Firmian had dangerously depopulated his own country and was chastised by Rome, not for his
inhumane actions, but because he had not crushed the Protestants earlier. After Salzburg was
cleansed of Protestants, Firmian appropriated all that was possible for himself, his family and his
cronies, and in 1736, a greatly enriched Firmian commissioned the grand Schloss Leopoldskron, a
palace built on tears, as his family estate.
inhumane actions, but because he had not crushed the Protestants earlier. After Salzburg was
cleansed of Protestants, Firmian appropriated all that was possible for himself, his family and his
cronies, and in 1736, a greatly enriched Firmian commissioned the grand Schloss Leopoldskron, a
palace built on tears, as his family estate.
| The End Result |
The "Salzburgers" as a distinct culture became extinct. Within a short time and with the eradication
of indigenous inhabitants, the farms and villages which were emptied of Protestants filled up almost
entirely with strangers to the area, some from poorer regions of Austria, others from Catholic cities
in Germany. The local surnames changed as most of the old population vanished. Off in their new,
distant lands, the exiles thought of themselves and were regarded by others as Salzburgers for just a
little while longer until they assimilated. East Prussia is the land most commonly associated with the
exiles followed by Georgia in America and then Holland, but many thousands were scattered
elsewhere and a great many went to neighboring Protestant Franconia (Franken) in Germany.
of indigenous inhabitants, the farms and villages which were emptied of Protestants filled up almost
entirely with strangers to the area, some from poorer regions of Austria, others from Catholic cities
in Germany. The local surnames changed as most of the old population vanished. Off in their new,
distant lands, the exiles thought of themselves and were regarded by others as Salzburgers for just a
little while longer until they assimilated. East Prussia is the land most commonly associated with the
exiles followed by Georgia in America and then Holland, but many thousands were scattered
elsewhere and a great many went to neighboring Protestant Franconia (Franken) in Germany.
| The Great Expulsion of Salzburg Protestants |
Edict of Expulsion Firmian's Edict
Trails of Tears: East Prussian Migration. NAMES
More Trails of Tears: Other areas of Emigration
Ebenezer: Salzburgers to Georgia USA. NAMES
Radstadt and the Pongau Saltlickers
Berchtesgaden The "Erring Faith"
Post Firmian Exiles Zillertalers. NAMES
The Loinbacher Story of a Song
Meanwhile, trying to appeal to the Corpus Evangelium, six Protestants journeyed to Regensberg in
1731 with a petition speaking for their fellow believers which stated their grievances and requested
relief under the terms of the Peace of Westphalia. When the Archbishop found out, he considered it
high treason, but he was in a ticklish situation. The power of the Protestant Prussian king was a
concern to him, and the Austrian Emperor was too preoccupied should Firmian need his help. His
clever ally von Rall decided on a strategy. They would very publicly "give in" to the Protestant's
demands and pacify them so as to seem accommodating. The naive Protestants were ecstatic. They
were even allowed to have prayer meetings! Now they were in the open...but then the other shoe
dropped. Firmian and his cronies concocted and exaggerated a couple of "incidents" which gave
them an excuse to clamp down even harder in hopes to eradicate the "noxious Protestant weed".
1731 with a petition speaking for their fellow believers which stated their grievances and requested
relief under the terms of the Peace of Westphalia. When the Archbishop found out, he considered it
high treason, but he was in a ticklish situation. The power of the Protestant Prussian king was a
concern to him, and the Austrian Emperor was too preoccupied should Firmian need his help. His
clever ally von Rall decided on a strategy. They would very publicly "give in" to the Protestant's
demands and pacify them so as to seem accommodating. The naive Protestants were ecstatic. They
were even allowed to have prayer meetings! Now they were in the open...but then the other shoe
dropped. Firmian and his cronies concocted and exaggerated a couple of "incidents" which gave
them an excuse to clamp down even harder in hopes to eradicate the "noxious Protestant weed".
While oppression and unrest spread across the land, Firmian spent his free time in the company of a
wealthy Countess while bribing his corrupt court councillor with fifty thousand dollars of church
money to do his dirty work for him. Christian von Rall, a Tirolean, adopted the name Christiani da
Rallo to fit it with Firmian's attendants and associates, who were chiefly Italians. Rall encouraged the
common use of a greeting: "Praise be to Jesus Christ for eternity. Amen!" The local Protestants
predictably viewed the expression as taking the Lord's name in vain, especially when used in taverns,
and they naturally refused to greet one another with it. This simple act of omission
gave them away and helped Rall and his spies ferret out the dissidents.
wealthy Countess while bribing his corrupt court councillor with fifty thousand dollars of church
money to do his dirty work for him. Christian von Rall, a Tirolean, adopted the name Christiani da
Rallo to fit it with Firmian's attendants and associates, who were chiefly Italians. Rall encouraged the
common use of a greeting: "Praise be to Jesus Christ for eternity. Amen!" The local Protestants
predictably viewed the expression as taking the Lord's name in vain, especially when used in taverns,
and they naturally refused to greet one another with it. This simple act of omission
gave them away and helped Rall and his spies ferret out the dissidents.
The non-violent Salzburgers identified with Luther's advice of submitting to legal authority while still
being obedient to their conscience, but this would cost them dearly. What next transpired was of a
magnificent proportion and a true cultural cataclysm which shocked the European world.
being obedient to their conscience, but this would cost them dearly. What next transpired was of a
magnificent proportion and a true cultural cataclysm which shocked the European world.
Tradesmen, farmers, woodsmen were all given different deadlines, some as little as eight days. As
they cast parting glances at their mountains homeland, long lines of the exhausted exiles departed.
They left proudly, however, clinging together and singing Joseph Schaitberger's Exulantenlied all the
while, both in honor of his memory and for strength and inspiration. Victims of robbers, illness,
death and starvation, the exiles headed for refuge in tolerant German Protestant cities.
they cast parting glances at their mountains homeland, long lines of the exhausted exiles departed.
They left proudly, however, clinging together and singing Joseph Schaitberger's Exulantenlied all the
while, both in honor of his memory and for strength and inspiration. Victims of robbers, illness,
death and starvation, the exiles headed for refuge in tolerant German Protestant cities.
Families were ripped apart, lovers torn from one another and mothers and fathers too old to travel
had to be left behind in the heartbreaking flight from their beloved homeland. People tried to take
what they might need, but were forced to make hasty arrangements in the middle of winter. Since
land owners were generally given only three months to sell their livestock, homes and property, it
resulted in an even greater financial loss. In the process, they endured confusion, grief and terror,
however their children were at least not taken.
had to be left behind in the heartbreaking flight from their beloved homeland. People tried to take
what they might need, but were forced to make hasty arrangements in the middle of winter. Since
land owners were generally given only three months to sell their livestock, homes and property, it
resulted in an even greater financial loss. In the process, they endured confusion, grief and terror,
however their children were at least not taken.
| Scattered to the Winds: From Salzburg to Prussia |
Above all others, historically tolerant Prussia eagerly awaited them. King Friedrich Wilhelm, the
Soldier King, generously took in over twelve thousand exiles to begin with, and then gave a new
home to thousands more. In hopes of repopulating East Prussia and the other remote eastern regions
of the Prussian realm which had previously been devastated by plague and famine, he had them
guarded and guided on their Great Trek and even demanded they have some monetary compensation
from the Archbishop. The remainder of exiles ended up in other German regions, the new American
colony of Georgia and even Holland. Still others fled to more distant realms, while some never went
far at all: a full quarter of the exiles died within two years of leaving home.
Soldier King, generously took in over twelve thousand exiles to begin with, and then gave a new
home to thousands more. In hopes of repopulating East Prussia and the other remote eastern regions
of the Prussian realm which had previously been devastated by plague and famine, he had them
guarded and guided on their Great Trek and even demanded they have some monetary compensation
from the Archbishop. The remainder of exiles ended up in other German regions, the new American
colony of Georgia and even Holland. Still others fled to more distant realms, while some never went
far at all: a full quarter of the exiles died within two years of leaving home.
| The Salzburg Exiles |
In the early 18th century, while the 16,000 or so inhabitants
of Salzburg proper were almost all Catholic and in some way
connected with the court, the rural regions were still teeming
with crypto-Protestants. This would soon change. In 1727,
Count Leopold Anton Eleutherius von Firmian (1679- 1744)
bought his way into the position of Archbishop of Salzburg
from the Pope for today's price of $75,000.00. Called the
"Sun King" of Salzburg, Firmian was born of an aristocratic
South Tirol family. Staid, narrow minded and anti-social,
Firmian surrounded himself with anti-Protestant zealots and
Jesuits in his quest to finally cleanse the land of Protestants.
of Salzburg proper were almost all Catholic and in some way
connected with the court, the rural regions were still teeming
with crypto-Protestants. This would soon change. In 1727,
Count Leopold Anton Eleutherius von Firmian (1679- 1744)
bought his way into the position of Archbishop of Salzburg
from the Pope for today's price of $75,000.00. Called the
"Sun King" of Salzburg, Firmian was born of an aristocratic
South Tirol family. Staid, narrow minded and anti-social,
Firmian surrounded himself with anti-Protestant zealots and
Jesuits in his quest to finally cleanse the land of Protestants.
Salzburg acted as a buffer between Bavarian and Austrian royal houses, and Firmian rigorously
protected both its position and its religion. By 1730, he increased book raids and hired more spies
to root out the secret Protestant farmers and peasants in the surrounding hills and valleys.
protected both its position and its religion. By 1730, he increased book raids and hired more spies
to root out the secret Protestant farmers and peasants in the surrounding hills and valleys.
Whole villages along the path of their trek stood in amazement at the passing spectacle, some ringing
their church bells and feeding or housing the procession, while a few hamlets hissed and jeered,
depending on the religion of the town. They headed to Protestant kingdoms for refuge.
their church bells and feeding or housing the procession, while a few hamlets hissed and jeered,
depending on the religion of the town. They headed to Protestant kingdoms for refuge.
It is said that many Salzburgers, upon reaching safety, asked only one thing of their hosts: "Have
you a Schaitberg?" When provided with a copy of Joseph Schaitberger's Sendbrief, they evinced
great joy and gratitude. In neighboring Berchtesgaden, a similar scene played out among the
Salzburgers' friends and relatives and hundreds of Protestants there were also forced into exile.
you a Schaitberg?" When provided with a copy of Joseph Schaitberger's Sendbrief, they evinced
great joy and gratitude. In neighboring Berchtesgaden, a similar scene played out among the
Salzburgers' friends and relatives and hundreds of Protestants there were also forced into exile.
| In Greater Depth: |
Thinking they could now simply expel the few acknowledged Protestants, Firmian signed an Edict
of Expulsion on October 31, 1731 which gave the Protestants a choice of recanting or exile. He was
utterly astonished when 21,475 citizens followed the example of Joseph Schaitberger and instead
came forth and openly admitted their faith... choosing exile rather than compromising their beliefs!
of Expulsion on October 31, 1731 which gave the Protestants a choice of recanting or exile. He was
utterly astonished when 21,475 citizens followed the example of Joseph Schaitberger and instead
came forth and openly admitted their faith... choosing exile rather than compromising their beliefs!
.
