Hasserode Castle
Encyclopedia
Hasserode Castle in the quarter of the same name in the town of Wernigerode
am Harz was a medieval fortification whose site is near Hasserode station on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways. Today there are no visible traces left of the castle.
forests around the once independent municipality of Hasserode, that has been part of the borough of Wernigerode
since 1907, go well back into the Middle Ages
. Originally, this wooded region belonged to an imperial forest before it was enfeoffed
by the Holy Roman emperors
and German kings
to the counts of Wernigerode, first mentioned in 1121, who came from Haimar in the Diocese of Hildesheim.
The counts of Wernigerode, like most ruling dynasties, endeavoured to extend their sphere of influence. In the Harz Foreland at the foot of the mountain range called the Huy they had freehold estates in various villages. These villages were, however, under the counts of Regenstein
. In a clever move, the Wernigerode counts attempted to bind the subjects of these villages closer to them by granting timber rights in their forests in the Harz to the local farmers. For example, in 1253, there is already mention of the Hadebergeberg (now known as the Heudeberberg) south of the Augustine hermitage of Himmelpforten Abbey
, destroyed in 1525. The Regenstein village of Heudeber
was granted timber rights in this forest. Other villages were given similar rights by the counts of Wernigerode no later than the mid-14th century in the woods right and left of the Holtemme
and in the Dränge valley. As well as Heudeber, the villages of Reddeber
, Danstedt
, Ströbeck
, Athenstedt
, Aspenstedt
, Sargstedt
and Runstedt also benefited.
These parishes, mainly located on the Huy, had certain privileges within a specified area of forest area, for which the expression Achtwort was coined at the beginning of the 15th century. In the circumstance of medieval Germany, the use of this forest area for these village which were approximately 10 to 30 kilometres away from the Harz, was very difficult. In order to protect them and better organize the management of the forest, a base at the foot of Harz was required.
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
am Harz was a medieval fortification whose site is near Hasserode station on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways. Today there are no visible traces left of the castle.
Early history
The archival documented history of the HarzHarz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
forests around the once independent municipality of Hasserode, that has been part of the borough of Wernigerode
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
since 1907, go well back into 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...
. Originally, this wooded region belonged to an imperial forest before it was enfeoffed
Enfeoffment
Under the European feudal system, enfeoffment was the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a pledge of service. This mechanism was later used to avoid restrictions on the passage of title in land by a system in which a landowner would give land to one person for the use of another...
by the Holy Roman emperors
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
and German kings
Kingdom of Germany
The Kingdom of Germany developed out of the eastern half of the former Carolingian Empire....
to the counts of Wernigerode, first mentioned in 1121, who came from Haimar in the Diocese of Hildesheim.
The counts of Wernigerode, like most ruling dynasties, endeavoured to extend their sphere of influence. In the Harz Foreland at the foot of the mountain range called the Huy they had freehold estates in various villages. These villages were, however, under the counts of Regenstein
House of Regenstein
The House of Regenstein, also Reinstein, was a Lower Saxon family of counts, which was named after the eponymous Regenstein Castle near Blankenburg on the edge of the Harz Mountains of central Germany.- History :...
. In a clever move, the Wernigerode counts attempted to bind the subjects of these villages closer to them by granting timber rights in their forests in the Harz to the local farmers. For example, in 1253, there is already mention of the Hadebergeberg (now known as the Heudeberberg) south of the Augustine hermitage of Himmelpforten Abbey
Himmelpforten Abbey (Harz)
Himmelpforten Abbey was an Augustinian hermitage monastery in the Harz Mountains of Germany, halfway between Hasserode and Darlingerode. The name "Himmelpforten" means the "Gates of Heaven".- History :...
, destroyed in 1525. The Regenstein village of Heudeber
Heudeber
Heudeber is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the municipality Nordharz. The largest company in the town is Agroservice Landhandel GmbH....
was granted timber rights in this forest. Other villages were given similar rights by the counts of Wernigerode no later than the mid-14th century in the woods right and left of the Holtemme
Holtemme
The Holtemme is a 47 km long tributary of the river Bode in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.It rises in the Harz mountains at the eastern foot of the Brocken, descends during its upper course as the Steinerne Renne, a steep stream bed riddled with granite rocks, flows through Hasserode, Wernigerode and past...
and in the Dränge valley. As well as Heudeber, the villages of Reddeber
Reddeber
Reddeber is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Wernigerode....
, Danstedt
Danstedt
Danstedt is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the municipality Nordharz....
, Ströbeck
Ströbeck
Ströbeck is a small village in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, near the town Halberstadt. village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Halberstadt. It is famous as the Schachdorf , due to a long historic connection with...
, Athenstedt
Athenstedt
Athenstedt is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Halberstadt....
, Aspenstedt
Aspenstedt
Aspenstedt is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Halberstadt....
, Sargstedt
Sargstedt
Sargstedt is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Halberstadt....
and Runstedt also benefited.
These parishes, mainly located on the Huy, had certain privileges within a specified area of forest area, for which the expression Achtwort was coined at the beginning of the 15th century. In the circumstance of medieval Germany, the use of this forest area for these village which were approximately 10 to 30 kilometres away from the Harz, was very difficult. In order to protect them and better organize the management of the forest, a base at the foot of Harz was required.
Sources
- Jacobs, Eduard (1882). Urkundenbuch der Deutschordens-Commende Langeln ..., Halle
- Sommer, Gustav and Jacobs, Eduard (1883). Beschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler der Grafschaft Wernigerode. Halle
- Brückner, Jörg (1998). Die Burg Hasserode: zur Geschichte eines Rittersitzes am Fuße des Harzes. In: Burgen und Schlösser in Sachsen-Anhalt, Vol. 7, p. 26–41.
- Brückner, Jörg (1998). Prügelei brachte ein Kurfürstentum hervor: Neues über die Burg Hasserode. In: Neue Wernigeröder Ztg., Jg. 9, 1998, 6, p. 20