Worms, Germany

Worms (pronounced {{IPA|/v?rms/}}) is a city in the southwest of Germany. Its name is of Celtic origin: Borbetomagus meant "settlement in a watery area". This was eventually transformed into the Latin name Wormatia that had been in use since the 6th century.

The Middle Ages

Worms was a Christian bishopric since 614 (but was secularized in 1801 and passed to Hesse-Darmstadt). In the Frankish Empire, the city was the location of an important palatinate of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse), who built one of his many administrative palaces here. The bishops administered the city and its territory. The most famous of the early medieval bishops was Burchard of Worms.

Related Topics:
Bishopric - 614 - Secularized - 1801 - Hesse-Darmstadt - Frankish Empire - Palatinate - Charlemagne - Burchard of Worms

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The Worms cathedral is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Germany. Alongside the nearby Romanesque cathedrals of Speyer and Mainz, it is one of the so-called Kaiserdome (Imperial cathedrals). Some parts in early Romanesque style from the 10th century still exist, while most parts are from the 11th and 12th century, with some additions in gothic style. (See the external links below for pictures.)

Related Topics:
Cathedral - Romanesque - Speyer - Mainz - 10th century - Gothic

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Four other Romanesque churches as well as the Romanesque old city fortification still exist, making the city Germany's second in Romanesque architecture only to Cologne.

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Blütezeit

Worms prospered especially in the High Middle Ages. Having received far-reaching privileges from King Henry IV (later Emperor Henry III) as early as 1074, the city later became an Reichsstadt, being independent of a local territory and responsible only to the Emperor himself. As a result, Worms was the site of several important events in the history of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed; in 1495, a Reichstag concluded here made an attempt at reforming the disintegrating Imperial Circle Estates of the Reichsreform (Imperial Reform). Most importantly, among more than a hundred Imperial Diets held at Worms, the Reichstag of 1521 (commonly known as the Diet of Worms), ended with the Edict of Worms at which Martin Luther was declared an outlaw after refusing to recant his religious beliefs.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Emperor Henry III - 1074 - Reichsstadt - Holy Roman Empire - 1122 - Concordat of Worms - 1495 - Reichstag - Imperial Circle Estates - Reichsreform - 1521 - Diet of Worms - Edict of Worms - Martin Luther - Outlaw

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Judaism in Worms

The city is known as a former center for Judaism. The cemetery (illustration, right) dating from the 11th century is believed to be the oldest in Europe; an ancient synagogue was built around 1034. Prominent rabbis of Worms include Elazar Rokeach and Yair Bacharach. Much of the Jewish Quarter was destroyed in the events known as Kristallnacht in 1938, and a recognizable Jewish community in Worms no longer exists. However, after renovations in the 1970s and 1980s, many of the buildings of the Quarter can be seen in a close to original state, preserved as an outdoor museum.

Related Topics:
Judaism - Cemetery - 11th century - Europe - Synagogue - 1034 - Elazar Rokeach - Yair Bacharach - Jew - Kristallnacht - 1938 - 1970s - 1980s

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Destruction and Rebuilding

The city was nearly destroyed twice in its history. In 1689, French troops invaded, almost eradicating the city during the Palatine war of succession; it came under French rule again from 1789 until 1816. Again it was heavily bombed during World War II.

Related Topics:
1689 - French - 1789 - 1816 - World War II

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