Schenkenberg Castle
Encyclopedia
Schenkenberg castle is a castle ruin above the municipality
of Thalheim
in the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
. It was built in the 13th Century by the Habsburg dynasty, was the administrative seat for 260 years of a bailiwick
of the city of Bern and fell into ruin in the 18th century.
is about 200 m (656.2 ft) above the 5 km (3.1 mi) long Schenkenberg valley .
. The first written mention of the castle took place in 1243 when the Lords of Schenkenberg, a Habsburg vassel
, were granted land around the castle. The ownership changed multiple times as the Habsburgs granted it to other vassels.
After the Habsburg defeat at the Battle of Sempach
, they fell into financial difficulties and had to mortgage the castle. In 1415 the Habsburgs fell into disfavor with King Sigismund
, after the Swiss Confederates
conquered the Aargau. The area on the left side of the Aare, including the Schenkenberger valley remained unchanged for the time being. However, in 1417, King Sigismund put the castle under his direct protection. The holder of the castle, Margaret of Fridlingen, sold the castle and the related rights in 1431 to Baron
Thüring of Aarburg
.
The bailiwick of Schenkenberg was at that time a fairly sovereign state. It extended over a large part of today's Brugg District. In 1451 Thüring ran into financial problems and sold the title and rights to his son-in-law Hans von Baldegg and Hans' brother Markwart. The Baldegger, who had fought on the side of the Habsburgs in 1386, allied themselves with Austria and pointedly drew the ire of the Confederates on himself. Increasingly, there were disputes with the citizens of the town of Brugg, who were subjects of Bern. In 1460 Bern finally had enough of the permanent provocations and occupied the castle driving out the Baldeggers.
The damage to the castle following the fight was immediately repaired. The castle became the seat of the Bernese bailiff
and the center of the Herrschaft
of Schenkenberg in the Bernese Aargau. The Baldeggers tried several times, by diplomatic and legal as well as in the Swabian War
of 1499, to regain their castle and title. However they were always unsuccessfully. Hans von Baldegg, the last of his line, died in 1510 of the plague.
Schenkenberg castle was in the northeastern corner of the territory of Bern, near the border with western Austria. Due to this strategic location Bern fortified castle, but spent little in maintenance. In the early 18th Century, the castle has become so dilapidated that the Governor and his family feared for their lives because the wall regularly crumbled. Finally, the Council of the City of Bern, give up the castle, and the Governor moved in 1720 to the nearby Castle Wildenstein in Veltheim
.
The castle fell into disrepair and was used as a quarry by the farmers of the area. In 1798 it became the property of the newly formed Canton of Aargau, the legal successor of the city of Bern. In 1837, the castle was purchased from a dubious, "Herr von Schenkenberg", who, however, disappeared without a trace shortly thereafter. The castle was virtually abandoned for several decades. In a storm in 1917 east wall collapsed. The collapse spurred the authorities to declare the castle as unclaimed property, and put it up for auction in May 1918. For the symbolic sum of 50 francs it was sold to the Historical Preservation Society of Aargau. The building was repaired and extensive conservation was carried out. Today the ruin is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance
.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
of Thalheim
Thalheim, Aargau
Thalheim is a municipality in the district of Brugg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:Thalheim has an area, , of . Of this area, or 49.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 43.5% is forested...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It was built in the 13th Century by the Habsburg dynasty, was the administrative seat for 260 years of a bailiwick
Bailiwick
A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
of the city of Bern and fell into ruin in the 18th century.
Location
The castle is located on the 631 m (2,070.2 ft) high hill of the same name. This hill, located in the Jura MountainsJura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
is about 200 m (656.2 ft) above the 5 km (3.1 mi) long Schenkenberg valley .
History
The castle was probably built in the early 13th Century for the Habsburgs dynasty, both as a headquarters and to protect core areas around BruggBrugg
Brugg or Brügg may refer to the following places:* In Switzerland:** Brugg, Aargau, in the Canton of Aargau*** FC Brugg, a Swiss football club, from the town of Brugg in Canton Aargau...
. The first written mention of the castle took place in 1243 when the Lords of Schenkenberg, a Habsburg vassel
Vassel
Vassel is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
, were granted land around the castle. The ownership changed multiple times as the Habsburgs granted it to other vassels.
After the Habsburg defeat at the Battle of Sempach
Battle of Sempach
An armistice was agreed upon on 12 October, followed by a peace agreement valid for one year, beginning on 14 January 1387.The battle was a severe blow to Austrian interests in the region, and allowed for the further growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy....
, they fell into financial difficulties and had to mortgage the castle. In 1415 the Habsburgs fell into disfavor with King Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
, after the Swiss Confederates
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
conquered the Aargau. The area on the left side of the Aare, including the Schenkenberger valley remained unchanged for the time being. However, in 1417, King Sigismund put the castle under his direct protection. The holder of the castle, Margaret of Fridlingen, sold the castle and the related rights in 1431 to Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Thüring of Aarburg
Aarburg
Aarburg is a municipality in the district of Zofingen in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.The small town lies in the southwest Aargau at an Engnis Aare in the lower Wiggertal. It lies in the intersection of the most important traffic routes of Switzerland...
.
The bailiwick of Schenkenberg was at that time a fairly sovereign state. It extended over a large part of today's Brugg District. In 1451 Thüring ran into financial problems and sold the title and rights to his son-in-law Hans von Baldegg and Hans' brother Markwart. The Baldegger, who had fought on the side of the Habsburgs in 1386, allied themselves with Austria and pointedly drew the ire of the Confederates on himself. Increasingly, there were disputes with the citizens of the town of Brugg, who were subjects of Bern. In 1460 Bern finally had enough of the permanent provocations and occupied the castle driving out the Baldeggers.
The damage to the castle following the fight was immediately repaired. The castle became the seat of the Bernese bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
and the center of the Herrschaft
Herrschaft (territory)
In the German feudal system, a Herrschaft or Herrlichkeit was the fiefdom of a lord, who in this area exercised his full feudal rights...
of Schenkenberg in the Bernese Aargau. The Baldeggers tried several times, by diplomatic and legal as well as in the Swabian War
Swabian War
The Swabian War of 1499 was the last major armed conflict between the Old Swiss Confederacy and the House of Habsburg...
of 1499, to regain their castle and title. However they were always unsuccessfully. Hans von Baldegg, the last of his line, died in 1510 of the plague.
Schenkenberg castle was in the northeastern corner of the territory of Bern, near the border with western Austria. Due to this strategic location Bern fortified castle, but spent little in maintenance. In the early 18th Century, the castle has become so dilapidated that the Governor and his family feared for their lives because the wall regularly crumbled. Finally, the Council of the City of Bern, give up the castle, and the Governor moved in 1720 to the nearby Castle Wildenstein in Veltheim
Veltheim
Veltheim is a municipality in the district of Wolfenbüttel, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
.
The castle fell into disrepair and was used as a quarry by the farmers of the area. In 1798 it became the property of the newly formed Canton of Aargau, the legal successor of the city of Bern. In 1837, the castle was purchased from a dubious, "Herr von Schenkenberg", who, however, disappeared without a trace shortly thereafter. The castle was virtually abandoned for several decades. In a storm in 1917 east wall collapsed. The collapse spurred the authorities to declare the castle as unclaimed property, and put it up for auction in May 1918. For the symbolic sum of 50 francs it was sold to the Historical Preservation Society of Aargau. The building was repaired and extensive conservation was carried out. Today the ruin is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
Sources
- G. Boner: Die Burgruine Schenkenberg: Aus der Geschichte der Burg. In: Brugger Neujahrsblätter 89 (1979)
- G. Grossen: Bericht über die Sicherung der Ruine Schenkenberg durch den aargauischen Heimatschutz im Herbst 1931. In: 'Argovia: Jahresschrift der Historischen Gesellschaft des Kantons Aargau, Band 45 (1933)
- W. Merz: Die mittelalterlichen Wehranlagen und Wehrbauten des Kantons Aargau, Band 2. Aarau, 1906
- Christoph Reding: Die Burgruine Schenkenberg bei Thalheim. In: Argovia 2005: Jahresschrift der Historischen Gesellschaft des Kantons Aargau, Band 117. Baden, 2005. ISBN 3-03919-013-X
- Christoph Reding: Die Burgruine Schenkenberg bei Thalheim. In: Mittelalter: Zeitschrift des Schweizerischen Burgenvereins 4/9 (2004)