| Regensburg |
Regensburg, also known as Ratisbon, is one of the oldest German cities and a cultural center with
historic monuments dating back to Celtic times. It was an important Roman outpost known as
Castra Regina. An abbey was founded there in the mid 7th century, and St. Boniface established an
Episcopal See in 739. Regensburg has a long history of negotiation and arbitration. For example, it
was at the Council of Ratisbon in the year 742 that the first officially authorized the use of chaplains
for armies was granted, but it prohibited the "servants of God" from bearing arms and fighting. The
word chaplain itself dates from this period.
historic monuments dating back to Celtic times. It was an important Roman outpost known as
Castra Regina. An abbey was founded there in the mid 7th century, and St. Boniface established an
Episcopal See in 739. Regensburg has a long history of negotiation and arbitration. For example, it
was at the Council of Ratisbon in the year 742 that the first officially authorized the use of chaplains
for armies was granted, but it prohibited the "servants of God" from bearing arms and fighting. The
word chaplain itself dates from this period.
Regensburg was captured by Charlemagne in 788 when he subjugated
Bavaria. One of the most prosperous commercial centers of medieval
Germany, Regenburg traded as far as India and the Middle East. The
city proper of Regensburg was made a free imperial city in 1245, and
accepted the Reformation in the 16th century, but was influenced by the
Counter Reformation in the late 16th century. In the Thirty Years War
Regensburg was garrisoned by Bavarian troops and was bombarded and
captured by the Protestant general Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar in 1633,
then recovered by imperial forces under Ferdinand III. From 1532,
Regensburg was often the meeting place of the Imperial Diet, and it
became the permanent seat of the Perpetual Diet or Immerwährender
Reichstag, around 1663, around the time its commerce had declined.
Bavaria. One of the most prosperous commercial centers of medieval
Germany, Regenburg traded as far as India and the Middle East. The
city proper of Regensburg was made a free imperial city in 1245, and
accepted the Reformation in the 16th century, but was influenced by the
Counter Reformation in the late 16th century. In the Thirty Years War
Regensburg was garrisoned by Bavarian troops and was bombarded and
captured by the Protestant general Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar in 1633,
then recovered by imperial forces under Ferdinand III. From 1532,
Regensburg was often the meeting place of the Imperial Diet, and it
became the permanent seat of the Perpetual Diet or Immerwährender
Reichstag, around 1663, around the time its commerce had declined.
Note: Unlike the 190 other medieval German cities completely flattened by World War Two Allied bombing, many
of Regensburg's ancient buildings amazingly survived, including the famous cathedral. Regensburg suffered from 20 British
bomb attacks and 8 American air assaults from1943-1945. In 1943, an RAF attack killed 402 civilians. In total, 3,000 civilians
here were killed by Allied bombing, including many prisoners of war. The 9th century Romanesque church of Obermünster,
below left, was completely destroyed at the tail end of the War by a violent, senseless bombing in March of 1945. Only the belfry
still stood. The church could not be rebuilt. After the war, the church's central archives, the library, part of a museum and other
agencies were located elsewhere.
of Regensburg's ancient buildings amazingly survived, including the famous cathedral. Regensburg suffered from 20 British
bomb attacks and 8 American air assaults from1943-1945. In 1943, an RAF attack killed 402 civilians. In total, 3,000 civilians
here were killed by Allied bombing, including many prisoners of war. The 9th century Romanesque church of Obermünster,
below left, was completely destroyed at the tail end of the War by a violent, senseless bombing in March of 1945. Only the belfry
still stood. The church could not be rebuilt. After the war, the church's central archives, the library, part of a museum and other
agencies were located elsewhere.
Many people, including Joseph Schaitberger, went to Regensburg to plead assorted legal cases.
Astronomer Johannes Kepler, however, died in the Golden Cross Lodging House in the city after
having gone there to collect a debt in 1630. Another momentous event occurred at the Golden
Cross when Holy Roman Emperor Karl V (King Carlos I of Spain) spent the summer of 1546
there and met a beautiful young girl named Barbara Blomberg, the daughter of a local craftsman. It
developed into a passionate but short romance. An illegitimate son of this union was born in
Regensburg under complete secrecy in 1547, and was separated from the mother and taken to
Spain to be reared.
Astronomer Johannes Kepler, however, died in the Golden Cross Lodging House in the city after
having gone there to collect a debt in 1630. Another momentous event occurred at the Golden
Cross when Holy Roman Emperor Karl V (King Carlos I of Spain) spent the summer of 1546
there and met a beautiful young girl named Barbara Blomberg, the daughter of a local craftsman. It
developed into a passionate but short romance. An illegitimate son of this union was born in
Regensburg under complete secrecy in 1547, and was separated from the mother and taken to
Spain to be reared.
Juan had an exciting life. He was raised as "Gerónimo" in Spain, and in respect of his father's will he
was recognized by his legitimate half brother, Philip II of Spain, and given an income and the title of
Don Juan of Austria. Philip hoped Juan would enter the Church, but Juan wanted the military
career at which he later succeeded rather brilliantly. He fought pirates, various rebels and the
Ottomans, defeating the Turks at in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. At one point, Juan had even
planned to liberate Mary Queen of Scots from her English captivity and marry her. He died of
typhus.
was recognized by his legitimate half brother, Philip II of Spain, and given an income and the title of
Don Juan of Austria. Philip hoped Juan would enter the Church, but Juan wanted the military
career at which he later succeeded rather brilliantly. He fought pirates, various rebels and the
Ottomans, defeating the Turks at in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. At one point, Juan had even
planned to liberate Mary Queen of Scots from her English captivity and marry her. He died of
typhus.
Under the influence of Napoleon, the diet from completely reorganized the Holy Roman Empire
from 1801 to 1803. In April of 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte was wounded scaling the town walls with
ladders during a battle.The Bishopric of Regensburg and the city were given along with
Aschaffenburg to K. T. von Dalberg, and Regensburg and became the capital of the Upper Palatinate
in 1810 under Bavarian rule.
from 1801 to 1803. In April of 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte was wounded scaling the town walls with
ladders during a battle.The Bishopric of Regensburg and the city were given along with
Aschaffenburg to K. T. von Dalberg, and Regensburg and became the capital of the Upper Palatinate
in 1810 under Bavarian rule.
