Thomas Merten

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Memorial plaque on the St. Salvatoris Church

Thomas Merten (*?; † March 19, 1626 in Zellerfeld ) was a German mountain sworn and city defender of Zellerfeld in the Thirty Years War .

Life

So far, nothing is known about Thomas Merten's family origins and early years. At the time of the Thirty Years' War he worked in Zellerfeld as a mountain jury, that is, as an employee of the mining office . His professional tasks included supporting the mountain master and working as an assessor at the mountain court .

In the spring of 1626 troops of the Catholic League invaded the Protestant Principality of Braunschweig and brought the war in the Braunschweiger Land. Imperial troops under the general Tilly approached Zellerfeld. The defenders of the unfortified mountain town sent by Duke Christian von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel fled from the approaching army.

On March 19, 1626 there was a fight. Under the leadership of Thomas Merten, a citizen contingent, consisting mainly of miners , faced the attackers. Merten was hit by 14 bullets and died wrapped in the city flag. Zellerfeld was taken by Tilly's troops.

According to contemporary tradition, Tilly is said to have regretted the death of Merten because he wanted to accept him into his service because of his bravery. He had him buried with military honors in the church yard.

The “extraordinary bravery” of Mertens in the defense of the city was also recognized in the 18th and 19th centuries. Nowadays, the regional historical significance of Thomas Merten as “town-bourgeois war hero” of Zellerfeld in the Thirty Years' War is emphasized.

Honors

In honor of Thomas Merten, the market square in Clausthal-Zellerfeld is named “Thomas-Merten-Platz”. There is also a memorial plaque there.

literature

  • Dieter Lent: Merten, Thomas . In: Horst-Rüdiger Jarck, Dieter Lent u. a. (Ed.): Braunschweigisches Biographisches Lexikon: 8th to 18th century . Appelhans, Braunschweig 2006, ISBN 3-937664-46-7 , p. 495f.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Cf. Dieter Lent: Merten, Thomas . In: Horst-Rüdiger Jarck, Dieter Lent u. a. (Ed.): Braunschweigisches Biographisches Lexikon: 8th to 18th century . Appelhans Verlag, Braunschweig 2006, p. 495f.
  2. ↑ See e.g. B. Rudolph Leopold Honemann: The antiquities of the Harz Mountains: from the testimonies of proven writers but mostly from unprinted documents. Wendeborn 1754, p. 116; Friedrich Günther: The Harz in historical, cultural and landscape images . C. Meyer 1888, pp. 274ff.
  3. ↑ Cf. Dieter Lent: Merten, Thomas . In: Horst-Rüdiger Jarck, Dieter Lent u. a. (Ed.): Braunschweigisches Biographisches Lexikon: 8th to 18th century . Appelhans Verlag, Braunschweig 2006, p. 496.
  4. ↑ Cf. Dieter Lent: Merten, Thomas . In: Horst-Rüdiger Jarck, Dieter Lent u. a. (Ed.): Braunschweigisches Biographisches Lexikon: 8th to 18th century . Appelhans Verlag, Braunschweig 2006, p. 496.
personal data
SURNAME Merten, Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bergsworener and city defender of Zellerfeld in the Thirty Years War
DATE OF BIRTH 16th century or 17th century
DATE OF DEATH March 19, 1626
Place of death Zellerfeld