Editing Balve (section)

== History ==
[[Image:Weissmann Balve Avenue.jpg|thumb|left|Avenue to Wocklum]]
The first reference to Balve is from around 780, when it was mentioned that a [[Widukind]] owned a farm called ''Ballowa'', another name for the town, although this reference has been disputed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Geschichte der Stadt Balve: History of the city Balve|url=http://www.balve.de/leben-in-balve/geschichte-der-stadt-balve/|website=balve.de|access-date=24 January 2017|language=de}}</ref> The first undisputed reference was in 864, in which a blind girl from Balve was said to be healed at the grave of the Saint [[Ludger]] in the crypt of [[Werden Abbey]].<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Diekamp|editor1-first=Wilhelm|title=Die Vitae sancti Liudgeri|date=1881|chapter=Vita Ludgeri III}}</ref>

Ballowa is also mentioned in the [[Thidrekssaga]], a chivalric saga written in the mid-13th century in [[Norway]]. In the saga, Ballowa is the home of two dwarfs who taught [[Wayland the Smith|Weyland]] much about making iron weapons. At the time of writing, Balve belonged to the county of [[Arnsberg]].{{citation needed|date=August 2008}}

In 1358 the town became the property of the Duchy of [[Westphalia]], which belonged to the [[Archbishop of Cologne|Archbishops of Cologne]]. In 1430 it was given the right to be called a city. During the [[Napoleon]]ic period, it belonged for a short time (1802–1815) to [[Hesse]], after which time it became part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]].{{citation needed|date=August 2008}}

In 1975, following a substantial reorganisation of local government in Germany, the city was enlarged by the addition of the several former independent municipalities from the abolished ''Amt Balve'', including Asbeck, Beckum, and Eisborn.{{citation needed|date=August 2008}}