Borgholzhausen

Ravensberg's Golden Age

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Ravensberg's heyday in the Middle Ages
Gallery
Audio guide
Image comparison
Panorama
Evaluation

Borgholzhausen

Ravensberg's Golden Age

The 13th century can be characterized as the heyday of the County of Ravensberg. At the beginning of the century, the counts had to lament the loss of their northern German possessions around Vlotho and in Emsland as a result of inheritance disputes and the division of estates, but now the count's possessions in the Teutoburg Forest were rounded off. For the first time, it is possible to speak of a relatively clearly defined territory of Ravensberg, which was grouped around the castles of Ravensberg in the west, Sparrenberg in the center and south, Limberg in the north and Vlotho in the east.

There was also increased settlement expansion. Count Otto III of Ravensberg, who took over the reins of government in 1257, founded the new town of Bielefeld, for example. Gradually, the town with the Marienstift monastery developed into the spiritual, political and cultural center of the county. In the rural areas of his territory, the count had land reclaimed and also created new settlements there. He also attempted to unite judicial rights in his hands. At the same time, of course, it should not be concealed that the count did not always shy away from feuds and violent controversies - for his contemporaries, these were legitimate means of conflict resolution. Of course, during this period we also encounter land peace alliances, i.e. treaties in which neighboring powers assured each other of mutual protection and support.

Furthermore, Otto III had coins minted; one of his brothers acted as Bishop of Osnabrück - all signs of the powerful position of the Ravenberg dynasty in the region at the time. It is therefore hardly surprising that minstrels praised the ruler for his deeds at the time. The famous Heinrich von Meißen, known as Frauenlob, for example, described Otto III as the "Treffliche[n] von Ravensberg". The much-famed Count of Ravensberg found his final resting place after his death on March 25, 1305 in Bielefeld's Marienkirche alongside his wife, Hedwig zur Lippe. A magnificent tomb there bears witness to Otto III to this day.

Burg Ravensberg

Ravensberg's Golden Age

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Borgholzhausen

Ravensberg's Golden Age

The Saalbau - Pleasant living and administration

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