Anatomy of an Ancient City
Ludwig the Pious had founded a chapel on the hill where ancient trade routes passed in the year 815,
and the first large cathedral was formed out of native rock in 872 by Bishop Altfried. Under the
direction of Bishops Bernward and Godehard in the beginning of the 11th century, the town began to
flourish with craftsmen and artists, sculptors, goldsmiths and traders. By 1217, a Rathaus was built,
and by 1300, the citizens had drawn up a lasting town charter, followed by their own constitution in
1345. By 1367, prosperous little Hildesheim was a member of the Hanseatic League. From 1573 to
1767, the bishops of Hildesheim were almost exclusively chosen from the ducal House of Bavaria
whose job it was to help combat Protestantism, and they brought Jesuits to Hildesheim to do this.
The Thirty Years War, aside from creating a bit of religious turmoil, did not physically scar
Hildesheim as it had so many other medieval towns, but she did struggle to remain Catholic while
surrounded by a sea of Protestantism. By the Treaty of Westphalia, what had been Protestant to
1624 was mandated to remain so in the future. Hildesheim was secularized in 1803 under Napoleon,
and given to Prussia as a secular principality. In 1807, it became part of the Kingdom of Westphalia
under Jerome Bonaparte, and in 1813 it was incorporated with the Kingdom of Hanover. Hildesheim
was more than 1100 years when the Second World War arrived.
and the first large cathedral was formed out of native rock in 872 by Bishop Altfried. Under the
direction of Bishops Bernward and Godehard in the beginning of the 11th century, the town began to
flourish with craftsmen and artists, sculptors, goldsmiths and traders. By 1217, a Rathaus was built,
and by 1300, the citizens had drawn up a lasting town charter, followed by their own constitution in
1345. By 1367, prosperous little Hildesheim was a member of the Hanseatic League. From 1573 to
1767, the bishops of Hildesheim were almost exclusively chosen from the ducal House of Bavaria
whose job it was to help combat Protestantism, and they brought Jesuits to Hildesheim to do this.
The Thirty Years War, aside from creating a bit of religious turmoil, did not physically scar
Hildesheim as it had so many other medieval towns, but she did struggle to remain Catholic while
surrounded by a sea of Protestantism. By the Treaty of Westphalia, what had been Protestant to
1624 was mandated to remain so in the future. Hildesheim was secularized in 1803 under Napoleon,
and given to Prussia as a secular principality. In 1807, it became part of the Kingdom of Westphalia
under Jerome Bonaparte, and in 1813 it was incorporated with the Kingdom of Hanover. Hildesheim
was more than 1100 years when the Second World War arrived.
By the time of the last meeting of the
Hildesheim Council, on February 2,
1945, people were war weary. Long
before Allied "round the clock
bombing" was initiated against
civilian targets at the tail end of the
war, few civilians had difficulty with
the idea of surrendering peacefully.
Hildesheim Council, on February 2,
1945, people were war weary. Long
before Allied "round the clock
bombing" was initiated against
civilian targets at the tail end of the
war, few civilians had difficulty with
the idea of surrendering peacefully.
Hildesheim was a perfect old Saxon town nestled between the Weser and the Elbe Rivers. It had not
changed very much in 600 years and was probably one of the most intact medieval towns with her
narrow, winding lanes framed by fairy tale timber framed buildings both tall and intricate, charming
and even at times comical. The rosebush near the cathedral was rumored to be 1,000 years old.
changed very much in 600 years and was probably one of the most intact medieval towns with her
narrow, winding lanes framed by fairy tale timber framed buildings both tall and intricate, charming
and even at times comical. The rosebush near the cathedral was rumored to be 1,000 years old.
