Drais
Encyclopedia
Mainz-Drais is a borough in the western part of Mainz
. The village was suburbanised by the City of Mainz in 1969, and is currently its smallest subdivision, with just over 3,000 permanent residents.
Drais is surrounded by the larger more urban Mainz sub divisions of Finthen, Bretzenheim, Gonsenheim and Lerchenberg.
on the 24th of August 1149 under the name 'Treise'. Throughout the Middle ages
Drais belonged to the Archbishopric of Mainz under the direction of the office of Olm.
During the Thirty Years' War
, Drais as well as many other villages, towns and cities in the region suffered greatly. In 1620 Drais was sacked and plundered by the General Ambrogio Spinola during his campaign in the lower Palatinate. Several years later, as a result of the Battle of Breitenfeld
Drais was occupied by Swedish forces from 1631 till 1635.
In 1792 during the French Revolution
, the French Revolutionary Army took over Mainz and the surrounding areas. With the support of 130 German towns and villages, the French proclaimed the founding of the independent Republic of Mainz
. As this did not sit well with the Kingdom of Prussia
which was seeking to maintain its control of trade on the Rhine River, Prussian troops were immediately dispatched to lay siege to Mainz. During the 18 week Siege, Prussian troops occupied Drais. On the 23rd of July 1793 the French surrendered Mainz.
After the “Treaty of Campo Formio
“ in 1797 the French retook the region with an army under the command of Napoléon Bonaparte. During the occupation of France from 1797 till May 1814, Drais was governed by the newly formed French Département of Mont Tonnerre. With the departure of the French, Mainz was assigned to the Grand Duchy of Hesse
and became the capital of the province Rhenish Hesse (Rheinhessen). Drais remained as an independent village within Rheinhessen, and then later Rhineland-Palatinate
until its suburbanisation on the 8th of June, 1969 by the city Mainz.
Today, Drais remains a traditional village within the city limits of Mainz.
Throughout the year, farmers will also place fruit and vegetables for sale on open racks within the village. Payment is made on "goodwill" as no one is there to collect the payment. As a testament to the character of residents and visitors, rarely does fruit go unpaid.
word driusan, which translates to "bubbling sources".
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
. The village was suburbanised by the City of Mainz in 1969, and is currently its smallest subdivision, with just over 3,000 permanent residents.
Geography
Drais is located atop a hill overlooking Mainz and the Rhine Valley. The village of Drais has maintained is historical boundaries. Surrounded by apple, plum and strawberry orchards the picturesque village provides an ideal location in the spring and autumn months for enjoying beautiful scenery and fresh fruit.Drais is surrounded by the larger more urban Mainz sub divisions of Finthen, Bretzenheim, Gonsenheim and Lerchenberg.
History
The earliest traces of settlement in the current location of Drais dates back to around 850–450 BC. A permanent settlement would only come around the year 1000 AD with the clearing of the Ancient Olm Forest. Drais was officially recognized by King Conrad III of GermanyConrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
on the 24th of August 1149 under the name 'Treise'. Throughout the Middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Drais belonged to the Archbishopric of Mainz under the direction of the office of Olm.
During 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....
, Drais as well as many other villages, towns and cities in the region suffered greatly. In 1620 Drais was sacked and plundered by the General Ambrogio Spinola during his campaign in the lower Palatinate. Several years later, as a result of the Battle of Breitenfeld
Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)
The Battle of Breitenfeld or First Battle of Breitenfeld , was fought at the crossroads villages of Breitenfeld , Podelwitz , and Seehausen , approximately five miles northwest of the walled city of Leipzig on September 17 , or September 7 The Battle of Breitenfeld or First Battle of Breitenfeld...
Drais was occupied by Swedish forces from 1631 till 1635.
In 1792 during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the French Revolutionary Army took over Mainz and the surrounding areas. With the support of 130 German towns and villages, the French proclaimed the founding of the independent Republic of Mainz
Republic of Mainz
The Republic of Mainz was the first democratic state on the current German territory and was centered in Mainz. A product of the French Revolutionary Wars, it lasted from March to July 1793.-Context:...
. As this did not sit well with the Kingdom of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
which was seeking to maintain its control of trade on the Rhine River, Prussian troops were immediately dispatched to lay siege to Mainz. During the 18 week Siege, Prussian troops occupied Drais. On the 23rd of July 1793 the French surrendered Mainz.
After the “Treaty of Campo Formio
Treaty of Campo Formio
The Treaty of Campo Formio was signed on 18 October 1797 by Napoleon Bonaparte and Count Philipp von Cobenzl as representatives of revolutionary France and the Austrian monarchy...
“ in 1797 the French retook the region with an army under the command of Napoléon Bonaparte. During the occupation of France from 1797 till May 1814, Drais was governed by the newly formed French Département of Mont Tonnerre. With the departure of the French, Mainz was assigned to the Grand Duchy of Hesse
Grand Duchy of Hesse
The Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine , or, between 1806 and 1816, Grand Duchy of Hesse —as it was also known after 1816—was a member state of the German Confederation from 1806, when the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was elevated to a Grand Duchy, until 1918, when all the German...
and became the capital of the province Rhenish Hesse (Rheinhessen). Drais remained as an independent village within Rheinhessen, and then later Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
until its suburbanisation on the 8th of June, 1969 by the city Mainz.
Today, Drais remains a traditional village within the city limits of Mainz.
Old Jesuit Cloister
The former cloister of the Jesuit order of the Propstei Hirzenach was built in Drais in 1670. Since 1773 with the breakup of the order, the building has been transferred through various private ownerships. The site of the cloister currently includes one of the most recommended retirement communities around Mainz.The Catholic Church „Maria Königin“ (Queen Mary)
The Maria Königin Church was first erected in 1737 with the help of the local Jesuit community. The predecessor to the Maria Königin Church had been first erected in 1357 and had seen limited service since the 30 year's war due to extensive damage. The The Catholic Church „Maria Königin“ continues to hold regular services and is the main Catholic Church in Drais.Local Fruit Markets
Starting in late spring till early autumn, farms in and around Drais will sell a portion of their harvest through local markets. Fruit that can be found at these markets include a variety of berries (most prominent of which are strawberries), cherries, apples and plums. Strawberries from Drais are well known to be among some of the best in the region due to Drais's geographical location. Mainz residents regularly make the short drive to Drais to buy fresh fruit during the summer months.Throughout the year, farmers will also place fruit and vegetables for sale on open racks within the village. Payment is made on "goodwill" as no one is there to collect the payment. As a testament to the character of residents and visitors, rarely does fruit go unpaid.
Origins of the Name
The name Drais most likely has its origins from the GothicGothic language
Gothic is an extinct Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths. It is known primarily from the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century copy of a 4th-century Bible translation, and is the only East Germanic language with a sizable Text corpus...
word driusan, which translates to "bubbling sources".
Literature
- Die Mainzer Stadtteile; Claus Wolf; Emons Verlag, 2004
- Mainz – Die Geschichte der Stadt; Hrsg.: Franz Dumont, Ferdinand Scherf, Friedrich Schütz; 2. Aufl.; Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz 1999
- Vor den Toren der großen Stadt – 850 Jahre Drais 1189–1999–Beiträge zur Draiser Ortsgeschichte; Hrsg.: Walter G. Rödel; ISBN 3-87439-475-1
- Drais und Marienborn. Die ältesten Besiedlungsspuren bis zu den ersten historischen Erwähnungen.; Ronald Knöchlein, Hrsg.: Gerd Rupprecht, Archäologische Ortsbetrachtungen Band 6, Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz 2004; ISBN 3-8053-3490-7
External links
- Stadt Mainz – Information der Stadt Mainz zum Stadtteil Drais
- drais.info – Webseite des Stadtteils Drais
- http://www.swr.de/landesschau-rp/hierzuland/-/id=100766/nid=100766/did=2357028/1um5hra/index.htmlKurzporträt mit Filmbeitrag über Drais bei SWR FernsehenSWR FernsehenSWR Fernsehen is a German regional television channel targeting the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is produced by Südwestrundfunk and is one of eight regional "third channels" broadcast by the ARD members....
] - Marc Chagall Schule – Grundschule Marc Chagall in Mainz-Drais