Editing Harzgerode (section)

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2021}}
The settlement in the medieval [[Duchy of Saxony]] was first mentioned in connection with the [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictine]] abbey of ''Hagenenrod'' in the Selke valley founded in 975, to which King [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]] granted market, minting and customs rights in 993. The following year the place was mentioned as ''Hazacanroth'', when the king granted the citizens of Quedlinburg [[Market town|market rights]].

About 1000, the local [[Schwabengau]] counts of [[Ballenstedt]], progenitors of the noble [[House of Ascania]], served as ''[[Vogt]]'' protectors of the Hagenrode monastery dedicated to [[Saint John the Baptist]]. The abbey already lost its minting rights in 1035, when Emperor [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]] had the mint relocated to [[Nienburg, Saxony-Anhalt|Nienburg]] and though its estates were placed under protection by [[Pope Alexander III]] in 1179, the monks later left for the episcopal town of [[Naumburg]]. Devastated during the [[German Peasants' War]] in 1525, the monastery's local possessions fell to the Ascanian [[Principality of Anhalt|Princes of Anhalt]] while the abbey's buildings decayed.
[[File:Harzgerode Schloss.JPG|thumb|left|Harzgerode Castle, courtyard]]
Upon a 1252 division of the [[Principality of Anhalt]], Harzgerode had become part of the [[Anhalt-Bernburg]] principality. The Harzgerode [[town privileges]] were renewed in 1338. Due to its protected location, the town did not suffer from many military conflicts, but it was repeatedly devastated by fire. Before 1503 there was a great fire; in 1635 (on Midsummer's Day) every building in the town was razed with the exception of seven houses. On 30 June 1722 again 42 houses burned down; on 23 October 1817 52 houses were razed.

Temporarily given in pawn to the [[County of Stolberg|Counts of Stolberg]], the rule was again assumed by the Anhalt princes in 1535. Harzgerode became the administrative centre of the double ''[[Amt (country subdivision)|Amt]]'' of Harzgerode and Güntersberge, both vested with town privileges. In 1635 Prince [[Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode|Frederick]] made Harzgerode Castle, built in the mid 16th century, the residence of his [[Anhalt-Harzgerode]] principality.

For centuries, the surrounding Harz mountains were a significant [[mining]] area, mainly for [[fluorite]] and [[silver]], such as in the preserved [[Glasebach Pit]] near the village of Straßberg. Likewise, the [[Lower Harz Pond and Ditch System]] is a historic example of mining [[water resource management]], similar to the [[Upper Harz Water Regale]]. Harzgerode Castle, as well as [[Heinrichsberg Castle]] located near the town quarter of Mägdesprung, mark the historic significance of the region. Nearby are the ruins of [[Anhalt Castle]] which gave the entire state its name.
[[File:Bahnhof Harzgerode.JPG|thumb|Harzgerode station]]