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[[File:Karte_Unterweser.jpg|thumb|400px|Map showing the ''Stedinger Land'']]
'''Stedingen''' is an area north of [[Bremen]] in the delta of the [[Weser]] river in north-western [[Germany]].
 
==Founding==
 
In the year 1106, five [[Dutch people|Dutch]]men made a long journeyjourneyed from the mouth of the [[Rhine]] to [[Bremen]]. Theyto wantednegotiate toan talkarrangement to thewith [[Archbishop]]List of Bremenadministrators, aboutarchbishops, takingbishops, overand settlingprince-archbishops landof on the [[Weser RiverBremen|Archbishop]], underFrederick certainI conditions.of They[[Archbishopric madeof anBremen|Bremen]] agreementto wherebysettle the Archbishop gave the farmers and their descendants the swampy[[swamp]]y regions south of the [[Hunte]] on both sides of the [[Weser forRiver]], cultivationan area which came to be called Stedingen. ThisThe landpeasants waswere to cultivate the land, which would pass from father to son in free hereditary possession., while Everyevery settler would pay a yearly tax of one [[pfennig]], andthe ineleventh additionsheaf wouldof payall theharvests, 11thand sheafa tenth of all fruitslivestock as acknowledgement of the fieldarchbishop's andoverlordship; aotherwise, 10ththey ofwould livestock.be Infree theto administration ofadminister their landsown andaffairs inwithout interference by any secular jurisdictionlord. The arrangement found great favor among the farmersyounger andDutch theirpeasants, descendantswho werewent free.to Whensettle the Dutcharea farmersin showedlarge thisnumbers, agreementdespite tothe theirdifficulty countrymenof cultivating the marshy [[moorland]], afterwhere returningthe tosoil theirwas homelandpoor and [[Heath]], many[[cotton younggrass]] menand [[Reed bed|reeds]] covered the land and the riverbank. The eagerlysettlers setdug outditches to cultivatedrain much of the newwater and built dikes to provide dry land onand theto Weserprevent flooding.
 
==GerhardGerard I==▼
It was a difficult beginning. The troubled waters of the Weser flooded through [[Moorland|moor]] and [[swamp]]. [[Heath]], [[cotton grass]] and [[Reed bed|reeds]] covered the land and the riverbank. But the settlers took the work in hand. They dug ditches to drain much of the water, and they built dikes to provide dry land and to prevent the flooding. At first, there was little to gain from its soil. Often it was difficult for them to do their work, but they were free. And this freedom was worth all the difficulties. Other country folk had to perform compulsory services for their Counts and their Lords.
During the reign of [[Gerard of Oldenburg-Wildeshausen|Gerard I]] ({{lang-de|Gerhard}}) as archbishop (1210–1219), his kinsman Otto I, [[Count of Oldenburg]], was given permission to build two fortresses, Lechtenburg and Lineburg, in Stedingen, in order to enforce both ecclesiastical and feudal discipline on the peasantry, who clung to old-style Germanic folk-customs and continually sought greater independence from the overlordship of Bremen. "The Stedingers refused to pay tithes and to perform forced labour as serfs, sticking to the original agreement of settlement. These duties were demanded of them with considerable severity...".<ref>''Catholic Encyclopedia'', vol. 14, 283–284</ref> The Stedingers accused the Count's vassals of rape and kidnapping, and determined at their ''[[Thing (assembly)|Thing]]'' or popular assembly to proclaim total independence, to refuse to pay their feudal tithes, to build bulwarks with fortified gates and trenches along the roads, and to form militias in order to defend against any encroachment. Gerard, busied with other concerns, did little to counter these acts of defiance.
 
==Gerard II and the crusade==
After a decade, the settlers had won fruitful acres out of swamp and moor. New settlers came to Stedingen, as the land was named. After several generations, the settlers melted into one large society. They certainly knew how to handle weapons, and patterned themselves after the Rustringer [[Frisians]], on the mouth of the Weser. Like the Frisians, they bore a particular provincial seal.
{{main|Stedinger Crusade}}
The new archbishop, [[Gerhard II (Bremen & Hamburg)|Gerard II]], was determined to enforce orthodoxy on the Stedingers, as well as payment of the tax which his predecessor had neglected to collect. When a mendicant friar who was traveling through the territory proclaimed in a sermon that "Disobedience was idolatry," he was attacked by the inhabitants, who then embarked on a spate of anti-clerical violence, sacking monasteries and killing clergy. The Archbishop, resolved on enforcing his demands, built Schlutterburg Castle on the border of the Stedinger territory, in which he installed his brother, Lord [[Herman II, Lord of Lippe|Herman II]] of Lippe. On [[Christmas]] of 1229 came the first battle between the peasantry and the knights of the Archbishop; Herman was killed, and the rest of the knights took in flight.
 
The Archbishop could not forget this battle. He was obsessed by the desire to subdue the Stedingers. On the 17th of March 1230, heGerard convened a great Gatheringcouncil at Bremen., There,where the [[Abbotabbot]]s and thehigher high clericsclergy of the Bremen Archbishopricarchbishopric were to judgetry the Stedingers onfor suchtheir crimesrefusal asto obey feudal law, for rioting, [[sacrilege]], and murder, and for allegedly worshipping images of wax, seeking counsel from [[Fortune-telling|soothsayer]]s, and believingconsorting inwith evil spirits. TheHaving judgesfound werethe onlypeasants tooguilty, gladthe tocouncil believedecreed allan these[[interdict]] tales of horror. The Gathering decreedand the [[excommunication]] of all Stedingen.those who opposed the archbishop's Thedecrees; the church doors were nailed shut and the priests left the heretical landterritory.▼
▲==Gerhard I==
The freethinking Stedingers displeased the Archbishop of Bremen. He would have gladly seen them as dependent as most other peasants. To slowly force them under the Carolingian-Roman order, the Count of Oldenburg, with the agreement of the Archbishop of Bremen, built two fortresses in Stedingen: Lechtenburg and Lineburg. The character of the people who manned the fortresses soon showed itself. Women and young girls were suddenly attacked and carried off to the fortresses, and were only freed again for high [[ransom]]. For the first time in Stedingen, the rural Germanic order and the Roman order of sovereigns clashed. At the ''Thing'' (popular assembly), this situation was discussed, and it was decided that the fortresses should be removed, and judgment held on the evildoers, which was soon accomplished. This was in the year 1204, some 100 years after the first settling of the land.
 
The Archbishoparchbishop himself went to Rome to persuade Pope [[Gregory IX]] to call for a [[crusade]] against the Stedingers. He succeeded in this and the [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] Monksfriars traveledwere dispatched throughout Northernnorthern Germany, announcingto preach the crusade. In lurid colors, they described the eternal torments of hell for an ostensibly godless life. Atwhich the same time they promised the eternal bliss of heaven to those ready to take part in this crusade against the Stedingers. The pope had promised the same spiritual rewards as for the crusades in the holy[[Holy landLand]]. MoreIn andspring moreof crusaders1233, assembleda inlarge Bremen. Such promises also deluded the peoplenumber of BremenGerman intonoblemen, aidingsupported thisby guestthe ofcitizenry, destruction.assembled Itfor wasthe thencampaign springin of 1233Bremen.▼
To be secure from similar encroachments, the Stedingers built bulwarks and formed militia. The roads were protected by fortified gates and trenches. Finally, the country folk defiantly proclaimed their complete freedom and refused to pay any more taxes. Archbishop Gerhard I of Bremen silently yielded to this demand. The old German order reigned in Stedingen!
 
The population on the east bank of the Weser had not prepared adequate defenses, so the crusading army attacked there first, massacring most of the population; the few survivors were burnt at the stake. The crusaders then returned to Bremen to prepare the attack against the more heavily fortified west bank of the Weser. They made their assault on the West Stedingers on the 6th of July, 1233, but were repelled with heavy losses. In the winter of that year, Gerhard attempted to drown the rebels by having holes bored into the levees of the Weser to weaken them, but the workers were driven off by the levees' guards.
==Gerhard II==
 
In spring of the year 1234, the Dominicans throughout northern Germany preached a new crusade against the Stedingers. A large army was assembled at Bremen under the command of [[Henry I, Duke of Brabant]], while Stedingers were led by Bolko von Bardenfleth, Tammo von Huntrop, and Detmar tom Diek.
The new Archbishop, Gerhard II, wanted to force the Stedingers under the Roman order, and he demanded the tax which his predecessor had promulgated. Naturally, the Stedingers refused to comply with this demand. Then, an alms-begging monk traveled through the land and proclaimed to the self-assertive country folk, "Disobedience is idolatry!" This offended the honor of the Stedingers, and they condemned him. Now the war-like Bishop wanted to collect with force that which he demanded. In front of the borders of Stedingen he built Schlutterburg, in which his brother, Count Hermann von der Lippe, quartered himself. On Yule of 1229 came the first battle between the free country folk and the knights of the Archbishop. Hermann von der Lippe was killed. The rest of the knights turned in flight. Again, the Stedingers were able to uphold their freedom.
 
The Stedingers under Bolko von Bardenfleth advanced against the crusaders at one of the territory's fortified gates; neither side could gain a decisive advantage until a single crusading knight forced his armored war horse all the way to the rear of the peasant troop, thus opening a path for the other crusaders. The peasants were then quickly overwhelmed.
▲The Archbishop could not forget this battle. He was obsessed by the desire to subdue the Stedingers. On the 17th of March 1230, he convened a great Gathering at Bremen. There, the [[Abbot]]s and the high clerics of the Bremen Archbishopric were to judge the Stedingers on such crimes as worshipping images of wax, seeking counsel from [[Fortune-telling|soothsayer]]s, and believing in evil spirits. The judges were only too glad to believe all these tales of horror. The Gathering decreed the [[excommunication]] of all Stedingen. The church doors were nailed shut and the priests left the heretical land.
 
The rest of the Stedingers had taken a position by Altenesch under Detmar tom Diek and Tammo von Huntrop, where they too were defeated after heavy resistance. As it was recorded in the Saxon Chronicle of [[Reppichau]]: "Thus the Stedingers met their end; because they had carried on for more than thirty-three years with great violence and injustice, our Lord God struck them down with His own violence."<ref>''Aldus namen de Stedinge eren ende, de grote gewalt unde unrecht hadden gedreven mer dan drittich unde dre jar, unse here got slog se do mit siner gewalt.'' ''Repgauische Chronik'', p.88 (1859).</ref>
▲The Archbishop himself went to Rome to persuade Pope [[Gregory IX]] to call for a [[crusade]] against the Stedingers. He succeeded in this and the [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] Monks traveled throughout Northern Germany, announcing the crusade. In lurid colors, they described the eternal torments of hell for an ostensibly godless life. At the same time they promised the eternal bliss of heaven to those ready to take part in this crusade against the Stedingers. The pope had promised the same spiritual rewards as for the crusades in the holy land. More and more crusaders assembled in Bremen. Such promises also deluded the people of Bremen into aiding this guest of destruction. It was then spring of 1233.
 
The West Stedingers, on the left side of the Weser, were on their guard, but the East Stedingers, on the other side of the Weser, had not prepared their defenses. So, the army of crusaders attacked them first. Not only men, but also women, the elderly, and the children were killed. The few survivors were burnt at the stake. The grisly shine of the fire let the West Stedingers foresee what would happen to them.
 
Great jubilation filled the mob of crusaders as they returned to Bremen. They prepared themselves for battle against the West Stedingers. But on the 6th of [[Haymoon]], 1233, the crusaders were sent home with bloody noses. Many were dealt the fatal blow by the freedom loving country folk. In winter, the Archbishop tried to bore holes into the levees of Stedingen, to drown the rebels in ice-cold water. But the levees' guards were alert, and he couldn't carry out his devilish plan.
 
==Crusade==
In spring of the year 1234, the Dominicans went anew through the cities and villages, to incite the otherwise unalarmed people to the crusade against the Stedingers. They told even more horrible tales about these "fallen" people. "They must be annihilated!" A gigantic army assembled, which set out from Bremen on the morning of the 27th of Merrymoon, 1234, led by the Duke of Brabant.
 
But the Stedingers were willing to defend their freedom until death. Their leaders were Bolko von Bardenfleth, Tammo von Huntrop and Detmar tom Diek. Determined, they stood against the enemies of their freedom. The first clash took place at one of the fortified gates. The Stedingers under Bolko von Bardenfleth ventured out in front of the gate. Countrymen and crusaders collided terribly against one another. No one gave ground till a knight forced his armored war horse all the way to the rear of the country folk and with that, he opened a path for the other crusaders. The country folk could no longer withstand the superior force and were ridden down and slaughtered.
 
The rest of the Stedingers were near Altenesch under Detmar tom Diek and Tammo von Huntrop where the final battle for freedom of the Stedingers took place. The country folk fought obstinately for every inch of soil, but the crusaders raged terribly against them. These proud, brave country folk, who had taken up arms in defense of their homeland and their freedom, were killed. Nearly 5 000 Stedinger bodies covered the blood soaked earth of their land, where once the waters of the Weser had flowed. In the Saxon Chronicles it is stated:
"Aldus namen de Stedinge eren ende"
"Thus the Stedingers met their end"
 
==Modern==
There are many people named Steding's living today throughout northern Germany. In the [[Hameln]] region (on the south of the river Weser) there are Steding families, a Steding Shoe Store in Hessisch-Oldendorf, and a Steding Metzgerei (Butcher / Deli) in the old town of [[Hameln]]. The Steding families have moved throughout Germany. There Asare well, there arealso Steding families living in the United States, most originally from this same region south of the river Weser (Hessisch-Oldendorf, Fuhlen).
 
== Literature ==
 
* [[Klaus Dede]]: ''Stedingen Ein Land, das nicht sein durfte.'' Fischerhude (1976).
* Gustav Schöne (Ed.): ''Die Repgauische Chronik. Das Buch der Könige'', (1859).
 
==Sources and references==
*{{catholicCatholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Stedingers}} [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14283c.htm] (not yet integrated)
*[http://www.stedinger.de/ Die Stedinger Information] [German language only]
*[http://www.neundorfer-ulf.de/1234/stedingen.html Further Stedinger Information] [German language only]
Line 52 ⟶ 46:
*[[Eala Frya Fresena]]
 
==References==
[[Category:Geography of Bremen (city)]]▼
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Frisia]]
 
{{Authority control}}
 
▲[[Category:Geography of BremenLower (city)Saxony]]
[[de:Stedingen]]
[[nds:Stedingen]]
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