Dohna Castle
Encyclopedia
Dohna Castle on the road from German Saxony
to Bohemia
was the seat of the burgraves of Dohna. Of the old, once imposing double castle only a few remnants of the walls remain. The ruins of the old castle
are located on the hill of Schlossberg near the subsequent suburb of the town of the same name, Dohna
, in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge
in Saxony
.
(936–973) on the Schlossberg hill on the site of a Sorbian fortification. This region around the Schlossberg had been a Sorbian
settlement from prehistoric times. The name of the settlement was Donin, from which the castle received its name. The castle was the centre of the imperially immediate lordship of the burgrave
s of Dohna. They had the task of guarding the trade route to Bohemia, keeping the conquered Sorbs in check and protecting emissaries of the church.
(1039–1056) and Duke Bretislaus of Bohemia. The Margrave
of Meißen, Eckard II
(1038–1046), probably held Dohna Castle as an imperial fief. Later, the castle fell under Bohemian lordship.
In 1076, the Duke, and later King, of Bohemia, Vratislaus II (1061–1092), was enfeoffed by Henry IV
(1056–1106) with the Gau of Nisani. He ceded the Gau of Nisani with Dohna Castle to his son-in-law, Wiprecht of Groitzsch
, who later became the Margrave of Meißen (1123–1124), as a dowry for his daughter. In 1112 Wiprecht of Groitzsch reliquished Nisani and Dohna Castle to Henry V
(1106–1125). On recovering possession of the castle by Groitzsch in 1117, Bohemian supremacy was re-established. At the beginning of the 12th century Dohna Castle was destroyed, but then rebuilt by the Duke of Bohemia, Vladislaus I (1109–1125) around 1121.
The following description of the dungeon is found in August Schumann's State Lexicon of Saxony (Staatslexikon von Sachsen):...and was, as with every strong castle at that time, according to custom of the day, sometimes used as a state prison. At the very least, it is known that the Bohemian king, Sobeslaus marched several Bohemian lords to the dungeon at Dohna during in 1126....
Of the burgraves installed as imperial officials on a certain Erkembert (from the family of Tegkwitz
?) is named in 1113, referred to in the records Erkembertus prefektus de castro Donin.
It is also known that the family of the Erkenbertingers (recorded as burgraves in 1113) came from Franconia, established themselves in the vicinity of Naumburg and that their relatively junior Starkenberg
line played a role in the Ore Mountains, for example in land development (Landausbau).
) and 1144, albeit without giving the location, for the first time as documented as burgrave. The actual enfeoffment is not recorded, but must have taken place no later than 1156, when Henry is first expressly referred to as the Burgrave of Dohna.
The powerful castle of Dohna perched on a rocky spur, 155 m above sea level (NN) near the River Müglitz, was the centre point of the Burgraviate of Dohna. It was here that the Dohnaer Schöppenstuhl was held, a magistrate's court (Schöffe
ngericht) recorded since 1390 that operated until 1572, predominantly in the field of feudal and inheritance matters and gave legal direction over an area that extended far beyond the borders of Saxony.
One can assume that during the rule of the Dohna hereditary burgraves, the castle was expanded in such a way that it finally appeared as imposing double castle, consisting of an inner and outer castle (Hinterburg and Vorderburg) and a large ward (Vorhof). During the excavations of 1904/06, the exposure of the transverse wall separating the two castles, proved this theory.
The oval-shaped castle tower on the Fleischerbrunnen well in Dohna's market square, created in 1912 by the Dresden sculptor, Alexander Höfer, portrays the tower in the oldest town coat of arms of 1525.
(1385–1402), which began between Burgrave Jeschke of Dohna and the Saxon noble, Hans of Körbitz (Korbs), the burgraves lost their main seat of power and all the estates belonging to it to the House of Wettin. The present Saxon-Bohemian state border was established in 1406, when the neighbouring Bohemian Pirna Castle
with its associated villages and the Bohemian fortress of Königstein
, in which Burgrave Jesche was able to seek refuge, were also won for the Wettins.
From autumn 1401 onwards the castle was besieged and, after lengthy resistance, was taken by storm on 19 June 1402 in the presence of Margrave William I the One-Eyed (1349/79–1407). After its capture the castle was not completely slighted. The residential buildings were left standing and served as residences for the margravial officials who managed the caretaking of Dohna. After the Vögte had moved their seat somewhere around 1457 to Pirna
, the castle gradually fell into decay. In addition, the townsfolk of Dohna in subsequent times, may have helped themselves to large amounts of stone from the castle for building material whenever it was needed. In a picture from 1690 by A. Nienborg and in a sketch by Goebel in 1793 extensive remains of the walls and tower can still be seen.
M. Christian Bartsch, pastor in Dohna, wrote in 1735: ...on this castle hill you can still find the ruins of old walls, towers and vaults which have withstood the rain and weather for 330 years uncared for; but whose limestone and rock are so strong that you can only pull them down with difficulty, but which do not collapse by themselves. The Swedes when they stood here in 1709
, tried to break into a vault in this castle hill, perhaps they thought they would find treasure, but had to give up soon thereafter due to the strength of the walls.....
Today only a small remnant of the wall of the old castle may still be seen. Apart from that there is nothing else left of Dohna Castle.
movement. The castle hill was therefore cleared of rubble and the work began on the construction of a round tower. But the Napoleonic Wars
prevented his romantic plans from being fulfilled. Eventually the round tower was completed in its present shape in 1830.
The "Privileged Shooting Association of Dohna" (Privilegierte Schützengesellschaft zu Dohna) bought the Schlossberg in 1826 for 700 thaler
s and levelled the front part of the hill. From the rock material of the castle walls they built the shooting house (Schießhaus) in 1828, the shooting wall and the supporting wall of the access track.
The buildings on the Schlossberg today consist mainly of the former shooting house, now a castle inn (Burgschänke) used as a Handelsorganisation
restaurant and dancing hall, and the round tower built in the style of the old castle and last used as a museum area, in which local minerals from the Müglitz valley e. g. amethyst
s and agate
s could be admired.
In the castle inn ("Burg Dohna" restaurant) there has been a local history museum on the first floor since 1958, although it was founded in 1906. Today the local history museum is in the old chemist's in the market square. Here there are intera alia interesting exhibits of castle history e.g. discoveries from the Middle Ages, graphic works and documents.
The castle site is protected today as an heritage area, as is the Sorbian hill fort
at the back of the spur that was called Robisch (Robsch, Robscher). This fort is still visible on a spur over the railway station yard.
This site is mentioned because, even before the settlement of the castle hill (Schlossberg), a Sorbian fortification had stood on the Robisch.
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
to Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
was the seat of the burgraves of Dohna. Of the old, once imposing double castle only a few remnants of the walls remain. The ruins of the old castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
are located on the hill of Schlossberg near the subsequent suburb of the town of the same name, Dohna
Dohna
Dohna is a town in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, Saxony, Germany. It is located south of Heidenau. It is located in the Müglitz valley and lies west of the Eastern Ore Mountains. It was known as Donin in 1107, 1160 and until 1206. Donyn in from 1288 to 1408. Doneyn unwil 1454...
, in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge
Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge
Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge is a district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is named after the mountain ranges Saxon Switzerland and Erzgebirge.- History :...
in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
.
History
Dohna Castle was probably founded around A.D. 950 by Emperor Otto IOtto I, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto I the Great , son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of Italy, and "the first of the Germans to be called the emperor of Italy" according to Arnulf of Milan...
(936–973) on the Schlossberg hill on the site of a Sorbian fortification. This region around the Schlossberg had been a Sorbian
Sorbs
Sorbs are a Western Slavic people of Central Europe living predominantly in Lusatia, a region on the territory of Germany and Poland. In Germany they live in the states of Brandenburg and Saxony. They speak the Sorbian languages - closely related to Polish and Czech - officially recognized and...
settlement from prehistoric times. The name of the settlement was Donin, from which the castle received its name. The castle was the centre of the imperially immediate lordship of the burgrave
Burgrave
A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
s of Dohna. They had the task of guarding the trade route to Bohemia, keeping the conquered Sorbs in check and protecting emissaries of the church.
Early history
Dohna Castle was first mentioned in the records in 1040 in connexion with the conflicts between King Henry IIIHenry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors...
(1039–1056) and Duke Bretislaus of Bohemia. The Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Meißen, Eckard II
Eckard II, Margrave of Meissen
Eckard II was the margrave of Meissen from 1038 until his death, succeeding his brother, Herman I. His line was descended from Eckard I...
(1038–1046), probably held Dohna Castle as an imperial fief. Later, the castle fell under Bohemian lordship.
In 1076, the Duke, and later King, of Bohemia, Vratislaus II (1061–1092), was enfeoffed by Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
(1056–1106) with the Gau of Nisani. He ceded the Gau of Nisani with Dohna Castle to his son-in-law, Wiprecht of Groitzsch
Wiprecht of Groitzsch
Wiprecht of Groitzsch was the Margrave of Meissen and the Saxon Ostmark from 1123 until his death. He was born to a noble family of the Altmark, the son of Wiprecht of Balsamgau and Sigena of Leinungen...
, who later became the Margrave of Meißen (1123–1124), as a dowry for his daughter. In 1112 Wiprecht of Groitzsch reliquished Nisani and Dohna Castle to Henry V
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
(1106–1125). On recovering possession of the castle by Groitzsch in 1117, Bohemian supremacy was re-established. At the beginning of the 12th century Dohna Castle was destroyed, but then rebuilt by the Duke of Bohemia, Vladislaus I (1109–1125) around 1121.
The following description of the dungeon is found in August Schumann's State Lexicon of Saxony (Staatslexikon von Sachsen):...and was, as with every strong castle at that time, according to custom of the day, sometimes used as a state prison. At the very least, it is known that the Bohemian king, Sobeslaus marched several Bohemian lords to the dungeon at Dohna during in 1126....
Of the burgraves installed as imperial officials on a certain Erkembert (from the family of Tegkwitz
Tegkwitz
Tegkwitz is a former municipality in the district Altenburger Land, in Thuringia, Germany. Since 1 December 2008, it is part of Starkenberg....
?) is named in 1113, referred to in the records Erkembertus prefektus de castro Donin.
It is also known that the family of the Erkenbertingers (recorded as burgraves in 1113) came from Franconia, established themselves in the vicinity of Naumburg and that their relatively junior Starkenberg
Starkenberg
Starkenberg is a municipality in the district Altenburger Land, in Thuringia, Germany. On 1 December 2008, it incorporated the former municipalities Naundorf and Tegkwitz....
line played a role in the Ore Mountains, for example in land development (Landausbau).
Seat of the Donins
The progenitor of the Donins, who ruled from Dohna Castle for some 250 years, was Burgrave Henry I, who is clearly mentioned for the first time in 1143 as Heinricus de Rodewa (RöthaRötha
Rötha is a town in the Leipzig district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 16 km south of Leipzig.- External links :* Official homepage of Rötha* Private portal of Rötha...
) and 1144, albeit without giving the location, for the first time as documented as burgrave. The actual enfeoffment is not recorded, but must have taken place no later than 1156, when Henry is first expressly referred to as the Burgrave of Dohna.
The powerful castle of Dohna perched on a rocky spur, 155 m above sea level (NN) near the River Müglitz, was the centre point of the Burgraviate of Dohna. It was here that the Dohnaer Schöppenstuhl was held, a magistrate's court (Schöffe
Schöffe
A Schöffe is a German word referring to a judicial office. The word Schöffe is not used in English, so this article refers only to the office in German-speaking countries. The closest English equivalent is a lay magistrate or perhaps alderman. This German term is related to the terms used in other...
ngericht) recorded since 1390 that operated until 1572, predominantly in the field of feudal and inheritance matters and gave legal direction over an area that extended far beyond the borders of Saxony.
One can assume that during the rule of the Dohna hereditary burgraves, the castle was expanded in such a way that it finally appeared as imposing double castle, consisting of an inner and outer castle (Hinterburg and Vorderburg) and a large ward (Vorhof). During the excavations of 1904/06, the exposure of the transverse wall separating the two castles, proved this theory.
The oval-shaped castle tower on the Fleischerbrunnen well in Dohna's market square, created in 1912 by the Dresden sculptor, Alexander Höfer, portrays the tower in the oldest town coat of arms of 1525.
Loss and ruin of the imperial castle
In the wake of the Dohna FeudDohna Feud
The Dohna Feud was a 14th-century dispute between the burgraves of Dohna, who resided in the Eastern Ore Mountains of Central Europe, on the one hand and Saxon nobleman, John of Körbitz and the Meißen Margrave William I on the other...
(1385–1402), which began between Burgrave Jeschke of Dohna and the Saxon noble, Hans of Körbitz (Korbs), the burgraves lost their main seat of power and all the estates belonging to it to the House of Wettin. The present Saxon-Bohemian state border was established in 1406, when the neighbouring Bohemian Pirna Castle
Sonnenstein castle
The Sonnenstein castle is a castle in Pirna, near Dresden, Germany. It housed a mental hospital, which operated from 1811 to the end of World War II in 1945. During the War, it functioned as an extermination centre for the Third Reich Action T4 program...
with its associated villages and the Bohemian fortress of Königstein
Königstein Fortress
Königstein Fortress , the "Saxon Bastille", is a hilltop fortress near Dresden, in Saxon Switzerland, Germany, above the town of Königstein on the left bank of the River Elbe...
, in which Burgrave Jesche was able to seek refuge, were also won for the Wettins.
From autumn 1401 onwards the castle was besieged and, after lengthy resistance, was taken by storm on 19 June 1402 in the presence of Margrave William I the One-Eyed (1349/79–1407). After its capture the castle was not completely slighted. The residential buildings were left standing and served as residences for the margravial officials who managed the caretaking of Dohna. After the Vögte had moved their seat somewhere around 1457 to Pirna
Pirna
Pirna is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, capital of the administrative district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. The town's population is over 40,000. Pirna is located near Dresden and is an important district town as well as a Große Kreisstadt...
, the castle gradually fell into decay. In addition, the townsfolk of Dohna in subsequent times, may have helped themselves to large amounts of stone from the castle for building material whenever it was needed. In a picture from 1690 by A. Nienborg and in a sketch by Goebel in 1793 extensive remains of the walls and tower can still be seen.
M. Christian Bartsch, pastor in Dohna, wrote in 1735: ...on this castle hill you can still find the ruins of old walls, towers and vaults which have withstood the rain and weather for 330 years uncared for; but whose limestone and rock are so strong that you can only pull them down with difficulty, but which do not collapse by themselves. The Swedes when they stood here in 1709
Northern Wars
Northern Wars is a term used for a series of wars fought in northern and northeastern Europe in the 16th and 17th century. An internationally agreed nomenclature for these wars has not yet been devised...
, tried to break into a vault in this castle hill, perhaps they thought they would find treasure, but had to give up soon thereafter due to the strength of the walls.....
Today only a small remnant of the wall of the old castle may still be seen. Apart from that there is nothing else left of Dohna Castle.
Construction of castle hill after the decay of the castle ruins
In 1803 Burgrave Henry Louis of Dohna bought the castle hill (Schlossberg) in order to rebuild the castle in the spirit of the growing RomanesqueRomanesque
Romanesque may refer to:*Romanesque art, the art of Western Europe from approximately AD 1000 to the 13th century or later*Romanesque architecture, architecture of Europe which emerged in the late 10th century and lasted to the 13th century...
movement. The castle hill was therefore cleared of rubble and the work began on the construction of a round tower. But the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
prevented his romantic plans from being fulfilled. Eventually the round tower was completed in its present shape in 1830.
The "Privileged Shooting Association of Dohna" (Privilegierte Schützengesellschaft zu Dohna) bought the Schlossberg in 1826 for 700 thaler
Thaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
s and levelled the front part of the hill. From the rock material of the castle walls they built the shooting house (Schießhaus) in 1828, the shooting wall and the supporting wall of the access track.
The buildings on the Schlossberg today consist mainly of the former shooting house, now a castle inn (Burgschänke) used as a Handelsorganisation
Handelsorganisation
The Handelsorganisation was a national retail business owned by the central administration of the Soviet Zone of occupation in Germany and from 1949 on by the state of the German Democratic Republic. It was created in 1948...
restaurant and dancing hall, and the round tower built in the style of the old castle and last used as a museum area, in which local minerals from the Müglitz valley e. g. amethyst
Amethyst
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- and μέθυστος methustos , a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief...
s and agate
Agate
Agate is a microcrystalline variety of silica, chiefly chalcedony, characterised by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks and can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.-Etymology...
s could be admired.
In the castle inn ("Burg Dohna" restaurant) there has been a local history museum on the first floor since 1958, although it was founded in 1906. Today the local history museum is in the old chemist's in the market square. Here there are intera alia interesting exhibits of castle history e.g. discoveries from the Middle Ages, graphic works and documents.
Present use
The buildings of the Schlossberg, the round tower of 1830 and the old castle inn, are currently out of use.The castle site is protected today as an heritage area, as is the Sorbian hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
at the back of the spur that was called Robisch (Robsch, Robscher). This fort is still visible on a spur over the railway station yard.
This site is mentioned because, even before the settlement of the castle hill (Schlossberg), a Sorbian fortification had stood on the Robisch.
See also
- List of castles in Saxony
- List of the burgraves of Dohna
- DohnaDohnaDohna is a town in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, Saxony, Germany. It is located south of Heidenau. It is located in the Müglitz valley and lies west of the Eastern Ore Mountains. It was known as Donin in 1107, 1160 and until 1206. Donyn in from 1288 to 1408. Doneyn unwil 1454...
- House of Dohna
- Dohna FeudDohna FeudThe Dohna Feud was a 14th-century dispute between the burgraves of Dohna, who resided in the Eastern Ore Mountains of Central Europe, on the one hand and Saxon nobleman, John of Körbitz and the Meißen Margrave William I on the other...
- Jeschke von Dohna
Literature
- Max Winkler und Hermann Raußendorf: Die Burggrafenstadt Dohna. In: Mitteilungen des Landesvereins Sächsischer Heimatschutz. Band 25, H. 1–4, Dresden 1936 (Datensatz der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek).
- Henning/Müller/Wintermann: Weesenstein. 700 Jahre Schlossgeschichte. Dresden 1995
- Christine Klecker: Wie Dohna verloren ging. Museum Schloß Weesenstein, 1991
- Hans Eberhard Scholze: Schloß Weesenstein. Leipzig 1969
- Herbert Wotte: Barockgarten Großsedlitz / Dohna - Wesenstein - Wilisch, Heft 99, VEB Bibliograqhisches Institut Leipzig, 1961
- Autorenkollektiv mit Dr. sc. Werner Coblenz: Historischer Führer Bezirke Dresden, Cottbus, Seite 118: Dohna (mit Burg Dohna). Urania-Verlag Leipzig-Jena-Berlin, Leipzig 1982
- Karlheinz Blaschke: Geschichte Sachsens im Mittelalter, Unionverlag Berlin, 1990
- Christian Bartsch. Historie der alten Burg und Städgens Dohna. Dresden/Leipzig 1735 (Digitalisat)
- Historische Kommission der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften: NEUE DEUTSCHE BIOGRAPHIE, 4. Band, Berlin, 1957. Darin: 1127 Henricus nobilis de Rotowe (Rötha), hat seit 1156 die Burggrafschaft Donin als Reichslehen inne. (Digitalisat) Darin: Burg Dohna
External links
- The castle on the Dohna Local History Society website
- Website of the town of Dohna, with Dohna Castle under history (Geschichte)
- Digital Historical Index of Places in Saxony - Dohna. incl: 1144 Heinricus praefektus, 1156 Heinricus castellanus de Donin
- Digital Historical Index of Places in Saxony - Rötha. incl: 1127 Heinricus de Rotow, 1135 Rotwe, 1143 Rodewa, - 1127: Herrensitz (um Mitte des 12. Jahrhunderts Ortswechsel als Burggrafen nach Dohna)
- East Prussia, information about the County of Dohna. incl: Henricus nobilis de Rotowe 1127/1156]
- Dohna at www.schlossarchiv.de