Matthias Kraus

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Matthias Kraus (born February 18, 1671 in Kelheim , Bavaria ; † March 17, 1706 there ) was a trained butcher .

Austrian “deterrent leaflet” from 1706: The beheading and quartering of Matthias Kraus zu Kelheim

The butcher is known in Bavarian history for the so-called Kraus rebellion. From 1704, Kelheim was under Austrian occupation. The displeasure with the oppression by the Austrians increased steadily and unrest broke out. When the youth of Kelheim was called to armed forces for Austria's flags, many fled and hid. The looting of the towns of Kelheim and Riedenburg in 1704 by Austrian soldiers also heated the mood further. For this reason Matthias Kraus planned with the support of his family members in Riedenburg near Kelheim (they were merchants and councilors / mayors there) to spark the uprising in the area of ​​the Altmühltal and the Danube.

On November 15, 1705, he attacked the occupiers in Kelheim. The attack failed, Matthias Kraus fled to Braunau to the headquarters of the national defense (see Braunau parliament ). With 200 men, the captain's patent (he referred to himself as “commandant” from now on) and a patent to defend the “Danube line”, he returned on the night of December 13, 1705, first taking the village of Langquaid , where other insurgents joined him and then demanded support from the Kelheim citizenship. Due to betrayal by the Kelheim town clerk, an Austrian, his rule was short-lived. After just four days, imperial troops were at the gates demanding the surrender of the city. Matthias Kraus wanted to defend himself against the will of a large number of citizens. Negotiations with the Austrians Matthias Kraus allowed an honorable withdrawal and the citizens were granted grace . But when the city gate (Mittertor) was opened, the Austrians broke the treaty, the imperial troops attacked the Kelheim citizens, looting and killing at least 200 of them.

Matthias Kraus was sentenced to death on December 20, 1705 after imprisonment in the New Castle in Ingolstadt , the sentence was carried out on March 17, 1706 by beheading and dividing into quarters in Kelheim.

The relatives of Matthias Kraus in Riedenburg took in his widow Klara with children until she married again. For generations, the Kraus family determined the fate of the town of Riedenburg (today the district of Kelheim) as councilors and mayors.

A souvenir picture of Matthias Kraus and his fellow combatants can be found on the inside of the Mittertor. A monument with a fountain is dedicated to the Kelheim hero in the park at Wöhrdplatz . There is also a memorial plaque on the house where he was born in Matthias-Kraus-Gasse.

In contrast to the well-known rebels of the Oberland, the so-called " Schmied von Kochel ", the historical existence of Matthias Kraus is clearly proven.

Even if the rebellion was ostensibly unsuccessful (cf. also the so-called " Sendlinger Murder Christmas "), it nevertheless resulted in the Austrian occupying power having to loosen its strict and cruel regime for fear of further uprisings.

After the end of the Spanish War of Succession , the withdrawal of the Austrian occupying power and the return of the Bavarian Elector Max Emanuel to Bavaria, he paid tribute to Matthias Kraus von Kelheim's “ever-established loyalty” and its usefulness for the state of Bavaria in a letter drawn up on the occasion of the conclusion of the truce in 1719 .

See also: Bavarian popular uprising

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Commons : Matthias Kraus  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Kraus, Matthias
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German leader of the so-called Kraus uprising
DATE OF BIRTH February 18, 1671
PLACE OF BIRTH Kelheim
DATE OF DEATH March 17, 1706
Place of death Kelheim