Rötteln Castle

About

Rötteln Castle (German: Burg Rötteln), located above the Lörrach suburb of Haagen, lies in the extreme southwest corner of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, just 10 kilometres (6 miles) north-east of the Swiss City of Basel. The fortification was one of the most powerful in the southwest, and today, it is the third largest castle ruin in Baden. The castle remains are located on a prominent wooded hill 422 metres (1,385 feet) above sea level. The keep lies on a spur projecting from the steep-sided east side of the lower Wiese valley.

The era of the lords of Rötteln, 1102–1316

Further information: House of Rötteln The castle has probably existed since the beginning of the 11th century. The first documented mention of a lord of Rötteln, one Dietrich von Rötteln, the bailiff of St. Albans near Basel, is 1102. This year is also considered the date of the founding of the city of Lörrach. In 1204 Dietrich III of Rötteln died, having amassed a large holding in the Wiese valley. His sons held high offices; Walter I von Rötteln [ de ] was the Kapitular [ de ] (a priest who is authorized to say the mass in a cathedral and perform other duties of a bishop) of Konstanz and Basel,

Luithold I von Rötteln [ de ] was the bishop of Basel, Konrad I von Rötteln was the founder of the city of Schopfheim, which was important to the later formation of the Markgräflerland. The first documented mention of the castle itself is from the year 1259.

The era of the Margraves of Hachberg-Sausenberg, 1316–1503

Luithold II von Rötteln [ de ], the last male of his line, gave the lordship of Rötteln to the Margrave Rudolf I of Hachberg-Sausenberg and his heiress Agnes von Rötteln in the year 1311. As a result, the Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg [ de ] also became lord of the former domain of Rötteln. The Margrave then moved from Sausenburg Castle to Rötteln Castle to more easily administer his new domain and appointed a bailiff to oversee Sausenburg.

Luithold II von Rötteln died on 19 May 1316, and the passing of Rötteln to Hachberg-Sausenburg was an important step in the eventual formation of the Markgräflerland. In 1332, the castle was besieged by the people of Basel because the Margrave Rudolf II stabbed the mayor of Basel during an argument. The conflict was resolved at the last moment through an agreement to settle the argument. Arrowheads, crossbow bolts, and other finds near the castle attest to this siege.

The Basel earthquake of 1356 destroyed large portions of the city and the castle suffered severe damage.

In 1444, the domain of Badenweiler passed from the last Count of Freiburg, John, to the son of Margrave Wilhelm, Rudolf IV von Hachberg-Sausenberg. The combination of the three dominions, Rötteln, Sausenburg, and Badenweiler formed the foundation of the Markgräflerland.

During the reign of Rudolf IV (1441-1487) the castle had its heyday. At the court of Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy he had risen to high dignity. In 1454 the Duke was his guest on Rötteln castle. The unique splendor of the Burgundy court inspired the Margrave. Around 1470 the palace was expanded and architecturally enhanced. In 1474 a visitor reported that tapestries based on the Burgundian model were produced on the castle.

The era of the Margraves of Baden, 1503–1678

In 1503 Philip of Hachberg-Sausenberg died and based on an agreement on reciprocal inheritance Philips lands in the Breisgau - including Rötteln castle – came in the hands of the Margrave of Baden. During the German Peasants' War (1525) revolting peasants briefly took possession of the castle but do not damage this place.

During the Thirty Years War the castle was affected in the years 1633–1638. In May 1633 Imperial forces led by Ernesto Montecuccoli took possession of the castle, which belonged to the Protestant Frederick V of Baden-Durlach an ally of the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. Montecuccoli was supported by Herman Fortunatus a member of the catholic branch of the House of Baden. Two months later Swedish-Protestant army headed by Otto Louis of Salm-Kyrburg-Mörchingen reconquered Rötteln Castle. Following the Battle of Nördlingen (1634) the Swedish were forced to withdraw their garrison and were replaced later on by an Imperial garrison again. Right after the Battle of Rheinfelden in March 1638 the French-allied mercenary army led by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar conquered the castle whereby causing severe damages.

The Franco-Dutch War (1672–1678) affected the Breisgau -region in the last phase when François de Créquy a Marshall of the French King Louis XIV conquered Freiburg im Breisgau at the end of 1677. Based on the fortifications of Freiburg and Breisach Créquy raided this region in the following year and tried to take over the fortified city of Rheinfelden. On the road to Rheinfelden a detachment of his army attacked Rötteln by using kartouwen and the Imperial garrison surrendered after a short time on 29 June 1678. Afterwards the French troops burned down the castle as they have done it this year with many castles and villages in the region – in fact Créquy followed a scorched-earth policy.

The castle ruins were thereafter used as a source of building stone (quarry). Further damages were caused by nature.

The Black Forest Society of Baden ( Schwarzwaldverein ) began to survey the ruins in 1884 in order to preserve them. Since 1926, this has been the concern of the Röttelnbund e.V. club based in Lörrach-Haagen. Today the ruins have been restored to approximately their condition after the destruction in 1678.

Further information: House of Rötteln The castle has probably existed since the beginning of the 11th century. The first documented mention of a lord of Rötteln, one Dietrich von Rötteln, the bailiff of St. Albans near Basel, is 1102. This year is also considered the date of the founding of the city of Lörrach. In 1204 Dietrich III of Rötteln died, having amassed a large holding in the Wiese valley. His sons held high offices; Walter I von Rötteln [ de ] was the Kapitular [ de ] (a priest who is authorized to say the mass in a cathedral and perform other duties of a bishop) of Konstanz and Basel,

Luithold I von Rötteln [ de ] was the bishop of Basel, Konrad I von Rötteln was the founder of the city of Schopfheim, which was important to the later formation of the Markgräflerland. The first documented mention of the castle itself is from the year 1259.

Luithold II von Rötteln [ de ], the last male of his line, gave the lordship of Rötteln to the Margrave Rudolf I of Hachberg-Sausenberg and his heiress Agnes von Rötteln in the year 1311. As a result, the Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg [ de ] also became lord of the former domain of Rötteln. The Margrave then moved from Sausenburg Castle to Rötteln Castle to more easily administer his new domain and appointed a bailiff to oversee Sausenburg.

Luithold II von Rötteln died on 19 May 1316, and the passing of Rötteln to Hachberg-Sausenburg was an important step in the eventual formation of the Markgräflerland. In 1332, the castle was besieged by the people of Basel because the Margrave Rudolf II stabbed the mayor of Basel during an argument. The conflict was resolved at the last moment through an agreement to settle the argument. Arrowheads, crossbow bolts, and other finds near the castle attest to this siege.