Wittenberg

Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a town in Germany, in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, at 12° 59' E, 51° 51' N, on the Elbe river. It has a population of about 50,000.

History

The settlement was first mentioned in 1180 as a small village founded by Flemish colonists. In 1293 the settlement was granted a town charter. Wittenberg soon developed into an important trade center during the following centuries due to its location.

Related Topics:
1180 - Flemish - 1293

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The city's importance reached one of its heydays at the end of the 15th century, when Friedrich III, Elector of Saxony (The Wise) took up residence in Wittenberg. Several parts of the city were extended in those days: the second bridge over the Elbe river was built from 1486 to 1490 and the Castle Church was built from 1490 to 1499, the same time the palace was rebuilt.

Related Topics:
15th century - Friedrich III, Elector of Saxony - Bridge - Elbe

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It was the capital of the little duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg, the rulers of which afterwards became electors of Saxony, and it continued to be a Saxon residence under the Ernestine electors. In 1502 the University was founded and gave a home to many important thinkers, among them Martin Luther (Professor of Theology from 1508) and Philipp Melanchthon (Professor of Greek from 1518).

Related Topics:
University - Martin Luther - Philipp Melanchthon

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On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his 95 theses against the selling of indulgences to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in Germany. In the Wittenberg Concord (1536) the reformers agreed to a settlement of the eucharistic controversy.

Related Topics:
October 31 - 1517 - 95 theses - Indulgence - Castle Church - Protestant Reformation - Wittenberg Concord - 1536

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William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Horatio both study at Wittenberg, and Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus is also a graduate. The Anabaptist movement had one of its early homes in Wittenberg, when the Zwickau prophets moved there, only to be suppressed by Luther.

Related Topics:
William Shakespeare - Hamlet - Christopher Marlowe - Anabaptist - Zwickau prophets

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The Capitulation of Wittenberg (1547) is the name given to the treaty by which John Frederick the Magnanimous was compelled to resign the electoral dignity and most of his territory to the Albertine branch of the Saxon family.

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In 1760 the town was bombarded by the Austrians. It was occupied by the French in 1806, and refortified in 1813 by command of Napoleon. In 1814 it was stormed by the Prussians under Tauentzien, who received the title of "von Wittenberg" as a reward. In 1815 Wittenberg became part of Prussia. Wittenberg continued to be a fortress of the third class until the reorganization of German defences after the foundation of the new empire led to its being dismantled in 1873.

Related Topics:
1760 - 1806 - 1813 - Napoleon - 1814 - Tauentzien - Prussia - 1873

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At the end of World War II Wittenberg was occupied by Russian forces, and became part of the German Democratic Republic in 1949. By means of the peaceful revolution of 1989 the communist regime was brought down and the city has been governed democratically since 1990.

Related Topics:
World War II - German Democratic Republic - 1949 - 1989 - 1990

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