The Archbishops opened salt works around Hallein in 1200AD and grew rich by buying up shares
in the mines until they held them all by the 16th century. As mining rapidly developed, Protestant
miners from Saxony and other areas arrived and their religious ideas spread. Soon people desirous
of religious freedom besieged Archbishop Matthaeus Lang in his fortress Hohen Salzburg in what is
known as the Latin War. There followed two peasants' wars, miners being in the vanguard of the
peasants war of 1525, in which their leaders were tortured and executed.
in the mines until they held them all by the 16th century. As mining rapidly developed, Protestant
miners from Saxony and other areas arrived and their religious ideas spread. Soon people desirous
of religious freedom besieged Archbishop Matthaeus Lang in his fortress Hohen Salzburg in what is
known as the Latin War. There followed two peasants' wars, miners being in the vanguard of the
peasants war of 1525, in which their leaders were tortured and executed.
Meanwhile, new trade routes brought a period of economic and social change to Europe. By 1575,
the wealthy Archbishops were so preoccupied with buying luxury goods such as silks, rugs and
precious gems once reserved only for the wealthiest of kings that many of them temporarily turned
a blind eye to the growing Protestant population.
the wealthy Archbishops were so preoccupied with buying luxury goods such as silks, rugs and
precious gems once reserved only for the wealthiest of kings that many of them temporarily turned
a blind eye to the growing Protestant population.
| An Historical Perspective of Salzburg |
The Romans under Augustus occupied the land south of the
Danube and marked out roads, founded towns and turned the
territory into a province belonging to Noricum. Christianity
was introduced by artisans, soldiers and others, but the area
was then devastated by barbarians, and Christianity vanished
until about 700AD. The emergence of Archbishops as mighty
sovereigns can be traced to the great Charlemagne. In 996,
Archbishop Hartwik's church was consecrated and Salzburg,
sandwiched uncomfortably between Austria and neighboring
Bavaria, became an independent city-state with emporial rights
under the total rule of the powerful Catholic Archbishops.
Danube and marked out roads, founded towns and turned the
territory into a province belonging to Noricum. Christianity
was introduced by artisans, soldiers and others, but the area
was then devastated by barbarians, and Christianity vanished
until about 700AD. The emergence of Archbishops as mighty
sovereigns can be traced to the great Charlemagne. In 996,
Archbishop Hartwik's church was consecrated and Salzburg,
sandwiched uncomfortably between Austria and neighboring
Bavaria, became an independent city-state with emporial rights
under the total rule of the powerful Catholic Archbishops.
Or take a side trip below
Kepler Kepler >
Schiller's Account The Merians
More General Historical Background
The Early Germans Arminius> The Roman perspective on Early Germans. Tacitus
Karl der Große Charlemagne, Aachen; The Franks >
Map, Realms Charlemagne's Realms, Music, Die Merseburger Zaubersprüche. Frisia
Barbarossa Barbarossa>
Letter of Barbarossa Law Letter >
Barbarossa's Sons The Legacy. The Manesse Codex. Walther von der Vogelweide .
Earlier History:
Sky Other German Astronomers. The German Stonehenge
Siege of Vienna an account >
The Hanseatic League Medieval Trade Fairs
Johann Schiltberger: Ottoman Prisoner >
The Habsburgs and the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire >
The Black Death Plague
Schiltberger: Account of War >
Astronomy Regiomontanus. The Eimmarts >
| Part One |
The Victors > A group effort to save Europe >
In 1613-15, the mandates against Protestants were extended by
Archbishop Marcus Sittich to include the entire region. In Radstadt, the
majority Protestants demanded churches, and the Archbishop increased
his sternness, giving the Protestants only 14 days before exile. Of 2,500
Protestants in Gastein, only 300 promised to live and die as Catholics.
Archbishop Marcus Sittich to include the entire region. In Radstadt, the
majority Protestants demanded churches, and the Archbishop increased
his sternness, giving the Protestants only 14 days before exile. Of 2,500
Protestants in Gastein, only 300 promised to live and die as Catholics.
The expansion of Ottoman Turks into southeastern Europe provoked
great fear, and at the same time, colder, wetter weather resulted in shorter
farming seasons which in turn resulted in food shortages and widespread
starvation. Europe was about to feel the effects of the Thirty Years War.
great fear, and at the same time, colder, wetter weather resulted in shorter
farming seasons which in turn resulted in food shortages and widespread
starvation. Europe was about to feel the effects of the Thirty Years War.
While most of Germany was destroyed beyond recognition by the ravages
of the Thirty Years War as foreign soldiers burned hundreds of cities,
spreading destruction and death, Salzburg was barely scathed because of
the clever diplomacy of Archbishop Paris Lodron, and even in the midst
of the neighboring chaos, Lodrun hosted a consecration of the newly
rebuild Salzburg Cathedral, the largest baroque building north of the Alps.
of the Thirty Years War as foreign soldiers burned hundreds of cities,
spreading destruction and death, Salzburg was barely scathed because of
the clever diplomacy of Archbishop Paris Lodron, and even in the midst
of the neighboring chaos, Lodrun hosted a consecration of the newly
rebuild Salzburg Cathedral, the largest baroque building north of the Alps.
The Peace Treaty of Westphalia at war's end pledged that within the German portion of the
Empire, private exercise of non-conforming religion was permitted and the governments were
rendered religiously neutral. Lands secularized by the Protestants in 1624 were generally allowed to
remain so, but in the Habsburg territories of Bohemia and Austria, the Emperor was given a nearly
free hand to reimpose Catholicism, and this zeal was represented by Ferdinand ll and Maximillian l.
Empire, private exercise of non-conforming religion was permitted and the governments were
rendered religiously neutral. Lands secularized by the Protestants in 1624 were generally allowed to
remain so, but in the Habsburg territories of Bohemia and Austria, the Emperor was given a nearly
free hand to reimpose Catholicism, and this zeal was represented by Ferdinand ll and Maximillian l.
| The Counter Reformation |
Ferdinand ordered the extinction of Protestantism in Austria in 1627 and Lutherans were now
expelled on a large scale. Ferdinand and his authorities set up heavily guarded commissions who
roamed through the country ferreting out offending Protestants, relying upon well-organized and
dependably loyal Jesuits who, as father-confessors of kings and in support of Catholic pomp and
splendor, efficiently fought Protestantism by spreading fear among local populations.
expelled on a large scale. Ferdinand and his authorities set up heavily guarded commissions who
roamed through the country ferreting out offending Protestants, relying upon well-organized and
dependably loyal Jesuits who, as father-confessors of kings and in support of Catholic pomp and
splendor, efficiently fought Protestantism by spreading fear among local populations.
The resolve to weed out Protestantism grew rabid as the commissions relentlessly travelled through
the land to the "troublesome" Austrian parishes such as Lower Austria´s “Waldviertel” whose
Protestants refused to conform. By around 1652, the pressure forced many Protestants to either
leave everything behind or sell their goods and property at a great loss. Some quietly slipped over
the border, but often the refugees were arrested, beaten or even sent back home where they were
forced to confess and take communion. Lower Austria was cleansed of Protestants by 1654.
These vulnerable, early Austrian exiles wandered into new areas in small groups or alone. In
Salzburg, Protestant miners bought a little more time because of their economic importance.
the land to the "troublesome" Austrian parishes such as Lower Austria´s “Waldviertel” whose
Protestants refused to conform. By around 1652, the pressure forced many Protestants to either
leave everything behind or sell their goods and property at a great loss. Some quietly slipped over
the border, but often the refugees were arrested, beaten or even sent back home where they were
forced to confess and take communion. Lower Austria was cleansed of Protestants by 1654.
These vulnerable, early Austrian exiles wandered into new areas in small groups or alone. In
Salzburg, Protestant miners bought a little more time because of their economic importance.
The situation resulted in an unusually high literacy rate in these Protestant alpine regions, since
from the 16th century Protestant books had been smuggled into the region from ex-soldiers,
travelers and seasonal workers. Books became almost sacred relics to simple farmers and miners,
and were regarded with reverence for use during 'Hausandacht', private home services which even
included servants. When not in use, the books, which in an irony put these simple mountain folk
on a curious intellectual par with the educated German elite, were hidden away in special boxes
and secreted in wood piles, hay lofts and cellars, safe from the church spies.
from the 16th century Protestant books had been smuggled into the region from ex-soldiers,
travelers and seasonal workers. Books became almost sacred relics to simple farmers and miners,
and were regarded with reverence for use during 'Hausandacht', private home services which even
included servants. When not in use, the books, which in an irony put these simple mountain folk
on a curious intellectual par with the educated German elite, were hidden away in special boxes
and secreted in wood piles, hay lofts and cellars, safe from the church spies.
One must imagine the ordeal some Protestants went through. For example, the small town of
Obertsrot in Baden- Baden was originally a Catholic community, but it turned to Protestantism
during the Reformation. This delighted some of its older inhabitants who were exiled Salzburg
Protestants. When they had first arrived in Obertsrot, they had grudgingly reconverted to
Catholicism because the Bishop of Speyer and the Counts of Eberstein would not accept Protestant
immigrants, and they did not want to be expelled again. So, when the Count of Eberstein and the
Margrave of Baden converted to Protestantism, these old Salzburgers were finally free to practise
their religion around 1579, and Protestant baptisms were immediately recognized.
Obertsrot in Baden- Baden was originally a Catholic community, but it turned to Protestantism
during the Reformation. This delighted some of its older inhabitants who were exiled Salzburg
Protestants. When they had first arrived in Obertsrot, they had grudgingly reconverted to
Catholicism because the Bishop of Speyer and the Counts of Eberstein would not accept Protestant
immigrants, and they did not want to be expelled again. So, when the Count of Eberstein and the
Margrave of Baden converted to Protestantism, these old Salzburgers were finally free to practise
their religion around 1579, and Protestant baptisms were immediately recognized.
But, alas, the situation reversed itself again by the Thirty Years War! In 1622, Count Johann von
Eberstein had signed a treaty which ended religious freedom in the area. The Protestant preachers
were dismissed and those Protestants who would not recant were expelled. One village leader spent
nine years in exile and died faithful to his Lutheran beliefs. He was not allowed burial in Obertsrot
and was buried in a neighboring Protestant cemetery. His colleagues, also Protestants, were
ordered to recant or to resign, and they also chose exile. By 1625, there were no more Protestant
baptisms, and despite an occasional crypto Protestant cropping up, the town remained Catholic
from then on. It was even more brutal in Austria, however.
Eberstein had signed a treaty which ended religious freedom in the area. The Protestant preachers
were dismissed and those Protestants who would not recant were expelled. One village leader spent
nine years in exile and died faithful to his Lutheran beliefs. He was not allowed burial in Obertsrot
and was buried in a neighboring Protestant cemetery. His colleagues, also Protestants, were
ordered to recant or to resign, and they also chose exile. By 1625, there were no more Protestant
baptisms, and despite an occasional crypto Protestant cropping up, the town remained Catholic
from then on. It was even more brutal in Austria, however.
Part 1: Salzburg History
Salzburg's Wolf Dieterich visited Rome for advise and issued a proclamation mandate upon his
return for all Protestants to recant or leave within a month, permission being given them to sell
their goods and property first. So many chose exile that he revised the mandate so as to confiscate
their property. By 1588, the openly Protestant population of Salzburg was expelled and the city
was left with 7,000 citizens, all of them Catholics or pretend Catholics. Many Salzburg Protestants
migrated into German speaking areas such as Freudenstadt in the Black Forest which was founded
around 1600. Various peasants and salt miners again took up arms in defense of their Lutheran
faith again in 1601, but this revolt was also crushed. New worries would soon occupy the church.
return for all Protestants to recant or leave within a month, permission being given them to sell
their goods and property first. So many chose exile that he revised the mandate so as to confiscate
their property. By 1588, the openly Protestant population of Salzburg was expelled and the city
was left with 7,000 citizens, all of them Catholics or pretend Catholics. Many Salzburg Protestants
migrated into German speaking areas such as Freudenstadt in the Black Forest which was founded
around 1600. Various peasants and salt miners again took up arms in defense of their Lutheran
faith again in 1601, but this revolt was also crushed. New worries would soon occupy the church.
Rome was unhappy, and at a Munich Conference in October 1579, Catholic delegates of Inner
Austria, Bavaria, Tyrol and Salzburg quietly met and planned how to battle Protestantism. Nearly
all aristocrats and three fourth of their population were now Lutheran. Their methods of stomping
out heretics had not worked: one Leonhardt Lanzenstil and 21 fellow Protestants were burned
alive, and in 1528, Georg Schärrer was decapitated for preaching his beliefs. These violent acts of
reprisal simply drove the remaining Protestants either into flight or "underground".
Austria, Bavaria, Tyrol and Salzburg quietly met and planned how to battle Protestantism. Nearly
all aristocrats and three fourth of their population were now Lutheran. Their methods of stomping
out heretics had not worked: one Leonhardt Lanzenstil and 21 fellow Protestants were burned
alive, and in 1528, Georg Schärrer was decapitated for preaching his beliefs. These violent acts of
reprisal simply drove the remaining Protestants either into flight or "underground".
| Lutheran Austria |
16th and 17th century Kärnten Protestants met in secret to sing and pray
in the forest. Symbols were scratched into the nearby rocks at the so-called
“dog church”as early as 1583. Dutch Jesuit Peter Canisius, hired by
Emperor Ferdinand to go into the valleys of Kärnten to flush out
Protestants, was called "de Hondt" after the Latin “Canis” or dog.
in the forest. Symbols were scratched into the nearby rocks at the so-called
“dog church”as early as 1583. Dutch Jesuit Peter Canisius, hired by
Emperor Ferdinand to go into the valleys of Kärnten to flush out
Protestants, was called "de Hondt" after the Latin “Canis” or dog.
There are various symbols and the letters: FERDINANDE with the inscription underneath: “Thus
makes (us) goeth into the world.”
makes (us) goeth into the world.”
The First Saxon King Heinrich der Vogler; The Sachsenspiegel
The Hohenzollerns and Brandenburg
Dynasties: