Schöneflieth Castle
The castle Schöneflieth was a former robber barons and later in a customs office. It was in a strategically favorable position on the southern bank of the Ems in Greven in Westphalia . In addition to its important function as a customs office, it was of particular importance in several historical events. Only the reconstruction of the bridge over the moat and the marking of the foundation walls of the outer castle remind of the castle itself.
history
The castle was built and named in 1232 south of Greven by Franco von Schönebeck, who was also known under the name Schöneflieth. It was first mentioned in a document from 1257 as Castellum dictum sconenvlete . It was lived in by his son Dietrich von Schönebeck.
However , these castles were a thorn in the side of the then bishop of Münster, Eberhard von Diest , as robber barons' seats, so that he began to destroy these castles since he took office in 1275. In the spring of 1276 Schöneflieth Castle also fell victim to him. Eberhard had the castle made unusable as a fortress and Dietrich von Schönebeck had to renounce his rights and cede them to the cathedral chapter .
From 1365 onwards, the cathedral chapter replaced the ruins with a new, larger building. The end of the castle became apparent towards the end of the 18th century, when the importance declined noticeably and the canons were rarely guests at the castle. As a result, Schöneflieth Castle gradually fell into disrepair. With the death of the last captain, this office was no longer filled. After no bidder was found in the first attempt at auction in 1808, four Greven merchants jointly auctioned the facility for 36,000 francs in 1812 in order to use it as a source for building materials. In 1843 the last stones of the castle were sold.
Economic and historical importance
The gentlemen von Schönebeck recognized the strategically favorable position of the Ems crossing on the important trade route from Münster to the north. With the help of the castle it was possible for them to demand a toll from the passing traders for the crossing. The canons from Münster also soon recognized this source of income, so that they set up a customs office after taking over and building a larger castle. In the further course of this, this duty should also be levied on the ferry boats that cross the Ems. This customs office was to remain in place until October 1, 1847, even if the castle itself had already been demolished.
In addition to its economic importance, the castle was also the scene of historical events. When the canons of Münster fled the city from the " Anabaptists " in 1534 and found shelter in Schöneflieth Castle, the then Bishop Franz von Waldeck succeeded on February 15, 1534 against the attack of his persecutors.
In the middle of the Thirty Years' War , the castle was the scene of the persecution of Christian von Braunschweig by Tilly on August 3 and 4, 1623 . Christian von Braunschweig moved into the castle on August 3rd, but had to leave it again the following day when the army of his persecutor approached him before he was defeated on August 6th in the battle of Stadtlohn .
Another significant event took place on February 25, 1655. There was an open confrontation between the city of Münster and its bishop at that time, Christoph Bernhard von Galen , after the citizens of the city, Emperor Ferdinand III. had asked for the granting of sovereign rights. When the capture of the city failed by means of a military coup, the Treaty of Schöneflieth , named after her, was negotiated at the castle , a compromise between the bishop and the city of Münster after von Galen was allowed to station 450 infantry soldiers and 100 horsemen within the city limits, but they did were sworn to the city.
Web links
- Reconstruction drawing by Wolfgang Braun
Coordinates: 52 ° 4 ′ 53 ″ N , 7 ° 36 ′ 57 ″ E