High court on Lechlumer Holz

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Detail of a map from 1615: To the northeast of the Wolfenbüttel fortress is "Das Lechel Holtz". Clearly visible on the north-western edge of the forest, the "High Court", with several gallows, stakes and wheels.
View of Wolfenbüttel from the north (from Theatrum Europaeum ). Clearly recognizable: The Oker , which has overflowed its banks, and the Schwedendamm (number “10” ). In the forest in the middle left, the "High Court" can be clearly seen.
The “High Court” 2010, on the right the memorial stone
Memorial stone from 1986

The High Court on Lechlumer Holz served as the main court of justice for the Principality of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel from the 16th century to mid-1759 . The facility is located on a hilltop ( Galgenberg ) above the Oker on the north-western edge of the Lechlumer Holz , a small wooded area on the old Heerstraße that ran from Wolfenbüttel via Stöckheim and Melverode to Braunschweig . The remains of the execution site can still be seen today.

history

The high court on "Lecheln Holze" (then name) was first mentioned in 1603 as the "Ducal main course". At that point in time, however, it must have existed for a long time. Its name is derived from the deserted village of Lechede. Originally the place was known as "Stöckheimer Streithorn", which has been called "Stöckheimer Streithorst" since it was forested.

The place of execution consisted of two platforms lying next to each other, which were surrounded by trenches and walls. They measured approx. 48 × 18.5 m and each had several gallows , witch stakes and wheels . In the course of more than 160 years the death sentences for delinquents from the Principality and the city of Braunschweig were carried out there. At the time of the Guelph Dukes Heinrich Julius (1589–1613) and August the Younger (1579–1666), numerous “ witches ” and “ sorceresses ” were also killed here at the stake or by beheading . The Rehtmeyer Chronicle of 1590 noted: “During the fasts of that year, the Duke had many sorcerers burned at Wolfenbüttel, when all maleficants were brought together and judged from the country of Braunschweig, Göttingen and Cahlenbergische Part ... As then in Wolfenbüttel A day 10, 12 and more, and the place of the Lecheln wood from the magic stakes was to be seen as a small forest. ”Those who were hanged were left to decay on the gallows as a deterrent .

Probably the best-known delinquent, on whom the death sentence was probably carried out here, was the mayor of Lübeck , Jürgen Wullenwever , who was judged with the sword in September 1537. Although there are no documents to confirm the location, the assumption is very reasonable. In the middle of 1759, the High Court on Lecheln Holtze was given up and the place of execution was relocated to the Wendesser Berg, a few kilometers southeast of Wolfenbüttel.

From the middle of the 18th century the facility fell into disrepair and overgrown; In 1964 she was rediscovered by Wilhelm Bornstedt , the then Braunschweig city ​​home administrator . From 1981 the site was carefully restored and a memorial stone was erected in 1986.

literature

  • Wilhelm Bornstedt : The ducal "High Court" in the Stöckheimer Streithorn am Lecheln Holze, from the 16th to the 19th century (theft, murder, robbery and burning of witches) . Stadtheimatpfleger, Braunschweig 1982 ( Monument Preservation and History NF 2, ISSN  0175-3029 ).
  • Joachim Lehrmann: Faith in witches and demons in the state of Braunschweig. The story of persecution from a regional perspective . Greatly expanded and revised 2nd edition. Lehrmann, Lehrte 2009, ISBN 978-3-9803642-8-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Joachim Lehrmann : Faith in witches and demons in the state of Braunschweig. The story of persecution from a regional perspective , p. 117
  2. ↑ Old place of execution in Lechlumer Holz
  3. ^ Local history of Wendessen

Web links

Commons : High Court (Braunschweig)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 52 ° 11 ′ 29.2 ″  N , 10 ° 31 ′ 35.2 ″  E