Reussenburg

Reussenburg
Woodcut by Hans Wandereisen
Alternative name (s):	Reussenberg
Creation time :	1320
Castle type :	Höhenburg, summit location
Conservation status:	ruin
Standing position :	Barons
Place:	Hammelburg -Höllrich
Geographical location	50 ° 4 '4 "  N , 9 ° 49' 15"  E Coordinates: 50 ° 4 '4 "  N , 9 ° 49' 15"  E
Height:	423.6  m above sea level NN

The Reußenburg , also called Reußenberg , is the ruin of a summit castle at 423.6  m above sea level. NN near Höllrich southwest of Hammelburg in the Lower Franconian district of Bad Kissingen in Bavaria .

history

The barons of Thüngen were officially named as landowners in Bonnland around 1320 and in 1331 they built the Reußenburg on a neighboring hill. In 1356 Reuss I von Thüngen was the owner of the place.

The fateful year 1523

A time of upheaval had come at the end of the 15th century. The loss of power of Emperor Charles IV and the election of Charles V made the uncertainty on the streets of the German Empire even worse. Robber barons roamed the area, traveling merchants or envoys were afraid of nighttime attacks and could no longer feel safe. Although a perpetual peace in the country was passed at the Diet of Worms in 1495 , this measure did not help to settle the unrest. Seven years earlier, in 1488, the Franconian and Swabian imperial estates united under the leadership of Nuremberg to form the so-called Swabian League . The aim of the merger was to reduce attacks on traders and other travelers by working together. In 1489 the federation was finally appointed to the Reich executive , that is, to the executive power.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the robber baron Hans Thomas von Absberg kidnapped merchants from imperial cities in Franconia and Swabia on their trade trips and demanded a large ransom for their release. In order to reduce the growing danger of being caught by the Swabian League troops, he looked for allies who would support him in his raids and hide his prisoners in their castles in case of danger. Hans Jörg von Thüngen also supported him in his feud , as he hoped to increase his dwindling wealth a little. In 1523 the federal government finally sent its troops to level a total of 23 “ predatory nests ” to the ground. The federal troops, which consisted of 10,000 foot soldiers and 1,000 horsemen, carried 100 cannons and 30 rifles as armament, for which they had 900 quintals of black powder with them. On June 26th, the troops reached Reußenberg Castle and blew it up to prevent the von Thüngen from returning. In 1525, insurgent farmers destroyed the remains of the castle, which was not rebuilt afterwards.

The woodcut by Hans Wandereisen

Main article: Wandereisen woodcuts from 1523

The castle is shown on the woodcut by Hans Wandereisen on a rock spur. The inside of the relatively small complex can be reached through the outer castle gate. Two smaller buildings can be seen in the forecourt, some of which were built into the wall. The hall and keep can no longer be made out precisely, as only the foundation walls of the main part of the complex can be seen. The federal troops can be seen here mainly in the village below the castle. They consist of a good 50 horsemen and 5 senior officers on the left and 9 mercenaries in the center of the picture. Three more tabs can be seen on the right edge of the picture.

Location and condition of the castle today

Nowadays the castle ruins are located on the Hammelburg military training area (restricted area) about three kilometers east of the village of Höllrich on a densely wooded mountain. The building cannot be seen from the outside except for the last 10 meters and can only be reached by a steep climb through dense forest. From the newly constructed wooden vantage point in the ruins, about four stories high, you have a delightful view of the restricted area and the surrounding landscape.

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  Front view of the ruin with archway and tower

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  inside view

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  Passage to the tower building

The ruin is in good condition for its age, there is no risk of collapse. There is still the surrounding wall, probably laid out as a dry moat, the main entrance, which can be reached via newly created steps, and three quarters of the former outer wall. All gates and doors are designed as round arches (with a total of three main gates) and have heights of approx. 2.50 m (main gate) to approx. 1.60 m (inner courtyard). There are no traces of fire on the remains.

Since the ruin is in a restricted area, it can only be visited in exceptional cases. Viewing appointments like in the past for the day of the open monument are announced in the press. Responsible is the Wildflecken military training area command, Hammelburg branch.

Web links

Wikisource: Reußenburg in the Topographia Franconiae (Mathäus Merian)  - sources and full texts