| The First Stop of the Journey |
From 1732 to 1734, the ancient and peaceful city of Augsburg became a safe haven for the
Protestant refugees from Salzburg. Pastor Samuel Urlsperger of St. Anne's Church, and an admirer
of Joseph Schaitberger, gave the exiles relief until they could on move to their new homes in East
Prussia and America. Some of the exiles were housed here under his care until they arranged for a
place to settle.
Protestant refugees from Salzburg. Pastor Samuel Urlsperger of St. Anne's Church, and an admirer
of Joseph Schaitberger, gave the exiles relief until they could on move to their new homes in East
Prussia and America. Some of the exiles were housed here under his care until they arranged for a
place to settle.
When Martin Luther was summoned to defend his doctrine before the papal legate, he stayed in the
monastery here. The Fugger Chapel (1509-1518) was founded by wealthy Jakob Fugger and his
brothers as a burial chapel for the male members of their families. It represents the first decisive
achievement of Renaissance style in Germany. It is surmised that the designer was Albrecht Dürer.
Dominating the upper part of the chapel was the ancient organ. The altar was a masterpiece by Hans
Daucher, with original paintings by Jörg Breu the Elder. To the left of the Fugger Chapel was the
Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, built in 1506.
monastery here. The Fugger Chapel (1509-1518) was founded by wealthy Jakob Fugger and his
brothers as a burial chapel for the male members of their families. It represents the first decisive
achievement of Renaissance style in Germany. It is surmised that the designer was Albrecht Dürer.
Dominating the upper part of the chapel was the ancient organ. The altar was a masterpiece by Hans
Daucher, with original paintings by Jörg Breu the Elder. To the left of the Fugger Chapel was the
Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, built in 1506.
2,000 year old Augsburg was named after its founder, Caesar
Augustus. The ancient Roman Empire had left its traces from 15
B.C. in many parts of Augsburg before being driven out by
German tribes in 3 A.D. The town of Augsburg stood at the hub of
very important trade and travel routes and in the Middle Ages the
city owed its prosperity to this position. Augsburg gained the status
of a free city in the 13th century under the Holy Roman Empire.
Augustus. The ancient Roman Empire had left its traces from 15
B.C. in many parts of Augsburg before being driven out by
German tribes in 3 A.D. The town of Augsburg stood at the hub of
very important trade and travel routes and in the Middle Ages the
city owed its prosperity to this position. Augsburg gained the status
of a free city in the 13th century under the Holy Roman Empire.
Two prominent families, the Welsers with their shipping interests and the rich and influential Fuggers
helped turn Augsburg into a city of multi national importance, a source of revenue for imperial diets
and home to artists, sculptors and composers, and in the year 1500, Augsburg became the center of
the world’s wealth. The face of Augsburg had been shaped by its 2000 year history and within it the
styles of all the major architectural periods were to be found. Fine spacious streets, monumental
fountains and distinctive public buildings recalled the profound thought and planning of the earlier
citizens of Augsburg. Augsburg was a center of architecture, religion, music and painting in the
Renaissance, and it was a storybook town rich in ancient beauty, birthplace of the Holbeins, famous
artist and printmaker Hans Burgkmair the elder (1473 - 1531) and, later, Leopold Mozart.
helped turn Augsburg into a city of multi national importance, a source of revenue for imperial diets
and home to artists, sculptors and composers, and in the year 1500, Augsburg became the center of
the world’s wealth. The face of Augsburg had been shaped by its 2000 year history and within it the
styles of all the major architectural periods were to be found. Fine spacious streets, monumental
fountains and distinctive public buildings recalled the profound thought and planning of the earlier
citizens of Augsburg. Augsburg was a center of architecture, religion, music and painting in the
Renaissance, and it was a storybook town rich in ancient beauty, birthplace of the Holbeins, famous
artist and printmaker Hans Burgkmair the elder (1473 - 1531) and, later, Leopold Mozart.
There is a famous story about an Exulanten orphan boy named Balthasar
Brandstaetter. The legend is that he was refused papers to emigrate with his exiled
stepfather, Stephan Polsteiner, so he jumped out of the third floor window at the
Wagrain Rathaus to escape, and not only survived miraculously, but followed his
stepfather into exile, arriving here in Augsburg, a destination for many Protestant
exiles, in 1732. By some accounts, several retained boys escaped from the Jesuits and
tried to find their exiled parents.
Brandstaetter. The legend is that he was refused papers to emigrate with his exiled
stepfather, Stephan Polsteiner, so he jumped out of the third floor window at the
Wagrain Rathaus to escape, and not only survived miraculously, but followed his
stepfather into exile, arriving here in Augsburg, a destination for many Protestant
exiles, in 1732. By some accounts, several retained boys escaped from the Jesuits and
tried to find their exiled parents.
Since 1747, the ceiling was vaulted and decorated in baroque and rococo style with
three large frescos painted by Johann Georg Bergmüller. Paintings included those by
Lukas Cranach the Elder in 1529, Christoph Amberger in 1560, Jörg Breu the Elder,
and Abraham van Diepenbeck.The Augsburg Rathaus was also well known and
beloved. It was built between 1615 and 1620 by the architect Elias Holl. It was one
of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Germany.
three large frescos painted by Johann Georg Bergmüller. Paintings included those by
Lukas Cranach the Elder in 1529, Christoph Amberger in 1560, Jörg Breu the Elder,
and Abraham van Diepenbeck.The Augsburg Rathaus was also well known and
beloved. It was built between 1615 and 1620 by the architect Elias Holl. It was one
of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Germany.
Anna Church, where the Salzburgers huddled together, was originally built as a Carmelite monastery
around 1321. In 1420, the glorgious Goldsmiths' Chapel with magnificent frescoes was donated.
From 1487 to 1497, the Church was enlarged to its present size.
around 1321. In 1420, the glorgious Goldsmiths' Chapel with magnificent frescoes was donated.
From 1487 to 1497, the Church was enlarged to its present size.
In 1709, he traveled from Jena and Leipzig on to Holland. Then, a ship taking him to England was
tossed by a violent storm in the channel near the Dutch coast. It terrified him and he decided to
remain a long time in Utrecht and to preach in the Lutheran Savoy church. Two years later he
arrived in England and received praise and recognition. In 1712, he began the return trip over
Hamburg, Hanover and Berlin. He was named head preacher in 1715 under Duke Eberhard Ludwig.
The baroque prince was debauch and disliked, and had a long line of greedy, well paid mistresses at
the courtesy of the country, while his wife lived drearily in the old castle. Urlsperger, book, above
tossed by a violent storm in the channel near the Dutch coast. It terrified him and he decided to
remain a long time in Utrecht and to preach in the Lutheran Savoy church. Two years later he
arrived in England and received praise and recognition. In 1712, he began the return trip over
Hamburg, Hanover and Berlin. He was named head preacher in 1715 under Duke Eberhard Ludwig.
The baroque prince was debauch and disliked, and had a long line of greedy, well paid mistresses at
the courtesy of the country, while his wife lived drearily in the old castle. Urlsperger, book, above
Pangs of conscience did not seem to have troubled the Duke and he'd gone through no wear less
than 14 head preachers. With Urlsperger, things were fine for a time until Urlsperger's friend, the
pietist Francke, influenced him to admonish the Duke and remind him that he was above all
responsible for being a good example for his people. This made the Duke furious, and he had
Urlsperger taken to death row to be executed if he would not retract all statements considered
treasonous. Urlsperger's wife stated that she would rather be the widow of a martyr than live with a
traitor to his beliefs, whereupon the Duke signed the execution order. He needed a second signature
to enforce the order of execution, but could find nobody willing. By this stroke of luck, Urlsperger
remained alive, but secretly, and with a prohibition against any and all lecturing in effect. After two
years, however, the duke appointed him Deacon in another locale, and Urlsperger worked there for
three years, finally moving to Augsburg where he worked at up to his death in the year 1772 at 87.
than 14 head preachers. With Urlsperger, things were fine for a time until Urlsperger's friend, the
pietist Francke, influenced him to admonish the Duke and remind him that he was above all
responsible for being a good example for his people. This made the Duke furious, and he had
Urlsperger taken to death row to be executed if he would not retract all statements considered
treasonous. Urlsperger's wife stated that she would rather be the widow of a martyr than live with a
traitor to his beliefs, whereupon the Duke signed the execution order. He needed a second signature
to enforce the order of execution, but could find nobody willing. By this stroke of luck, Urlsperger
remained alive, but secretly, and with a prohibition against any and all lecturing in effect. After two
years, however, the duke appointed him Deacon in another locale, and Urlsperger worked there for
three years, finally moving to Augsburg where he worked at up to his death in the year 1772 at 87.
According to the Restitution Edict in 1629, St. Anna was kept from Protestantism, but when Swedish
King Gustav Adolphus entered Augsburg in 1632, he ordered his court chaplain Fabricius to hold a
Protestant thanksgiving service at St. Anna. In 1635, the Lutherans were again locked out, and for
14 long years they had to worship in the open air in the courtyard of St. Anna College and it was not
until 1649 that the Protestants got their church back. Extensive renovations were necessary after the
destruction caused by plundering, looting foreigners during the Thirty Year War. In 1682, the
chandelier and the wood-carved pulpit were built and two years later the gallery was added.
King Gustav Adolphus entered Augsburg in 1632, he ordered his court chaplain Fabricius to hold a
Protestant thanksgiving service at St. Anna. In 1635, the Lutherans were again locked out, and for
14 long years they had to worship in the open air in the courtyard of St. Anna College and it was not
until 1649 that the Protestants got their church back. Extensive renovations were necessary after the
destruction caused by plundering, looting foreigners during the Thirty Year War. In 1682, the
chandelier and the wood-carved pulpit were built and two years later the gallery was added.
In the old Protestant Cemetery dating from 1534, Urlsperger held open-air services for the exiles for
six months in 1732 until they were permitted beyond the city gates and into the town proper on June
14. It was here at Anna Church that Urlsperger was selected at the expense of the “Society for the
Spreading of Christian Realization” to send fifty Exulanten families to Rotterdam, and on to America.
Urlsperger and Chretien von Munch made arrangements with the trustees of the Georgia colony for
passage to America because of "the public indignation engendered by their unjustifiable and inhuman
treatment," and "in the general desire to alleviate their sufferings."
six months in 1732 until they were permitted beyond the city gates and into the town proper on June
14. It was here at Anna Church that Urlsperger was selected at the expense of the “Society for the
Spreading of Christian Realization” to send fifty Exulanten families to Rotterdam, and on to America.
Urlsperger and Chretien von Munch made arrangements with the trustees of the Georgia colony for
passage to America because of "the public indignation engendered by their unjustifiable and inhuman
treatment," and "in the general desire to alleviate their sufferings."
Samuel Urlsperger was born in 1685, around
the time that Joseph Schaitberger was exiled, in
Kirchheim unter Teck to parents who were
Protestant refugees from the Steiermark. He
went through the usual theological training.
The Duke of Württemberg let the talented
young man make a scholarly journey after the
completion of his studies in 1705.
the time that Joseph Schaitberger was exiled, in
Kirchheim unter Teck to parents who were
Protestant refugees from the Steiermark. He
went through the usual theological training.
The Duke of Württemberg let the talented
young man make a scholarly journey after the
completion of his studies in 1705.
Urlsperger was a leader in the earliest missionary movement and a talented publisher, writer and
engraver. He worked tirelessly for the Salzburgers and wrote "Detailed Reports on the Salzburger
Emigrants who Settled in America." American Church historian J. P. Koehler said of him, "His work
was greatly blessed," and, "With Samuel Urlsperger the systematic care for the preaching of the
gospel among the Germans in America had its beginning."
engraver. He worked tirelessly for the Salzburgers and wrote "Detailed Reports on the Salzburger
Emigrants who Settled in America." American Church historian J. P. Koehler said of him, "His work
was greatly blessed," and, "With Samuel Urlsperger the systematic care for the preaching of the
gospel among the Germans in America had its beginning."
Several World War Two unnecessary Allied attacks took place on ancient Augsburg before a devastating bomb attack
on the night of February 25,1944 nearly completely destroyed the Augsburg city center within 80 minutes. Over 40% of
old Rothenburg was also destroyed by bombing.
on the night of February 25,1944 nearly completely destroyed the Augsburg city center within 80 minutes. Over 40% of
old Rothenburg was also destroyed by bombing.
An earthquake destroyed both castles in 1356, but the town was rebuilt and
developed into a trading center and soon occupied a leading place among the
powerful communities of Southern Germany. Its territory consisted of about
180 settlements. In 1400, 6,000 people lived in Rothenburg. From 1650 on,
Rothenburg was relatively insignificant. In 1802, Rothenburg was incorporated
into the kingdom of Bavaria. Later, during the following Romantic period of
German art, the well preserved medieval town became a Mecca for painters
and poets.
developed into a trading center and soon occupied a leading place among the
powerful communities of Southern Germany. Its territory consisted of about
180 settlements. In 1400, 6,000 people lived in Rothenburg. From 1650 on,
Rothenburg was relatively insignificant. In 1802, Rothenburg was incorporated
into the kingdom of Bavaria. Later, during the following Romantic period of
German art, the well preserved medieval town became a Mecca for painters
and poets.
Not far away from Augsburg, down the "Romantic Road" as it is called today, is Rothenburg au
Tauber. In 500 BC, Celtic tribes built a fortification on the western slopes of the Tauber valley
(Engelsburg) and the village of Detwang, now part of the town, founded about 960 AD. Ten years
later, the first medieval stronghold was built, and in 1142 it was joined by an imperial castle ordered
by Emperor Konrad III. and declared a free city.
Tauber. In 500 BC, Celtic tribes built a fortification on the western slopes of the Tauber valley
(Engelsburg) and the village of Detwang, now part of the town, founded about 960 AD. Ten years
later, the first medieval stronghold was built, and in 1142 it was joined by an imperial castle ordered
by Emperor Konrad III. and declared a free city.