school. Moritzberg is a much-liked quarter with several historic sights, steep streets, some old, picturesque lanes, a well-kept park around Lake Koenigsteich and a forest from where there is a beautiful view of Hildesheim. At present the number of inhabitants amounts to about 9,000.Sights
- Saint Maurice's Church, a former collegiate churchCollegiate churchIn Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
is one of the oldest churches in Hildesheim. The Romanesque cloister dates from the 12th century. The interior is BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
, the organ dates from 1568 and the main altar from 1735. The tower was built in 1765.
- The Jewish Cemetery in Bennostrasse was used from 1800-1849. 29 gravestones with inscriptions in Hebrew, German and English can be seen.
- Villa Windhorst was built 1882-86. The citizens of Moritzberg wanted to present it to the politician Ludwig Windhorst who prevented the incorporation of Moritzberg into Hildesheim in the 1880s, but he opted to live in Berlin.
- Old Brewery dating from 1751 in Bennostrasse. A sandstone reliefReliefRelief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
showing Saint Maurice can be seen above the entrance. On the corner of Bennostrasse and Bergstrasse there is another interesting relief showing Saint Maurice dating from 1730.
- There are still many well-preserved half-timbered houses in Moritzberg, especially in the steep street of "Bergstrasse". The oldest is "Brenkenscher Hof" (Bergstrasse 65) which was built in 1645. Kratzbergscher Hof opposite Saint Maurice's Church dates from 1654.
- From Berghoelzchen Forest behind Saint Maurice's Church there is a beautiful view of Hildesheim. From one of the viewing points, nine different churches can be seen.
- On the corner of Bennostrasse and Bennoburg there is an interesting stone crossCalvary (sculpture)A calvary is a type of monumental public crucifix, sometimes encased in an open shrine, most commonly found across northern France from Brittany east and through Belgium and equally familiar as wayside structures provided with minimal sheltering roofs in Italy and Spain...
from the middle of the 19th century. In former times people went there during the procession of Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi (feast)Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
.
- Former Town Hall of Moritzberg dating from 1907. Above the entrance there is a statue of Saint Maurice.
- The pinturesque lane Kleine Steuer is one of the narrowest streets of Hildesheim. It can be reached from the church through a Gothic arch and offers an impressive view of the Baroque church tower.