Borgholzhausen

300 years of Ravensberg of Brandenburg-Prussia?

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300 years of Ravensberg becoming Brandenburg-Prussia (1609-1909)? A memorial stone raises doubts
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Audio guide
Panorama
Evaluation

Borgholzhausen

300 years of Ravensberg of Brandenburg-Prussia?

On June 24, 1909, the then still independent district of Halle celebrated the alleged 300th anniversary of the county of Ravensberg becoming part of Brandenburg-Prussia. Numerous guests of honor had gathered when the district administrator unveiled a commemorative plaque on the grounds of Ravensberg Castle. It reads: "1609-1909, commemorating the 300th anniversary of the unification of the County of Ravensberg with Brandenburg-Prussia. Erected under the blessed government of Kaiser Wilhelm II by the district of Halle."

Emperor Wilhelm II (1859-1941) had not only become Prussian King in 1888 after the death of his father, but also Emperor of the German Empire, which was founded in 1871. During his reign, a pronounced national pride developed. Wilhelm II pursued an offensive colonial and military policy. In retrospect, this era is referred to as the "Wilhelminian Age" or "Wilhelminism". Ultimately, this mentality and the arms race between the European powers led to the outbreak of the First World War (1914-1918), at the end of which the Kaiser had to abdicate and flee into exile. A republic replaced the monarchy. The verse engraved on the memorial plaque in 1909, "As long as German oaks stand, Ravensberg shall not perish", did not come true.

In any case, the anniversary celebrations in 1909 were primarily intended to pay homage to the Kaiser. Wilhelminianism" was therefore also clearly noticeable in the district of Halle and in Borgholzhausen. It is therefore no wonder that the historical facts were not taken too seriously. On closer inspection, the county of Ravensberg did not actually become part of Brandenburg-Prussia in 1609. It is true that the previous sovereigns died out in 1609. As a result, a bitter inheritance dispute broke out, in which the Electors of Brandenburg and others were involved. In the following decades, the County of Ravensberg was repeatedly subject to divided or joint administration by several powers before treaties brought clarity in the second half of the 17th century. It was only from then on that the county really belonged to the Electorate of Brandenburg or the later Prussia.

Burg Ravensberg

300 years of Ravensberg of Brandenburg-Prussia?

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Borgholzhausen

300 years of Ravensberg of Brandenburg-Prussia?

The romance of chivalry and the staging of Prussian rule

Borgholzhausen

300 years of Ravensberg of Brandenburg-Prussia?

The keep: a defensive demonstration of power

Here you can see a 360° panorama of the inside of the castle keep in 2024.

Here you can see a 360° panorama of the view from the roof of the castle keep in 2024.