Editing Dithmarschen (section)

==History==
===High Middle Ages===
[[File:Lämmer und Mutter.JPG|thumb|200px|Landscape with ewes and lambs]]

In [[Middle Ages|medieval times]] the [[marsh]]land villages of Dithmarschen enjoyed remarkable autonomy. Neighbouring princes often tried to bring Dithmarschen under their control.

After 1180 Prince-Archbishop [[Siegfried, Count of Anhalt|Siegfried]] ceded Dithmarschen, which was supposed to belong to his [[Archdiocese of Bremen|Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen]], to his brother [[Bernhard, Count of Anhalt|Bernhard III]], Duke of the [[Saxe-Wittenberg|younger Duchy of Saxony]]. In his new position of Duke of Saxony he held the [[Land of Hadeln]], opposite of Dithmarschen on the southern bank of the river [[Elbe]]. [[Adolf III of Holstein|Adolf III of Schauenburg]], [[Count of Holstein]], at enmity with the [[Ascanian]]s, had de facto taken a loose possession of Dithmarschen. It fell to Bernhard to regain the territory, but he failed, only forcing Adolf to accept his overlordship of Dithmarschen.

Prince-Archbishop [[Hartwig of Uthlede|Hartwig II]] prepared a campaign into Dithmarschen, which, while religiously belonging to the [[Archdiocese of Bremen]], and represented by its subsidiary [[cathedral chapter|chapter]] at [[Hamburg Concathedral]], rejected secular overlordship from Bremen. He persuaded Adolf III to waive his claim to Dithmarschen, in return for being paid regular dues to be levied from the Ditmarsians after subjugation. In 1187 and 1188 Hartwig and his ally [[Maurice, Count of Oldenburg|Maurice I, Count of Oldenburg]], heading their troops, invaded Dithmarschen. The free peasants promised to pay him dues, only to ridicule and renounce Hartwig, once he and his soldiers had left. The Ditmarsians gained support from [[Valdemar of Denmark (bishop)|Valdemar]], steward of the [[Duchy of Schleswig]] and [[Bishop of Schleswig]]. Hartwig, owing dues to Adolf III and the soldiers' pay to Maurice I, was trapped and could not afford to wage a second war.

In 1192 the Bremian Chapter elected Valdemar as its new Prince-Archbishop. Valdemar welcomed his election, hoping his new position could be helpful in his dispute with [[Valdemar II of Denmark|Duke Valdemar]] of [[Duchy of Schleswig|Schleswig]] and his elder brother [[Canute VI of Denmark]]. Before entering the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen he won the support of Dithmarschen.

===Late Middle Ages===
In the 15th century the Ditmarsians confederated in a [[peasant republic]]. Though several times neighbouring princely rulers, accompanied by their [[knight]]s and [[mercenaries]], attempted to subjugate the independent peasants to feudalism, they were unsuccessful.  In 1319 [[Gerhard III]] was repelled in the {{ill|Battle of Wöhrden|lt=Battle of Wöhrden|de|Schlacht von Wöhrden}}. After [[Eric IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg]] had raided Dithmarschen, the Ditmarsians blamed his son-in-law, [[Albert II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg]], for complicity, who then used this as a pretext for his own unsuccessful conquest attempt in 1403, dying during the campaign from inflicted injuries. In 1468 Dithmarschen allied with [[Free City of Lübeck|Lübeck]] to protect their common interest as to commerce and containing the spreading feudalism in the region.<ref name="Dollinger 1998 124">''Die Hanse'' [La Hanse (XII<sup>e</sup>-XVII<sup>e</sup> siècles); German], in [[#Dollinger 1964|Dollinger 1964]], p. 124.</ref> Based on the Hanseatic obligations and privileges from the pact signed with Lübeck, Ditmarsians had established trade with [[Livonia]] and neighbouring [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]] destinations in the 15th century.<ref name="Dollinger 1998 124"/> Both parties renewed their alliance several times and it thus lasted until Dithmarschen's final defeat and Dano-Holsatian annexation in 1559.<ref name="Dollinger 1998 124"/>

In 1484 [[Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg|Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg]],<ref>Magnus was a successor of Duke Bernhard III in the eighth generation.</ref> then vicegerent of the Land of Hadeln, failed to subjugate the free [[Frisians|Frisian]] peasants in the [[Land Wursten|Land of Wursten]], a de facto autonomous region in a North Sea marsh at the [[Weser]] estuary, which was under the loose overlordship of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen.<ref name="Krause 1881 184">"Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen", in [[#Krause 1881|Krause 1881]], vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 184.</ref><ref name="Schütz 1995 266">"Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode", in [[#Schütz 1995|Schütz 1995]], vol. II, pp. 263–278, here p. 266.</ref> This foreshadowed a series of feudal attempts to subdue regions of free peasants, an alarming signal for the Ditmarsians and the free peasants in other marshes in the area.<ref>Such as [[Altes Land]], Land of Hadeln, [[Haseldorfer Marsch]], [[Kehdingen]], and [[Wilstermarsch]], also known as the [[Elbe Marshes]], Land of Wursten, Butjadingen and Stadland (both part of today's [[Wesermarsch|Weser Marsh]]), as well as [[Stedingen]], the [[Land of Würden]], both marshes of free peasants also located on the banks of the Weser. Cf. "Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen", in [[Dithmarschen#Krause 1881|Krause 1881]], vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 184.</ref>

In April 1499 Count [[John V, Count of Oldenburg|John XIV]] of [[County of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]] invaded the Weser and North Sea marshes of [[Stadland]] and [[Butjadingen]], both of which the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen claimed overlordship over, in order to subject their free peasants.<ref name="Schütz 1995 266"/> Bremen's prince-archbishop [[Johann Rode von Wale|Johann Rode]] tried to form a military alliance to repel these invasions, and prevent further ones, first rallying the cities of [[Bremen]], Hamburg and [[Stade]], as they considered the areas downstream of the rivers [[Elbe]] and Weser their own front yard: essential for their free maritime trade connections. Rode won the Ditmarsians too, for a defensive alliance to protect Wursten, concluded on 1 May 1499.<ref name="Boeselager 1995 332">"Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit", in [[#Boeselager 1995|Boeselager 1995]], vol. II, pp. 321–388, here p. 332.</ref> On 1 August the alliance, now also including [[Buxtehude]], committed themselves to supply 1,300 warriors and equipment to defend Wursten and/or invade Hadeln.<ref name="Schütz 1995 266" />

Conversely, [[John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg|John V]] and his son Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg had already allied with [[Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg|Henry IV the Elder of Brunswick and Lunenburg]], [[Principality of Wolfenbüttel|Prince of Wolfenbüttel]], on 24 November 1498, to conquer Wursten.<ref name="Krause 1881 184"/><ref name="Schütz 1995 266"/> Henry IV obliged to send 3,000 [[landsknecht]]s, who should gain their payment by ravaging and plundering the free peasants of Wursten, once successfully subjugated.<ref name="Boeselager 1995 332"/>

Rode then waged [[feud]] against John V of Saxe-Lauenburg on 9 September 1499.<ref name="Schütz 1995 267">"Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode", in [[#Schütz 1995|Schütz 1995]], vol. II, pp. 263–278, here p. 267.</ref> The allied forces, with the Ditmarsians invading by crossing the Elbe, easily conquered the Land of Hadeln, and defeated Magnus.<ref name="Krause 1881 184"/><ref name="Schulze 1974 480">Heinz-Joachim Schulze, "Johann III. Rode", in: [[#References|see references]] for bibliographical details, vol. 10, pp. 480seq., here p. 480.</ref>{{ambiguous|reason=There are two entries in the bibliography for Schulze. Which is meant?|date=January 2023}}

While the cities desired a peaceful front yard without another's powerful influence, the Ditmarsians instead favoured the favour of autonomy of the free peasants. Hamburg and the Ditmarsians fell out with each other. On 16 September 1499, a landsknecht hired by Hamburg slew Cordt von der Lieth, a member of the Bremian [[ministerialis]], causing the [[Otterndorf Strife]] (Otterndorfer Streit).<ref name="Boeselager 1995 333">"Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit", in [[#Boeselager 1995|Boeselager 1995]], vol. II, pp. 321–388, here p. 333.</ref> The landsknecht created rumours that it had instead been a Ditmarsian who had slain von der Lieth, and fled after. Hamburg's landsknechts then attacked the uninvolved Ditmarsians and slew 76 men in their military camp near [[Otterndorf]].<ref name="Boeselager 1995 333"/> Consequently, Dithmarschen cancelled its alliance with Rode, Bremen and Hamburg, and the Ditmarsians returned home.<ref name="Boeselager 1995 333"/> Hamburg aimed at reestablishing its rule in Hadeln, as it had wielded between 1407 and 1481 when Saxe-Lauenburg had given Hadeln to Hamburg as security for a credit. The relationship between Dithmarschen and Hamburg then turned icy, and Ditmarsians captured, according to the traditional [[Wrecking (shipwreck)|wrecking custom]], wrecked Hamburgian ships and their freight, if they foundered around the shores of Dithmarschen. (Earlier, Hamburg and Dithmarschen had agreed to replace this practice with a reward for rescuing ships, freight and crew.) The parties only reconciled in 1512.

By 20 November 1499 Magnus hired the so-called {{ill|Schwarze Garde (Landsknechtsregiment)|lt=Black Guard|de|Schwarze Garde (Landsknechtsregiment)}} of 6,000 ruthless and violent mostly Dutch and East Frisian mercenaries, commanded by [[Thomas Slentz]], prior operating in the [[County of Oldenburg]].<ref name="Krause 1881 184"/><ref name="Schütz 1995 267"/> The Black Guard invaded the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, passing through and ravaging areas in the [[Prince-Bishopric of Verden]] and the Brunswick-Lunenburgian [[Principality of Lüneburg|Principality of Lunenburg-Celle]], leaving behind a wake of devastation in the countryside and especially in the looted monasteries.<ref>"Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen", in [[#Krause 1881|Krause 1881]], vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 185seq.</ref><ref>"Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode", in [[#Schütz 1995|Schütz 1995]], vol. II, pp. 263–278, here pp. 267 et seq.</ref>

Finally, on Christmas Eve, arriving down the Weser in [[Bremerhaven|Lehe]], the Black Guard tried to invade Wursten. However, the free peasants there repelled their attack near [[Bremerhaven|Weddewarden]] on 26 December.<ref name="Krause 1881 185">"Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen", in [[#Krause 1881|Krause 1881]], vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 185.</ref><ref name="Schütz 1995 268">"Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode", in [[#Schütz 1995|Schütz 1995]], vol. II, pp. 263–278, here pp. 268.</ref> So the Guard turned northeastwards, looting [[Neuenwalde Nunnery]] underways, into Hadeln, repressing the joint forces of Rode and the cities – lacking support by Bremian knights and the Ditmarsians –, recapturing it for Magnus in early 1500.

Rode then converted Henry IV the Elder to his column, with Henry the Elder and his troops then hunting the Black Guard.<ref name="Schütz 1995 268"/> Magnus, unable to pay the mercenaries so that they turned even the more oppressive for the local population, was like [[the Sorcerer's Apprentice]], who could not get rid of "the spirits that he called". By mid-January 1500 King [[John, King of Denmark|John of Denmark]] hired the Guard and guaranteed for its safe conduct first southeastwards via Lunenburg-Cellean [[Winsen an der Luhe|Winsen upon Luhe]] and Hoopte, crossing the Elbe by [[Zollenspieker Ferry]] to the Hamburg-Lübeckian bi-urban condominium (Beiderstädtischer Besitz) of [[Bergedorf (quarter)|Bergedorf]] and [[Vierlande]].<ref name="Krause 1881 185"/>

[[File:Max Koch Schlacht bei Hemmingstedt.jpg|thumb|right|The Battle of Hemmingstedt in a [[history painting]] of 1910 by [[Max Friedrich Koch]], assembly hall of the former District Building in Meldorf.]] From there the Black Guard headed northwestwards again through [[Holstein]] in order to join more of King John's forces recruited in Holstein and by the [[Kalmar Union]]. These forces then invaded Dithmarschen in order to subject the free Ditmarsians. The Ditmarsians took a vow to donate a monastery in honour of the then national [[patron saint]] [[Mary of Nazareth]] if they could repel the invasion. On 17 February 1500, in the [[Battle of Hemmingstedt]], the outnumbered Ditmarsians, led by [[Wulf Isebrand]], defeated the invading armies and thus destroyed King John's dream of subjecting Dithmarschen.<ref name="Boeselager 1995 333"/>

In 1513 the Ditmarsians founded a [[Franciscan]] [[Friary]] in [[Lunden]] fulfilling their vow. However, the [[Hamburg Cathedral#Chapter and canonry|Hamburg concathedral chapter]], holding the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, demanded its say in appointing the [[prebendaries]].<ref>Thies Völker, [http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 ''Die Dithmarscher Landeskirche 1523–1559: Selbständige bauernstaatliche Kirchenorganisation in der Frühneuzeit''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630000409/http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 |date=30 June 2017 }}, section 'Konfliktauslöser: Besetzung der Pfarrstellen und Klosterprojekt', posted on 16 July 2009 on: [http://www.suite101.de ''suite101.de: Das Netzwerk der Autoren''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905035832/http://www.suite101.de/ |date=5 September 2018 }}.</ref> After years of dispute, the Council of the 48, the elected governing body of the farmers' republic of Ditmarsh, decided to found a [[Gallicanism|Gallicanist]] kind of independent Catholic Church of Dithmarschen in August 1523, denying Hamburg's capitular jurisdiction in all of Dithmarschen.<ref>Thies Völker, [http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 ''Die Dithmarscher Landeskirche 1523–1559: Selbständige bauernstaatliche Kirchenorganisation in der Frühneuzeit''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630000409/http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 |date=30 June 2017 }}, section 'Gründung der Landeskirche 1523', posted on 16 July 2009 on: [http://www.suite101.de ''suite101.de: Das Netzwerk der Autoren''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905035832/http://www.suite101.de/ |date=5 September 2018 }}.</ref> The chapter could not regain the jurisdiction, including its share in ecclesiastical fees and fines levied in Dithmarschen. After violently repelling the first preaching of proponents of the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], slaying [[Henry of Zutphen]] in December 1524, [[Lutheranism]] nevertheless started to win over Ditmarsians.<ref>Thies Völker, [http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 ''Die Dithmarscher Landeskirche 1523–1559: Selbständige bauernstaatliche Kirchenorganisation in der Frühneuzeit''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630000409/http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 |date=30 June 2017 }}, section 'Heinrich von Zütphen 1524', posted on 16 July 2009 on: [http://www.suite101.de ''suite101.de: Das Netzwerk der Autoren''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905035832/http://www.suite101.de/ |date=5 September 2018 }}.</ref> In 1533 the Council of the 48 turned the Ditmarsian Catholic Church into a Lutheran [[state church]].<ref>Thies Völker, [http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 ''Die Dithmarscher Landeskirche 1523–1559: Selbständige bauernstaatliche Kirchenorganisation in der Frühneuzeit''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630000409/http://www.suite101.de/content/die-dithmarscher-landeskirche-15231559-a58840 |date=30 June 2017 }}, section 'Sieg der Reformation 1533', posted on 16 July 2009 on: [http://www.suite101.de ''suite101.de: Das Netzwerk der Autoren''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905035832/http://www.suite101.de/ |date=5 September 2018 }}.</ref>

===Post-Medieval===
After the victory of Hemmingstedt Dithmarschen regularly sent its delegates to the [[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic]] [[Diet (assembly)|Diets]] (Hansetage).<ref name="Dollinger 1998 124"/> In 1554 the Hanseatic Diet confirmed that free Ditmarsian peasants doing business cannot be considered equal to merchants being [[:wikt:burgher|burgher]]s of free or autonomous cities, but are, nevertheless, accepted as enjoying all Hanseatic advantages.<ref name="Dollinger 1998 124"/> Thus Ditmarsian merchants, along with those from [[Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights|Teutonic Prussia]], were the only beneficiaries of a quasi membership within the Hanse, although lacking the background of citizenship in an autonomous or [[Free imperial city|free city]].<ref name="Dollinger 1998 124"/>

It was not until 1559 and the [[Last Feud]] between the King of Denmark and the Ditmarsians that the free peasants were forced to give up their political and religious autonomy by the successful invasion commanded by Count [[Johan Rantzau]] from [[Steinburg]], one of the best strategists of the time {{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}. Since then the coat of arms of Dithmarschen has shown a warrior on horseback, representing a knight of Rantzau. This knight has later been identified with [[Saint George]], then considered to be the patron of Dithmarschen.

The conquerors – King [[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]], Duke [[Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp|Adolf]], and Duke [[John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev|John II the Elder]] – divided Dithmarschen into two parts: the south became a part of Holstein in [[personal union]] with Denmark while the north came into the possession of the other Duke of Holstein. From 1773 all of Holstein was united in personal union with Denmark and remained so until 1864, when, following the [[Second Schleswig War]], the Duchies of Holstein and of [[Duchy of Schleswig|Schleswig]] became an occupied territory of the [[German Confederation]]. Two years later, following the [[Austro-Prussian War]], Dithmarschen became part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]], which annexed Holstein and Schleswig making them subsequently the [[Province of Schleswig-Holstein]].

The Middle Ages in Dithmarschen are held to have continued into the 19th century, when the [[Kiel Canal]] was completed, fens began to be drained, and agricultural reforms took place. Within the [[States of Germany|Bundesland]] Schleswig-Holstein, the area remained divided into the districts of ''Norderdithmarschen'' (Northern Ditmarsh) and ''Süderdithmarschen'' (Southern Ditmarsh) before they were united in 1970 as the district of Dithmarschen.