Altenburg in Thuringia became an important imperial centre in the 12th century, when Barbarossa built a palace there. New foundation seek to further Altenburg as a centre for the study of Barbarossa
Altenburg was first mentioned in 976. However, its heyday was in the 12th century when the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa built a palace and allowed it to hold a market and mint coins. As such, Altenburg was appointed the most easterly imperial centre in a communicative network focusing on creating so-called “terra imperii”, Pleissen. These regional centres, of which Altenburg was one, were characterised by being managed by royal sheriffs rather than local nobles, effectively side-lined. One result was that Barbarossa stayed at Altenburg seven times in order to oversee his new investment. During his reign the local area around the Brühl was walled in and the palace as well as the Abbey was erected to house a group of Augustinians. The main church is still standing.
Yesterday, a new scientific foundation with more than 75 members unveiled the plans to turn the city into a “Barbarossa-Stadt”. At the occasion, the invited guests had the opportunity for the first time to taste the “new” Barbarossa-wine, made by…
So-far, the plans are not very spectacular. A new website and a facebook-page has been launched, but the energy has primarily been channelled into getting the initiative funded in order to have it officially accepted as an NGO by the authorities.
This being Germany, though, the initiative was in fact launched in summer 2015 with a scientific colloquium focusing on the Red Towers of Altenburg, built on the initiative of Barbarossa and consecrated in 1172. (Rote Spitzen in Altenburg – alles Barbarossa?)
The church of St. Mary in Altenburg – Unserer Lieben Frauen St. Marien auf dem Berge vor Altenburg – was extensively excavated in 2005 and the results were presented and debated at the conference. Not least, focus was on the fragments of the eldest mural of the coronation of the virgin. Another painting is thought to be of Barbarossa himself. To the chagrin of a few his golden armour was – as expected – not found walled in as rumour has had it since the Late Middle Ages.
Next year, the plan is to continue to further research into the region and the city in the 12th and 13th centuries but also to work for a more popular presentation of the results. Another plan is to built a network with other “Barbarossa-towns” like Montelimar in Burgundy, which where a Barbarossa-feast, called Barberoussades – is organised every year. Such an event used to be organised in Altenburg, but lately the funding and the initiative has been lacking. Partners in the network will naturaly also be the other four Barbarossa cities in Germany: Gelhausen, Kaiserslautern, Sinzig and Bad Frankenhausen plus other select sites with Barbarossa memorials.
Another challenge is the initiative launched by a group of citizens called Pro Altenburg. Their plan is to enlarge the parking facilities in the inner city to further the interests of the inner-city shops. This has clashed directly with the “historical” Barbarossa foundation, which dreams of closing off the inner city for traffic and is positive towards a third initiative: the erection a Barbarossa-fountain in the central square. The plan is also to work for a World heritage Status for the Red Towers in Altenburg, which arguably are the first redbrick towers built in present day Germany.
At a more practical level it is obvious that the town of Altenburg is in deep trouble. During the Middle Ages, it had a population of 3,000 to 4,000 inhabitants, rising to 6,000 around 1700, 10,000 around 1800 and 20,000 around 1870, making it Thuringia’s second-largest city after Erfurt. However, in 1988, before reunification, Altenburg had 53,000 inhabitants, shrinking to 33,000 in 2012. With a decline of nearly 40% since 1988, Altenburg is among the most rapidly declining urban areas in Germany.
SOURCE:
Ist Altenburg nun eine Barbarossa-Stadt oder nicht?
READ MORE:
Friedrich Barbarossa – Eine Biographie
By Knut Görich
Verlag C.H. Beck 2011
ISBN 978-3-406-59823-4