Großdrebnitz
Encyclopedia
Großdrebnitz, in Sorbian language Drjewnica, is part of the city of Bischofswerda
in the district of Bautzen
, in Saxony
, Germany
. It stretches along 4 km from the river Wesenitz
in the north to the foothills of Lausitzer Bergland
in the south.
Today's Großdrebnitz consists of the two parts Großdrebnitz and Kleindrebnitz, which were unified 1936 and became part of Bischofswerda in 1996. In both parts farmland
dominates. Moreover, Kleindrebnitz has a centuries-long tradition in fish farming
.
area.
Some publications cite a first reference of Großdrebnitz already for 1007, when Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
donated a castellum
Trebista to the Bishop of Meißen. This is not proved and no traces of a historical burgward
were found in the village. Moreover, Doberschau claims this origin too, based on the same document.
washing gold
in Großdrebnitz. In the year 1559, when Augustus, Elector of Saxony
had secularized
the Stolpen
territory of the Bishop of Meißen, the Amtsschösser
was directed to search for gold in Großdrebnitz. Records from that time finally tell about silver
which was digged nearby the church.,
, introduced Protestant Reformation
to the Stolpen
region in 1559. On occasion of its 350th anniversary, the church was named after Martin Luther
. The organ was already built in 1828 by Christian Gottfried Herbrig. His descendants became famous violin
makers in Saint Paul, Minnesota
.
Among the pastors of the church, Carl Julius Marloth (Lothmar, 1860-1875) was known for his writings which can be found e.g. in the British Library
.
n sheep breeding has one of its major roots in Saxony. From 1765 the Spanish Merino was crossed here with Saxon sheep to develop a very fine wool type for textile manufacturers. From 1778, the Saxon breeding center was operated in the vorwerk
Rennersdorf
, nearby Großdrebnitz. It was administrated from 1796 by Johann Gottfried Nake, who developed scientific crossing methods to further improve Saxon Merino. About 1800, Saxon wool was considered to be the finest in the world.
In 1811, highly decorated Nake, one of the key persons of Saxony's world famous sheep breeding at that time, established a private farm in the Vorwerk in Kleindrebnitz. After the Napoleonic wars
Saxony urgently needed money to rebuild the country and thus decided to lift the export ban on living Merinos. The sheep export to Australia and Russia was successful to such an extent that Saxon sheep breeders themselves dramatically lost market shares. This development was faced by Nake in Kleindrebnitz too.
. It is reported that later forestry professor Max Neumeister was born here and it is supposed that for some years it served as manufacture to build the Herbrig organs. However, this neo-classic
building has not been well preserved over time and lost much of its original character.
. Russian troops were commanded by Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langeron
and Guillaume Emmanuel Guignard, vicomte de Saint-Priest
, whose cavalry
finally defeated Napoleon's troops. On September 14, French Brigade General
François Basile Azemar was killed and on September 20 General Adam Albert von Neipperg
occupied Großdrebnitz.
Bischofswerda
Bischofswerda is a small town in Germany at the western edge of Upper Lusatia in Saxony.-Geography:The town is located 33 km to the east of Dresden at the edge of the Upper Lusatian mountain country. The town is known as the "Gateway to Upper Lusatia" - "Tor zur Oberlausitz" in German. It is...
in the district of Bautzen
Bautzen (district)
Bautzen is a district in the Free State of Saxony in Germany including the former districts of Bischofswerda and Kamenz. It is bounded by the Czech Republic, the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, the district-free city Dresden and the districts of Meißen and Görlitz...
, 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....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It stretches along 4 km from the river Wesenitz
Wesenitz
The Wesenitz is a river in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, right tributary of the Elbe. Its total length is 83 km. The Wesenitz runs through the tourist regions of the Lusatian Highlands and Saxon Switzerland...
in the north to the foothills of Lausitzer Bergland
Lausitzer Bergland
The Lusatian Highlands is a hilly and low mountainous region in Germany and the Czech Republic. A western extension of the Sudetes range, it is located on the border of the German state of Saxony with the Czech Bohemian region...
in the south.
Today's Großdrebnitz consists of the two parts Großdrebnitz and Kleindrebnitz, which were unified 1936 and became part of Bischofswerda in 1996. In both parts farmland
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
dominates. Moreover, Kleindrebnitz has a centuries-long tradition in fish farming
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
.
First Reference in 1262
Groß- and Kleindrebnitz (Drewenitz major, Drewenitz minor) were officially documented the first time in 1262. They belonged to the former MilceniMilceni
The Milceni or Milzeni were a West Slavic tribe, who settled in the present-day Upper Lusatia region. They were first mentioned in the middle of the 9th century AD by the Bavarian Geographer, who wrote of 30 civitates which possibly had fortifications. They were gradually conquered by Germans...
area.
Some publications cite a first reference of Großdrebnitz already for 1007, when Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
donated a castellum
Castellum
A castellum is a small Roman detached fort or fortlet used as a watch tower or signal station. The Latin word castellum is a diminutive of castra , which in turn is the plural of castrum ; it is the source of the English word "castle".The term castellum was also used to refer to a settling or...
Trebista to the Bishop of Meißen. This is not proved and no traces of a historical burgward
Burgward
A burgward was a form of settlement used for the organisation of the northeastern marches of the Kingdom of Germany in the mid-10th century. Based on earlier organisations within the Frankish Empire and among the Slavs, the burgwards were composed of a central fortification with a number of...
were found in the village. Moreover, Doberschau claims this origin too, based on the same document.
Gold and Silver
Old records tell about people from VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
washing gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in Großdrebnitz. In the year 1559, when Augustus, Elector of Saxony
Augustus, Elector of Saxony
Augustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family...
had secularized
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
the Stolpen
Stolpen
Stolpen is a town in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.- References :...
territory of the Bishop of Meißen, the Amtsschösser
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
was directed to search for gold in Großdrebnitz. Records from that time finally tell about silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
which was digged nearby the church.,
The Martinskirche Großdrebnitz
Augustus, Elector of SaxonyAugustus, Elector of Saxony
Augustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family...
, introduced Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
to the Stolpen
Stolpen
Stolpen is a town in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.- References :...
region in 1559. On occasion of its 350th anniversary, the church was named after Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
. The organ was already built in 1828 by Christian Gottfried Herbrig. His descendants became famous violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
makers in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
.
Among the pastors of the church, Carl Julius Marloth (Lothmar, 1860-1875) was known for his writings which can be found e.g. in the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
.
Saxon Origin of Australian Merino
World leading AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n sheep breeding has one of its major roots in Saxony. From 1765 the Spanish Merino was crossed here with Saxon sheep to develop a very fine wool type for textile manufacturers. From 1778, the Saxon breeding center was operated in the vorwerk
Folwark
Folwark is a Polish word for a primarily serfdom-based farm and agricultural enterprise , often very large. Folwarks were operated in the Crown of Poland from the 14th century and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century, from the second half of the 16th century in the joint...
Rennersdorf
Stolpen
Stolpen is a town in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.- References :...
, nearby Großdrebnitz. It was administrated from 1796 by Johann Gottfried Nake, who developed scientific crossing methods to further improve Saxon Merino. About 1800, Saxon wool was considered to be the finest in the world.
In 1811, highly decorated Nake, one of the key persons of Saxony's world famous sheep breeding at that time, established a private farm in the Vorwerk in Kleindrebnitz. After 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...
Saxony urgently needed money to rebuild the country and thus decided to lift the export ban on living Merinos. The sheep export to Australia and Russia was successful to such an extent that Saxon sheep breeders themselves dramatically lost market shares. This development was faced by Nake in Kleindrebnitz too.
A Nearly Forgotten Treasure
The Vorwerk was built by Saxon court architect Gottlob Friedrich ThormeyerGottlob Friedrich Thormeyer
Gottlob Friedrich Thormeyer was a German representative of neoclassical architecture.- Education and early work:...
. It is reported that later forestry professor Max Neumeister was born here and it is supposed that for some years it served as manufacture to build the Herbrig organs. However, this neo-classic
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
building has not been well preserved over time and lost much of its original character.
The Battle of Großdrebnitz
In 1813, from September 13 to 17, the village was scene of a battle in the War of the Sixth CoalitionWar of the Sixth Coalition
In the War of the Sixth Coalition , a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and a number of German States finally defeated France and drove Napoleon Bonaparte into exile on Elba. After Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, the continental powers...
. Russian troops were commanded by Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langeron
Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langeron
Count Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langéron , born in Paris, was a French general in the service of the Imperial Russian Army during the Napoleonic Wars.-Early life:...
and Guillaume Emmanuel Guignard, vicomte de Saint-Priest
Guillaume Emmanuel Guignard, vicomte de Saint-Priest
Guillaume Emmanuel Guignard, vicomte de Saint-Priest was a French émigré general who fought in the Russian army during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars....
, whose cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
finally defeated Napoleon's troops. On September 14, French Brigade General
Brigade General
Brigade General is a rank used in many armies to denote the lowest rank of general, corresponding to command of a brigade. The rank is mostly used in countries where it is used as a modern alternative to a previous older rank of Brigadier or Brigadier General...
François Basile Azemar was killed and on September 20 General Adam Albert von Neipperg
Adam Albert von Neipperg
Adam Albert, Count von Neipperg was an Austrian general and statesman. The son of a diplomat, famous for inventing a letter-copying machine, and a French mother, he was the grandson of Wilhelm Reinhard von Neipperg....
occupied Großdrebnitz.
Famous Visitors
- Saxon court painter Ludwig Otto was married with a daughter of pastor Rüdiger from Großdrebnitz. He regularly visited the village to paint here. One of his oil paintingOil paintingOil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
s is preserved in the Martinskirche. - German graphic designerGraphic designerA graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures and...
and painterPaintingPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
Paul Sinkwitz, who was awarded 1980 with the BundesverdienstkreuzBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
for his artistic achievements and resistance against Nazi regime, visited Großdrebnitz in 1923 and drew Autumn Festival. - U.S. Sociologist Walter A. Terpenning (Michigan University) visited "Klein Drebnitz" and wrote about it in Village and open-country neighborhoods (1931).
Births
- Robert Heller (1812-1871) was a famous writer of historical novels. He belonged to the movement Young GermanyYoung GermanyYoung Germany was a group of German writers which existed from about 1830 to 1850. It was essentially a youth ideology . Its main proponents were Karl Gutzkow, Heinrich Laube, Theodor Mundt and Ludolf Wienbarg; Heinrich Heine, Ludwig Börne and Georg Büchner were also considered part of the movement...
in LeipzigLeipzigLeipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and was reporter from the Frankfurt ParliamentFrankfurt ParliamentThe Frankfurt Assembly was the first freely elected parliament for all of Germany. Session was held from May 18, 1848 to May 31, 1849 in the Paulskirche at Frankfurt am Main...
. As author, he was the first to make Florian GeyerFlorian GeyerFlorian Geyer , also known as "Florian Geier from Giebelstadt", was a Franconian nobleman, diplomat and knight...
popular, as publisher he was the first to print Friedrich GerstäckerFriedrich GerstäckerFriedrich Gerstäcker was a German traveler and novelist.-Biography:He was the son of Friedrich Gerstäcker , a celebrated opera singer. After being apprenticed to a commercial house, he learnt farming in Saxony...
. Later he became a renowned critic in HamburgHamburg-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. - Max Neumeister (1849-1929) was director of the Academy of Forestry in TharandtTharandtTharandt is a municipality in Saxony, Germany, situated on the Weißeritz, 9 miles southwest of Dresden, on the Dresden-Reichenbach railway.It has a Protestant Church, a hydropathic establishment, and the oldest academy of forestry in Germany, founded by Heinrich Cotta in 1811 together with its...
and Fellow of the Leopoldina. During his directorship around 1900, Tharandt was world famous and attracted foreign students to a share of nearly 50%. Neumeister contributed to the German exhibition at 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. - Bruno Steglich (1857-1929) established in 1890 an agricultural experiment stationAgricultural experiment stationAn agricultural experiment station is a research center that conducts scientific investigations to solve problems and suggest improvements in the food and agriculture industry...
in the Botanic Garden DresdenBotanischer Garten der Technischen Universität DresdenThe Botanischer Garten der Technischen Universität Dresden , also known as the Botanischer Garten Dresden or Dresden Botanical Garden, is a botanical garden maintained by the Dresden University of Technology. It is located in the north-west section of the Großer Garten at Stübelallee 2, Dresden,...
, where he was responsible e.g. for plant proctection. His tombTombA tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
in TrebsenTrebsenTrebsen is a town in the Leipzig district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Mulde, 6 km northeast of Grimma, and 27 km east of Leipzig ....
was created by Georg Wrba. - Hermann Vetter (1859-1928) was co-director of the "Carl Maria von Weber" College of MusicHochschule für Musik "Carl Maria von Weber"The "Carl Maria von Weber" College of Music is a college of music in Dresden, Germany.- History :...
in Dresden. His Technical Studies (1899) for playing pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
were recommended by Eugen d%27Albert as educational material. Vetter was a renowned teacher and especially known for editing Franz LisztFranz LisztFranz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
and Johann Baptist CramerJohann Baptist CramerJohann Baptist Cramer was an English musician of German origin. He was the son of Wilhelm Cramer, a famous London violinist and musical conductor, one of a numerous family who were identified with the progress of music during the 18th and 19th centuries.-Biography:Johann Baptist Cramer was born in...
.
Literature
- Bruno Barthel. Altes und Neues aus Groß- und Kleindrebnitz. Friedrich May Bischofswerda, 1907
- Frank Fiedler. Zeugnisse früherer wirtschaftlicher Tätigkeit am Laufe des Weickersdorfer Wassers. Zwischen Wesenitz und Löbauer Wasser 4, S. 3-7, 1999
- Frank Fiedler. Das Jahr 1900 in den Gemeinden Groß- und Kleindrebnitz. Zwischen Wesenitz und Löbauer Wasser 5, S. 52-58, 2000