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Coburg Fortress

On a hill above the town of Coburg, in the Upper Franconia, Veste Coburg is one of the largest castles in Germany. The hill overlooked the important trade route from Nuremberg via Erfurt to Leipzig.

The Imperial Abbey in Saalfeld, Thuringia founded in 1071 was administered from Coburg.

From 1225, the town was controlled by the Dukes of Merania, followed in 1248 by the Counts of Henneberg, who ruled Coburg until 1353, except from 1292 to 1312, when the House of Anhalt was in charge.

The castle passed to the House of Wettin with the marriage of Catherine of Henneberg and became their outpost in Franconia.

During the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, Martin Luther spent six months at the castle, while the Elector of Saxony attended the Diet. Luther was forbidden to attend by the Elector, who feared that he would be imprisoned and burned as a heretic. While at the castle, Luther continued with his translation of the Bible into German.

Leopold Frederick was born Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and become the King of Belgium in 1831. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha married his first cousin, Queen Victoria in 1840. After her marriage, Queen Victoria said of Coburg:

“If I were not who I am, this would have been my real home, but I shall always consider it my second one.”

Queen Victoria made six visits to Coburg during her 63-year reign. A visit in 1894 brought together Queen Victoria, her son Edward (future Edward VII), her second son Alfred (Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha), her daughter the German dowager Empress Friedrich (Victoria), and many of her grandchildren, including Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and the future King George V of Britain.

In a November 1919 referendum, the locals voted to join Bavaria with an 88% majority. On 1 July 1920, Coburg became part of the new state of Bavaria.

Christmas tree

Queen Elizabeth II has accepted a gift of a Christmas tree from her great-grandfather’s ancestral lands near Coburg.

Watch video about this gift from Coburg

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the husband of Queen Victoria, is said to have imported the Christmas tree tradition to England.

Legend has it that Martin Luther, the religious reformer, invented the Christmas tree.

One winter’s night in 1536, Luther was walking through a pine forest near his home in Wittenberg when he suddenly looked up and saw thousands of stars glinting jewel-like among the branches of the trees. This wondrous sight inspired him to set up a candle-lit fir tree in his house that Christmas to remind his children of the starry heavens from whence their Saviour came.

By 1605 decorated Christmas trees had made their appearance in Strasburg. That year an anonymous writer recorded how at Yuletide the inhabitants ‘set up fir trees in the parlours … and hang thereon roses cut out of many-coloured paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, sweets, etc.’

Source: Windsor: A christmas tree for the queen | All media content | DW.COM | 20.11.2016

German Bible

In 1522 Martin Luther translated the Bible into German. Many different German dialects were spoken, when priests and monks could read and write Latin.

Luther used his own dialect, as well as some of the words that were common in several dialects.

Frankfurt

The legend of the ford of the Franks

About 146 CE a Frankish king established a fort where the river was shallow enough to be crossed on foot. The name is derived from Franconofurd, the tribe of the Franks and Furt (cf. English ‘ford’)

Frankonovurd (in Old High German) or Vadum Francorum (in Latin) were the first names mentioned in written records from 794, when Charlemagne presided over an imperial assembly and church synod. Transformed to Frankenfort during the Middle Ages and then to Franckfort and Franckfurth in the modern era. By the 19th century, the name Frankfurt had been established as the official spelling.

The suffix ‘am Main’ has been used regularly since the 14th century. In English, the city’s full name of Frankfurt am Main means ‘Frankfurt on the Main’ (pronounced like English ‘mine’ or German mein). Frankfurt is located on an ancient ford (German: Furt) on the Main River. As a part of early Franconia, the inhabitants were the early Franks, thus the city’s name reveals its legacy as “the ford of the Franks on the Main”.

Among English speakers, the city is commonly known simply as Frankfurt, but Germans occasionally call it by its full name to distinguish it from the other (significantly smaller) German city of Frankfurt an der Oder

Social justice and health:

making a difference

It is not enough to know, you must also use the knowledge; it is not enough to wish, you must also act… Thinking in order to act, acting in order to think, that is the sum of all wisdom.

Closing the Gap in a Generation.

Is a statement that we have in our heads the knowledge to close the gap in a generation; we have in our hands the means to close the gap in a generation; the question is what do we have in our hearts. Do we have the will to close the gap in a generation?

Creating the conditions for individuals to take control over their lives will enable social flourishing of all members of society.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot’s evidence-based optimism is fuelled by examples, from round the world, of actions that make a difference to health inequalities. We need government action but action by communities, too.

Sir Michael is the President of the World Medical Association, Director of the Institute of Health Equity and a leading researcher on health inequality issues for more than three decades playing a central role in research projects studying health equity.

Source: Social justice and health: making a difference

Hofbuchdruckerei

Since its inception in 1663 until well into the 19th century, Rudolstädter Hofbuchdruckerei was among the most important economic and cultural undertakings in the principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. This print shop was founded in the wake of the mutual relationship with the letterpress and the Reformation. There was a huge increase in demand for Protestant literature, ephemera for school use, and personnel or occasional writings. The need for such a project was controversy in the Reformation lands. Luther in his “Table Talk” emphasizes: “The high benefits of Buchdruckerei”, through printing the Scriptures is opened and spread out in all tongues and languages, all arts and sciences are obtained, multiplied and propagated to our descendants.

In its heyday in the late 18th century to the first third of the 19th century, Hofbuchdruckerei became a company and received orders from 161 publishers, mainly from central and northern Germany, Denmark and the former Prussian provinces of East and West Prussia, Silesia and the Baltic province of Livonia under Russian rule.

Rudolstaft was a favourable geographical location for printing, because of the proximity to the fairgrounds of Leipzig, Nuremberg and Berlin, the university cities Weimar and Jena, and trade routes for distribution across Europe. In addition, local favourable economic factors included low prices and good supply of paper in the appended paper mills, and a long tradition of quality and reliability in an (almost) uncensored environment.

Source: Exhibition Rudolstädter Hofbuchdruckerei

Die Fürstlich privilegierte Hofbuchdruckerei Rudolstadt (1772-1824).
Die Fürstlich privilegierte Hofbuchdruckerei Rudolstadt (1772-1824).

Based on sources evaluated for the first time, the story of this Princely printing house between 1663 and 1824 is presented with a description of activities associated with the representation of this Publisher in Riga, Dresden and Leipzig.

Fröbelsche Hofbuchdruckerei Rudolstadt (1825 – 1875)

Günther Fröbel war ein Sohn von Carl Poppo Fröbel, der von 1811 bis 1878 lebte. Günther Fröbel druckte wahrscheinlich ab 1830 bis 1875

Geschichte des Klosters Paulinzelle

Ludwig Friedrich Hesse, Geschichte des Klosters Paulinzelle (Rudolstadt : Gedruckt in der Froebelschen Hofbuchdruckerei, 1815).

Beitrage Zur Landesgeschichte Des Furstenthums Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1864) (German) Hardcover
by Hofbuchdruckerei

Schwarzburgisches Sion; oder, Schwarzburgs geistliche liederdichter in biographischen skizzen nebst einer auswahl ihrer lieder. Zum besten des zu Rudolstadt zu gründenden rettungshauses für verwahrloste kinder.
Publisher: Rudolstadt, Gedruckt in der Fürstl. priv. hofbuchdruckerei, 1857.

Carl Poppo Froebel

Bought the Hofbuchdruckerei in Rudolstadt.

Recentiorum poetarum selecta carmina ed by Carl Poppo Froebel Published 1822

A younger half brother of Friedrich, Carl Poppo Froebel was born 2 November 1786 in Oberweißbach and died 15 March 1824 in Rudolstadt. Carl Poppo was the first son of Johann Jakob Fröbel and his second wife

Dr. phil., von 1807 – 15 Professor am Gymnasium in Rudolstadt, kaufte die Hofbuchdruckerei in Rudolstadt und wirkte als Schriftsteller.

Gymnasium Rudolstadt
Between 1807 and 15 Dr Carl Froebel taught at the Gymnasium in Rudolstadt

Carl Poppo married Johanne Sophie Dorothea Scheibe (born 6.5.1788 in Rudolstadt died 20. 7. 1829 in Rudolstadt), the daughter of the Fürstlichen Hofintendanten Scheibe in Rudolstadt). Their son Günther Fröbel was born 5 October 1811 in Rudolstadt and died 3 February 1878 in Rudolstadt.

General emigration newspaper

A messenger between the old and the new world. Edited by Günther Fröbel and Traugott Bromme. Hofbuchdruckerei Froebel. Rudolstadt, 1846-1871.

Allgemeine-Zeitung: ein Bote zwischen der alten und der neuen Welt. Herausgegeben von Günther Fröbel und Traugott Bromme. Hofbuchdruckerei Fröbel. Rudolstadt, 1846 – 1871.

Freemasons

After nearly 60 years of interruption of Masonic activity in Rudolstadt the Lodge “Günther zur Eintracht”, meaning “Günther concord” was established on 6 September 1992 in the Green Room of the Heidecksburg. In 2012, the Masons of Rudolstadt celebrated the 20th anniversary of this event.

“Decisive for the future will be whether Freemasons use their resources to preserve proven traditions and at the same time be open to innovations. This includes openness to people and the courage for human encounter in the bond of friendship of the lodge. These also include preserving the richness of old forms, but also eliminating unnecessary and outdated decoration. And that includes participation in the important discourses of the present. Many of these discourses have relations with the Masonic tradition, they may relate to the development of education, on the ethics issue, the appropriation and implementation of values or reflections on the art of living. Freemasonry saw itself always as the art of living”. Prof. Hans Hermann Höhmann

A lodge of freemasons was formed at Rudolstadt on 18 March 1785 named “Günther zum stehenden Löwen” after the reigning Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Ludwig Günther and the lion of Schwarzburg.

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Prince Ludwig Günther (1708-1790) was a member of this lodge as was his grandson, Prince Ludwig Friedrich II (1767-1807). Other prominent members of this lodge included Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller and Johann Gottlieb Fichte.

During the first 50 years after 1737, when a lodge was formed at Hamburg, around 400 lodges were founded with the support of Friedrich the Great, who was attracted by the tolerant spirit of the freemasonry.

“Ode auf den zu Hubertusburggeschlossenen Frieden” and “Der Mensch” by Carl Gerd von Ketelhodt zum Unterricht were printed in 1763 at Rudolstadt.

During the visit of the young Duke Carl August of Weimar in December 1775, freemasons of Rudolstadt and Weimar met at the “Zur Güldenen Gabel” inn.

The bronze statue shows Carl August - duke and later grand-duke of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach - on horseback in a general´s uniform with a garland made of laurel, oak leafs and flowers. The heroic interpretation inspired by the antique works of art refers to his participation in the wars of liberation in 1814. This work by local sculptor Adolf von Donndorf was unveiled in 1875 in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Carl August´s reign.
A bronze statue of Carl August , duke and later grand-duke of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach, on horseback with a garland made of laurel, oak leafs and flowers. The heroic interpretation inspired by the antique works of art refers to his participation in the wars of liberation in 1814. This work by local sculptor Adolf von Donndorf was unveiled in 1875 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Carl August´s reign.

Under Carl August, Weimar became a literary centre in Europe. During the Napoleonic Wars the marriage of his son to the daughter of the Russian Tsar, Maria Pawlowna, guaranteed his political survival and at the Congress of Vienna earned him the title of a Grand Duke.

In 1857, Hofdruckereibesitzer G. Froebel gathered together Freemasons in this region to restore this lodge, which had not met since 1829. According to the constitution of 14 September 1859, the name “Günther zur Eintracht“, or “Günther concord” was chosen to honour Friedrich Günther (1793 – 1867), the reigning prince in Rudolstadt.

logevideo

Schiller House

The transition from the courtly to the burgeois culture gradually took place at Rudolstadt, during the last third of the 18th century.

A change in culture and mind began slowly, influenced by the liberal parts of the nobility, and favoured by the wealth of the middle classes and higher revenues of the court.

A circle of well known scholars and nobles formed around Ludwig Wilhelm of Beulwitz, privy councillor at that time who had been in princely commission since 1774. The house of the Beulwitz couple and the ladies of Lengefeld, in the former “new newtown” (nowadays Schiller street), came regularly together for an unconstrained exchange of ideas. This varied circle – Charlotte of Lengefeld and Caroline of Beulwitz participated as young ladies – did not only conduct serious conversations but also amused itself with afternoon get-togethers at the bordering garden of the Lengefeld family.

When Friedrich Schiller met Charlotte of Lengefeld and Caroline of Beulwitz at the Beulwitz’ house in 1787 he was fascinated by the open minded mental atmosphere.

Since this first meeting the poet stayed at Rudolstadt several times until 1799. Especially during his first long term stay at the small residence from 19th May to 12th November in 1788, the so called “Rudolstädtian summer”, his passion for Caroline and Charlotte awaked. This period inspired his authorial work and provided him with courage and confidence.

Today the house of the Lengefeld and Beulwitz families is one of the rare authentic Schiller sites in Germany. Numerous findings discovered during the renovation of the house from 2005 to 2009 enabled a realistic reconstruction of the rooms and wall designs of the 18th century.

The museum was opened on 9th May 2009. The exhibition entirely focuses on Schiller’s time in Rudolstadt, his relationships with the sisters of Lengefeld and his first meeting with Goethe at this house on 7th September in 1788.

Famous people, such as Wilhelm von Humboldt, his brother Alexander and Novalis, were guests in the house. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe also visited the Lengefeld-Beulwitz family and met Schiller here for the first time on 7 September 1788.

Source: Schiller House in Rudolstadt

Schiller has been called the “poet of freedom”.

Three Words Of Strength:
by Schiller

There are three lessons I would write,
Three words, as with a burning pen,
In tracings of eternal light,
Upon the hearts of men.
Have hope.
Though clouds environ round
And gladness hides her face in scorn,
Put off the shadow from thy brow;
No night but hath its morn.
Have faith.
Where’er they bark is driven
The calm’s disport, the tempest’s mirth
Know this:
God rules the hosts of heaven,
The inhabitants of earth.
Have love.
Not love alone for one,
But man, as man, thy brother call;
And scatter, like a circling sun,
Thy charities on all.

Beethoven said to his biographer “I have it! I have it! Let us sing the song of the immortal Schiller!” An unfinished novel, Die Geisterseher, and the “Ode to Joy” by Schiller was used for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

“Ode to Joy” (German: “An die Freude” first line: “Freude, schöner Götterfunken”) is an ode written in the summer of 1785 by poet, playwright, and historian Friedrich Schiller and published the following year. A slightly revised version appeared in 1808, changing two lines of the first and omitting the last stanza.