County of Werdenfels
Encyclopedia
The County of Werdenfels in the present-day Werdenfelser Land
in South Germany was a county
that enjoyed imperial immediacy owned by the Bishopric of Freising.
It was centred on Werdenfels Castle. In 1294 Count Perchthold of Eschenloh sold his county to Bishop Enichen (Emicho) of Freising. The county was divided into three Pfleggerichte or administrative areas: Garmisch, Partenkirchen and Mittenwald
. The senior judge (Pfleger) had his seat in Garmisch, where he held his hearings (Gerichtstage). These sittings initially took place at the castle; not until 1632 was the court moved to a new district office (Amtshaus) in Schwaigwang.
The county had considerable ore and silver deposits. Of even great economic importance to the county was its control of the trading routes to Italy at the beginning of the Modern Era. Anything that came from the sout (spices, fruit, incense, wine) had to be deposited in Mittenwald for a fee; whatever came from the north (copper, brass, cloth, jewellery, metal goods) had likewise to be stored in Partenkirchen for a fee. Only one Werdenfels waggoner union had the right to transport goods within the county. Of particular importance was that from 1487 to 1679 the Republic of Venice
held its own market in Mittenwald. As a reslut the region became quite wealthy and was referred to as the "golden land".
Its neighbours, Tyrol and Bavaria, the latter represented by the Anrain Ettal Abbey
and Benediktbeuern Abbey
, demanded more and more of the county's territory. In 1530 Duke William IV of Bavaria asked the Bishop of Freising for large areas of land between the Isar
and Amper
rivers in exchange for the entire county, but the negotiations in Munich failed.
After the Thirty Years' War
the region gradually lost its importance as a transshipment point. Violin making, founded by Matthias Klotz, brought a certain boom in Mittenwald. In 1803 the rule of the Bishopric of Freising ended with the secularisation of Bavaria under the French and the County of Werdenfels went to Bavaria.
Werdenfelser Land
The Werdenfelser Land is a region of Upper Bavaria that extends from Mittenwald in the south to Farchant. It includes parts of the Bavarian Alps. From the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years War the Werdenfelser Land was subject to the Prince-Bishop of Freising, not the Duke of Bavaria.The region...
in South Germany was a county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
that enjoyed imperial immediacy owned by the Bishopric of Freising.
It was centred on Werdenfels Castle. In 1294 Count Perchthold of Eschenloh sold his county to Bishop Enichen (Emicho) of Freising. The county was divided into three Pfleggerichte or administrative areas: Garmisch, Partenkirchen and Mittenwald
Mittenwald
Mittenwald is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria.-Geography:Mittenwald is located approx. 16 kilometers to the south-east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
. The senior judge (Pfleger) had his seat in Garmisch, where he held his hearings (Gerichtstage). These sittings initially took place at the castle; not until 1632 was the court moved to a new district office (Amtshaus) in Schwaigwang.
The county had considerable ore and silver deposits. Of even great economic importance to the county was its control of the trading routes to Italy at the beginning of the Modern Era. Anything that came from the sout (spices, fruit, incense, wine) had to be deposited in Mittenwald for a fee; whatever came from the north (copper, brass, cloth, jewellery, metal goods) had likewise to be stored in Partenkirchen for a fee. Only one Werdenfels waggoner union had the right to transport goods within the county. Of particular importance was that from 1487 to 1679 the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
held its own market in Mittenwald. As a reslut the region became quite wealthy and was referred to as the "golden land".
Its neighbours, Tyrol and Bavaria, the latter represented by the Anrain Ettal Abbey
Ettal Abbey
Ettal Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Ettal close to Oberammergau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. With a community of more than 50 monks, with another five at Wechselburg, the Abbey is one of the largest Benedictine houses and is a major attraction for...
and Benediktbeuern Abbey
Benediktbeuern Abbey
Benediktbeuern Abbey is a monastery of the Salesians of Don Bosco, originally a monastery of the Benedictine Order, in Benediktbeuern in Bavaria, near the Kochelsee, 64 km south-south-west of Munich...
, demanded more and more of the county's territory. In 1530 Duke William IV of Bavaria asked the Bishop of Freising for large areas of land between the Isar
Isar
The Isar is a river in Tyrol, Austria and Bavaria, Germany. Its source is in the Karwendel range of the Alps in Tyrol; it enters Germany near Mittenwald, and flows through Bad Tölz, Munich, and Landshut before reaching the Danube near Deggendorf. At 295 km in length, it is the fourth largest river...
and Amper
Amper
The Amper is a river located in southern Bavaria, Germany and is the largest tributary to the Isar river. The Amper flows into the Isar in Moosburg, 185 km from the headwater of the river and at a speed of 45 m³/s. It runs out of the Ammersee and its upper course, upstream from the...
rivers in exchange for the entire county, but the negotiations in Munich failed.
After the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
the region gradually lost its importance as a transshipment point. Violin making, founded by Matthias Klotz, brought a certain boom in Mittenwald. In 1803 the rule of the Bishopric of Freising ended with the secularisation of Bavaria under the French and the County of Werdenfels went to Bavaria.
Sources
- Albrecht, Dieter: Die Grafschaft Werdenfels. in: Unbekanntes Bayern. Entdeckungen und Wanderungen, München, Süddeutscher Verlag, 1955, ISBN 3-7991-5839-1
- Josef Ostler/Michael Henker/Susanne Bäumler: Grafschaft Werdenfels 1294 - 1802. Katalogbuch zur Ausstellung im Kurhaus Garmisch. Mohr×Löwe×Raute. Beitrage zur Geschichte des Landkreises Garmisch-Partenkirchen Band 2, hrsg. v. Verein für Geschichte, Kunst und Kulturgeschichte im Landkreis e.V., Garmisch-Partenkirchen. 1994.
- Johannes Haslauer: Errichtet um allen Nachbarn Verdruss zu machen. Die Rolle der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften im politischen Streit um die Grafschaft Werdenfels (1765-1768), in: Zeitschrift für bayerische Landesgeschichte 72 (2009), S. 399-459.
- Prechtl, Johann Baptist: Chronik der ehemals bischöflich freisingischen Grafschaft Werdenfels in Oberbayern mit ihren drei Untergerichten und Pfarreien Garmisch, Partenkirchen und Mittenwald. Zusammengestellt Augsburg 1850. Garmisch, Ostler, 1931
- Wüst, Wolfgang: Umbruch im Goldenen Landl vor 200 Jahren. Der Markt Partenkirchen und die Grafschaft Werdenfels im Säkularisationstrauma, in: Mohr – Löwe – Raute. Beiträge zur Geschichte des Landkreises Garmisch-Partenkirchen 11, hrsg. v. Verein für Geschichte, Kunst und Kulturgeschichte im Landkreis e.V., Garmisch-Partenkirchen 2006, S. 141-162.