Soldier City for Centuries II
by Weissdorn
Probably only a few generations after the departure of the Romans, a Germanic settlement, which can be called “Urzelle” in the village Butzbach sprang up. An archaeological excavated settlement suggest this. This settlement probably already had the name of Butzbach, which first emerges in excessive written quantity in the year 773 A. D. under the name Botisphaden, 769/778 and sometimes as Botinesbach. The place name is to be interpreted with “to the paths (and/or at the creek) of the Boto”. Between 773 and/or 769/778 and 821, several grants of rights and properties were supposedly given to Butzbach by the Realm Monastery Lorsch, which indicates that the village had already existed for quite a while. The possession and rights of the Fulda Monastery seem to have been substantially more important however, since the Butzbach Church seemed to belong more to them. The origin of these Fulda Rights to Butzbach is unknown to a large extent. Is assumed there was an earlier presence of a royal court, which could have been relinquished to the Fulda Monastery.
Soldier City for Centuries IV
by Weissdorn
On 10 August 1321 the later Emperor, Ludwig the Bavarian, granted same liberties of the city Frankfurt/Main to Philipp von Falkenstein’s little village of Butzbach; Butzbach was elevated to city status. Soon afterwards, they must have been begun with the administration buildings. These privileges represent a very important milestone in the development of this town. In the following decades the entire settlement received it’s “urbanization”. As the cross-point of the city, a large market place was created; traveling tradesmen and craftsmen could settle down in the rather wide, protectively walled area. If you take a look at the city plan of Butzbach with the different property borders, you can pretty much get an idea of how the outline must have looked around 1368/80 as a well-planned and executed medieval city. At the head of the market place, you can see the city hall, which was known as the "play house" in 1371, along with the court house, the market hall and the wedding house, which all were built around the same time.
Soldier City for Centuries VI
by Weissdorn
But the presence of fortifications, a market place and a substantial building of churches does not constitute the quality of a medieval city in the full sense. Important during the development of the municipality was the attainment of the administrative independence, which came about in 1368, from the privileges issued by Philipp VII von Falkenstein, which aided the general development of the social and economic structures within the urban population. In 1368 the right of the local administration secure it’s own incomes was granted by the citizen executive committee and the order of the community budget was also granted. In return, the citizens had to insure full support to their city fathers in times of war. The civil autonomy consisted of the town council, with it’s seven members of the "elders committee" (city court) and it’s seven members of the "youngers committee". Each committee selected a mayor annually from its members. “Kellers” (tax collectors and city managers) and “Schultheisses” (sheriffs) were the law enforcement representatives, who formally conducted town business and law enforcement under supervision of the town council.
Soldier City for Centuries VIII
by Weissdorn
In 1418 the Falkenstein Dynasty died out. During the inheritance distribution in 1419, a third of Butzbach was obtained by the two brothers of Eppstein by chance. One half of Butzbach went to the family Solms-Braunfels in 1478, a quarter went into the hands of the family Solms-Lich a year afterwards. Amongst the joint owners were also the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, who were the inheritance benefactors in 1479 to the Hessian Landgraves. Despite the four family rule, the town council uniformity and independence prevailed. The House of Hesse would soon became a relevant partner, since it was able to buy up the House of Solms’ portion in 1741. A branch of the House of Hesse, Hesse-Darmstadt occasionally had it’s governmental seat here (1609-1643). Landgrave Philipp of Hesse-Darmstadt-Butzbach allowed an extensive new residence palace with extensive parks to be built. Here the Landgrave was often visited by his friend Johannes Kepler. Under direction of the widowed Landgravesse Elizabeth Dorothea, the meaning of the small town arose again (1688-1709).
The precedence for this was the inhuman 30 Year War and the numerous troop marches and quartering, and their subsequent and torture and annoyance of the population, which pushed Butzbach into an all-time low point for economic and political meaning as a city. As long as Landgrave Philipp was alive, the city and the few neighboring villages belonging to the county were spared as much as possible from war atrocities. The last six war years - without the influential protector – were more the worse for it. Since 1741 Butzbach has been completely Hessian.
Soldier City for Centuries X
by Weissdorn
In 1818 Butzbach became a garnison city and the Landgrave castle became a calvery post for Napoleon's Garde-Chevauxlegers, and the stall building was built. The calvery was replaced by the 1st Bataillon of the Grand Duke of Hessen's Regiment No. 168. From 1920 to 1934 the Hessian National Police Force was stationed here, and from 1935 until the end of the II. World War, the German Army was stationed here. Because this building was used as a military base for so long, it lost it's resemblance to a castle.
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Traditional section with basket-weave structure
Market Square in Gruenberg
Napoleon's Garde-Chevauxlegers
Mathematician Kepler - Friend of Philipp the Great