Fuchsbrief (Stiftspropstei Berchtesgaden)

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left: cover sheet and seal; right: first page of the Fuchsbrief [1] left: cover sheet and seal; right: first page of the Fuchsbrief [1]
left: cover sheet and seal; right: first page of the Fuchsbrief

The Fuchsbrief of 1506 became the "Basic Law" for the state and tax law of the Reich Prelature Berchtesgaden . It was the answer to a complaint from Berchtesgaden farmers against what they believed to be too high taxes by the sovereigns.

prehistory

Not least because of the lavish lifestyle of the Augustinian canons , the Berchtesgaden monastery was burdened with immense debts for centuries, which even led to its incorporation by the Archbishopric of Salzburg from 1393 to 1404 and immediately afterwards to the pledge of the Schellenberg saltworks . But even with this the debts could not be completely paid off , so that the provost and imperial prelate Balthasar Hirschauer levied high taxes like his predecessors. But now Berchtesgaden farmers began to complain more and more often and finally sent a delegation to Innsbruck to the imperial court . Since the representatives of the peasantry could not produce sufficient power of attorney, in the autumn of 1506 Emperor Maximilian I commissioned his Captain von Kufstein , who was currently in Salzburg , to investigate the matter together with two imperial councilors on site. The result of these investigations was presented by the imperial captain Degen Fuchs von Fuchsberg “on the day of Pentecost to St. Andre 1506” in the Fuchsbrief named after him . Even if the complaints of the farmers were rejected in all essential points and the position of Hirschauer had prevailed, it is noteworthy that in this legal dispute the "subjects" appeared unified and the Fuchsbrief for the first time had the character of a legally binding written contract between the rulers and the "landscape" " would have. After the Landbrief , which was written by Ulrich I. Wulp alone in 1377 , the Fuchsbrief became the authoritative "Basic Law" for the state and tax law of the Stiftspropstei - the debts to Salzburg were not fully paid off until 1556, despite the taxes that were still sanctioned by him.

The wording of the Fuchsbrief (excerpt)

Taken from the original spelling and punctuation as well as the explanations in brackets according to Joseph Ernst von Koch-Sternfeld from 1815. His footnotes are also inserted in brackets directly below the respective line in italics. The original can be viewed online in 23 images via the “Findmitteldatenbank” of the Bavarian Main State Archives .

For the heading of the Fuchsbrief, see the line below the Fig.

"Ain contract between Brobsten and the Lanntschaft zue Berchtersgaden by Hern Tegnharten Fuchsen as Roman-Kuniglicher Majesty Commissaries: 1506

(S. Salzb. And Bercht. II p. 102-107, reprinted from the found original.)

  • The subjects are on the content of the purchase and fief letters have the freyen Pen goods in fee and inheritance; but also inevitably pay the provost, as well as every subsequent sovereign, the large and small services in money and in kind placed on it .
  • According to the content of the purchase letters and according to the court's custom, also according to the old country letter, the subjects, even if this caused the most errors and complaints, are also supposed to be in bondage, to pay the wändel and cases, to the land defense, to the Thurmhuth, to taxes, interest and be committed to service.
  • Since the principality of Berchtesgaden is subject to the empire, and the Roman king probably has the power to raise the imperial taxes, the subjects would have to pay them further and injustice their lords and sovereigns.
  • The quarter of wine due to the clerk when receiving the fiefs must, according to custom, also be given in cash or in kind.
  • In regard of the Mauth and duties bey the export of timber and cattle, as at St. Jörgentag is or else much bought; it should remain the old freedoms of the church.
  • In consideration of the tradesmen's timber (lathe operators, carvers, etc.), what one carries into the country or in it on one's own back should be duty-free and toll-free: what is traded on horses and wagons, as from ancient times, should be subject to customs duties.
  • Every landowner can look for wood needs for his own reasons: only Vörchen and larches (pine and lark) with the knowledge and will of the sovereign.
  • Because of the wine which subjects buy at weddings and other occasions, the price and measure should remain as is customary.
  • If a Unterthann wants to let his son learn a trade: he should stick to the sovereign prince according to especially upright sayings. *
* (There was already concern at that time that there would be too many craftsmen in wood and bone goods and that they would harm one another.)
  • Every sovereign would do it fairly, since the subjects had complained that they were complained about small things with high penalties (penalties) and prohibitions.
  • The subjects should only sell their expendable pfennwerthe, lard and cheese outside the country with the permission of the sovereign.
  • Against the weavers, the prince, as authorities, probably had further authority and power to order them to set up the high court. **
** (The weavers had to build the gallows in other areas too.)
  • Since the woods were driven away by the silent estates nearby: so it should remain with the provost's orders because of the stick right.
  • The subjects who appeared against the provost in the above articles with unfounded complaints should ask to forgive them for their lack of understanding by further vowing obedience.
  • Because of previous disobedience, damage and the allegations against her princes, the subjects are up next light measuring 100 pounds Rheinisch succumbed, and against all the grace and mutual discord Being from. "

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b c BayHStA, Fürstpropstei Berchtesgaden Urkunden 422 , page with information on the Fuchsbrief in the Bavarian Main State Archive , online at gda.bayern.de and with a reference to 23 images via DFGViewer , online at dfg-viewer.de
  2. ↑ To: "On the day of Pentecost after St. Andre 1506" - since the name day of St. Andrew is celebrated within the Roman Catholic Church on November 30th, the Fuchsbrief would not have been announced until 1507, unless the Koch-Sternfeld source is clear with the holiday and it should actually be Christmas 1506.
  3. ↑ Manfred Feulner: Berchtesgaden - history of the country and its inhabitants . Pp. 79-85
  4. ↑ Joseph Ernst von Koch-Sternfeld: History of the Principality of Berchtesgaden and its salt works . Volume 2, p. 94 ff. ( Full text in the Google book search).
  5. ^ Joseph Ernst von Koch-Sternfeld: History of the Principality of Berchtesgaden and its salt works , Volume 2. Salzburg 1815; P. 1 ff. ( Digitized version )