Brenner, as part of the "Reformation Commission", moved through out all of Carinthia for seventy
days with 300 armed musketeers searching the houses of citizens and peasants for Lutheran literature
which was collected and burned. In addition, he ordered that all residents of the surrounding villages
attend a 3 1/2 hour ceremony at the castle Spittal Porcia then swear an oath to the Catholic faith and
promise to drive the evangelical preachers and teachers out of the country. Protestant prayer houses,
meeting places and even cemeteries and graves were burned or desecrated. The entire Commission,
with its officials, clergy and soldiers, caused fear and hardship. They, for instance, remained in
Gmünd for eight days, almost driving the city into bankruptcy.
days with 300 armed musketeers searching the houses of citizens and peasants for Lutheran literature
which was collected and burned. In addition, he ordered that all residents of the surrounding villages
attend a 3 1/2 hour ceremony at the castle Spittal Porcia then swear an oath to the Catholic faith and
promise to drive the evangelical preachers and teachers out of the country. Protestant prayer houses,
meeting places and even cemeteries and graves were burned or desecrated. The entire Commission,
with its officials, clergy and soldiers, caused fear and hardship. They, for instance, remained in
Gmünd for eight days, almost driving the city into bankruptcy.
| Pesky Protestant Provinces |
16th and 17th century Kärnten (Carinthia) 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.
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.
Meanwhile, Duke Friedrich I of Württemberg had a long-cherished dream:
to build a city in the middle of his Duchy at the northern extremity of the
Black Forest. Persecuted Protestants, mainly from Carinthia, needed a
place to go after the edict of Emperor Ferdinand in 1598. The host
country offered by the Duke looked just right. Each new settler was
offered free land for their own homes and promised enough well-paid
work in the Duke's new city and the surrounding mines. In addition,
there was good timber and fields for their own needs. They were granted
freedom and a future of peace and prosperity. The Duke's land had silver
mines, an occupation familiar to most of the emigrants, and this is how
the town of Freudenstadt in the Black Forest got its start.
to build a city in the middle of his Duchy at the northern extremity of the
Black Forest. Persecuted Protestants, mainly from Carinthia, needed a
place to go after the edict of Emperor Ferdinand in 1598. The host
country offered by the Duke looked just right. Each new settler was
offered free land for their own homes and promised enough well-paid
work in the Duke's new city and the surrounding mines. In addition,
there was good timber and fields for their own needs. They were granted
freedom and a future of peace and prosperity. The Duke's land had silver
mines, an occupation familiar to most of the emigrants, and this is how
the town of Freudenstadt in the Black Forest got its start.
In 1599, the first Exulanten from Carinthia arrived in what was still wilderness and they had to first
clear the forests and build the necessary infrastructure. Only a remote road leading toward Strasbourg
was in place in the wild countryside.
clear the forests and build the necessary infrastructure. Only a remote road leading toward Strasbourg
was in place in the wild countryside.
The population grew steadily and more and more refugees
arrived. By 1603, 250 settlers had grown to 1000 people
(Berlin at the time had 6000 residents). By 1609, the number
had risen to 2000. Among the immigrants from Carinthia were
some from Styria and also some Protestant Slavs. It might be
mentioned that in 1628, after 300 Protestant nobles back home
in Carinthia were expelled, the Protestant religion still clung to
the local peasantry there for decades to come.
arrived. By 1603, 250 settlers had grown to 1000 people
(Berlin at the time had 6000 residents). By 1609, the number
had risen to 2000. Among the immigrants from Carinthia were
some from Styria and also some Protestant Slavs. It might be
mentioned that in 1628, after 300 Protestant nobles back home
in Carinthia were expelled, the Protestant religion still clung to
the local peasantry there for decades to come.
Friedrich I, Duke of Württemberg, the son of Georg Mömpelgard, is alluded to in Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of
Windsor'. As heir apparent to the dukedom of Württemberg, Friedrich visited Windsor and other English cities in 1592,
and he yearned to be made a Knight of the Garter and repeatedly solicited Queen Elizabeth for the honor. After he
inherited the dukedom and become more prominent, she admitted him to the order, but intentionally did not inform him in
time for him to attend the spring investiture in 1597, the ceremony for which 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' was written.
Thus Shakespeare's references to the one German duke who would not be present in Windsor were jokes, and they
appeared in the First Folio edition of the play.
Windsor'. As heir apparent to the dukedom of Württemberg, Friedrich visited Windsor and other English cities in 1592,
and he yearned to be made a Knight of the Garter and repeatedly solicited Queen Elizabeth for the honor. After he
inherited the dukedom and become more prominent, she admitted him to the order, but intentionally did not inform him in
time for him to attend the spring investiture in 1597, the ceremony for which 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' was written.
Thus Shakespeare's references to the one German duke who would not be present in Windsor were jokes, and they
appeared in the First Folio edition of the play.
The town of Freudenstadt, including the old church, was heavily bombed by the USA and then burned by French
at the tail end of World War Two in April of 1945. It was 85% destroyed and had to be completely rebuilt.
at the tail end of World War Two in April of 1945. It was 85% destroyed and had to be completely rebuilt.
There are various symbols and the letters: FERDINANDE with the inscription underneath: “Thus
makes (us) goeth into the world.” Their troubles did not end there or then, however.
makes (us) goeth into the world.” Their troubles did not end there or then, however.
One must imagine the ordeal some Protestants went through. For example, the small German 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 later, 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.
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 later, 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 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 more brutal in Austria.
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 more brutal in Austria.
Going back awhile, Protestants in the land we know today as Austria historically had immense
problems and were turned into criminals for merely exercising their basic freedoms and human rights.
problems and were turned into criminals for merely exercising their basic freedoms and human rights.
The Bishop of Seckau, Martin Brenner, a.k.a. "Hammer of the Heretics", was
in charge of almost all of the reformatory commissions of Ferdinand II from
1599 to 1604 in the duchies of Carinthia and in Styria. His vicious work earned
him the gentle title "Apostle of Styria". Since 1571, the Jesuits had been pushing
for re-catholization in the predominantly Protestant city of Graz according to the
wishes of the Archduke Karl II of Austria. For that reason, a Jesuit college with
a school and a library were founded next to the cathedral in 1573. In 1585, this
school was confirmed by Pope Gregory XIII. as a Jesuit University and its
driving force was the re-catholization of its lost sheep.
in charge of almost all of the reformatory commissions of Ferdinand II from
1599 to 1604 in the duchies of Carinthia and in Styria. His vicious work earned
him the gentle title "Apostle of Styria". Since 1571, the Jesuits had been pushing
for re-catholization in the predominantly Protestant city of Graz according to the
wishes of the Archduke Karl II of Austria. For that reason, a Jesuit college with
a school and a library were founded next to the cathedral in 1573. In 1585, this
school was confirmed by Pope Gregory XIII. as a Jesuit University and its
driving force was the re-catholization of its lost sheep.
| Enter the Merry Duke of Württemberg |
The Duke hired Renaissance architect Heinrich Schick Hardt to
design a town plan and he commanded him to build a castle "in
the middle of the market" larger than the Stuttgart Castle. The
foundation stone of a new church for the Exulanten was laid in
1601, but the Duke unfortunately died in 1608 before his
dream was completed: he never saw his castle built. However,
because it was planned to contain a castle, the market place in
Freudenstadt was and still is the largest in Germany. The new
residents initially lived in simple wooden huts, but by 1602,
four sides of the market place were constructed with a total of
80 buildings completed.
design a town plan and he commanded him to build a castle "in
the middle of the market" larger than the Stuttgart Castle. The
foundation stone of a new church for the Exulanten was laid in
1601, but the Duke unfortunately died in 1608 before his
dream was completed: he never saw his castle built. However,
because it was planned to contain a castle, the market place in
Freudenstadt was and still is the largest in Germany. The new
residents initially lived in simple wooden huts, but by 1602,
four sides of the market place were constructed with a total of
80 buildings completed.
Market place and Lutheran church in Freudenstadt pre-1945
Napoleon took his armies through Württemberg on his way to attack the eastern countries and Russia, and these marches
ravaged and plundered Germany. The French troops demanded free quartering and food all along the way from peasants
and dukes alike, resulting in severe food shortages. The smaller hamlets of the Württemberg area were also becoming
over-populated, and the younger generation had no land of their own. Many people left the area at this time. Some were
invited to settle in the vast empire of Russia from about 1763 to 1862. German workers and traders were already living
there, having settled in the 16th century at the invitation of Ivan the Terrible (1553-1584), Peter the Great (1672-1725),
who had invited Germans to Russia to help him "westernize" rural Russia, and then Catharine the Great who enticed
settlers to sparsely populated regions, especially in the Volga valley. Some Württembergers moved to the area of today's
Ukraine. Friedrich the Great of Prussia also offered Württembergers land in Prussian Poland if they would come teach the
local people modern farming methods, especially in areas recently reclaimed by clearing brush and draining marshes. Even
young America beckoned. By the year 1765, there were an estimated 7500-8000 Germans and German-Swiss who had
come to the province of South Carolina, many Wuerttembergers among them.
ravaged and plundered Germany. The French troops demanded free quartering and food all along the way from peasants
and dukes alike, resulting in severe food shortages. The smaller hamlets of the Württemberg area were also becoming
over-populated, and the younger generation had no land of their own. Many people left the area at this time. Some were
invited to settle in the vast empire of Russia from about 1763 to 1862. German workers and traders were already living
there, having settled in the 16th century at the invitation of Ivan the Terrible (1553-1584), Peter the Great (1672-1725),
who had invited Germans to Russia to help him "westernize" rural Russia, and then Catharine the Great who enticed
settlers to sparsely populated regions, especially in the Volga valley. Some Württembergers moved to the area of today's
Ukraine. Friedrich the Great of Prussia also offered Württembergers land in Prussian Poland if they would come teach the
local people modern farming methods, especially in areas recently reclaimed by clearing brush and draining marshes. Even
young America beckoned. By the year 1765, there were an estimated 7500-8000 Germans and German-Swiss who had
come to the province of South Carolina, many Wuerttembergers among them.
| Exulanten Movements from 1580-1837 |
Map from Evangelischen Diözesanmuseum Fresach, Kärnten
Hausandacht
"Be a good boy," the old man whispered to the dog. The dog's deep brown eyes looked up at him in a knowing acquiescence of
their parting. "He's too old to go very far," thought the old man. "He'd surely die a hard death in some foreign place." All the
same, it was perhaps the hardest part of it all. Just an old dog! Not the house of his father and grandfather, or his wife's grave,
no, not even the familiar paths on the hills or the brook where he fished. Just an old dog. His friend.
"Go Home!" he shouted at the dog as he turned to leave. The dog just stood there and looked at him with sad, trusting eyes.
The old man thought how odd it was that he could not remember the birth dates of his children or the day he married, or even
what day of the week it was, but he remembered the day he brought home the pup. It was twelve years ago on a Monday in
September. He was small but feisty, and never left his side from that day on. No, the dog never let him down. The old man felt
a tear. The dog turned and walked home.
their parting. "He's too old to go very far," thought the old man. "He'd surely die a hard death in some foreign place." All the
same, it was perhaps the hardest part of it all. Just an old dog! Not the house of his father and grandfather, or his wife's grave,
no, not even the familiar paths on the hills or the brook where he fished. Just an old dog. His friend.
"Go Home!" he shouted at the dog as he turned to leave. The dog just stood there and looked at him with sad, trusting eyes.
The old man thought how odd it was that he could not remember the birth dates of his children or the day he married, or even
what day of the week it was, but he remembered the day he brought home the pup. It was twelve years ago on a Monday in
September. He was small but feisty, and never left his side from that day on. No, the dog never let him down. The old man felt
a tear. The dog turned and walked home.