The Castle of Heidelberg

The history of the Castle and City of Heidelberg from 1100-1900

1155
The dignity of a Count Palatine is bestowed on Conrad von Hohenstaufen by his halfbrother Frederich Barbarossa. Together with some parts of the Palatinate he receives the Heidelberg Castle as fief of the Bishops of Worms.
1196
First authentic record of the town of Heidelberg.
1214
The Palatine comes to the Wittelbachers under Duke Ludwig I of Bavaria.
1225
First authentic record of the upper fort (on the Molkenkur Hill).
1276
First mention of the Old Bridge (probably a wooden bridge).
1303
First authentic record of the lower fort, the Castle.
1353-1390
Elector Ruprecht I. Founder of the Palatine Electorate.
1384
The Imperial Diet at Heidelberg
1386
The Founding of Heidelberg University (Oct.1)
1390-1398
Elector Ruprecht II.
1398-1410
Elector Ruprecht III. From 1400 German King; the Ruprecht Building named after him.
1400
The building of the Church of the Holy Ghost (Heiliggestkirche) is begun.
1410-1436
Elector Ludwig III. Founder of the Bibliotheca Palatina.
1437-1449
Elector Ludwig IV
1449-1476
Elector Friedrich I, the Victorius, called the "Palatine Fritz"; his
was one of the strongest personalities among the Electors Palatine.
The first humanist at the University.
1462
Friedrich's victory in the battle of Seckenheim.
1465
The civic constitution "Of the Freedom of Heidelberg".
1476-1508
Elector Philipp, the Sincere, a quiet scholar; no buildings of note.
1503-1507
Bavarian - Palatine War of Succession
1508-1544
Elector Ludwig V, one of the great builders of the castle. Ludwig Building
Domestic Offices Soldier's Building with Wellhouse Library Building, Frauenzimmer Building,
Gate Tower and Bridge House, Thick Tower and Bell Tower, Southern Rampart and Prison - the so-called "Seltenleer" ("Seldom Empty") West Wall Gun Park and Arsenal
1509
Philipp Melanchthon attends the University at the age of 12.
1518
Martin Luther's disputation in the Augistine Monastary in Heidelberg. The beginning of the Reformation in the Palatinate.
1525
Pesant's War in the Palatinate on both sides of the Rhine.
1537
The upper fort (on Molkenkur Hill) destroyed by lightning, not rebuilt.
1544-1556
Elector Freidrich II, Buildings: Hall of Mirrors, Hightening of Bell Tower,Burgweg (Castle Path)
1550
Heidelberg in Sebastain Munster's cosmography.
1556 -1559
Elector Otto-Heinrich, one of the most typical ruling figures of the German Renaissance, patron of the sciences and arts. Building: Ottheinrich Building
1557-1558
Philipp Melanchthon remodels the University on behalf of the
Elector.
1559-1576
Elector Friedrich III, strict Calvinist.
1562
Heidelberg catechism, the creed of the Calvinist doctrine.
1576-1583
Elector Ludwig VI.
Building: Ramparts along the east side.
1583-1592
Administrator of the Palatinate Johann Casimir, Guardian of Friedrich IV.
Buildings: Vat Building and Big Battery.
1589-1591
The first big vat built (approx. 30,000 gallons).
1592
The house "Zum Ritter" built near the Church of the Holy Ghost.
1592-1610
Elector Friedrich IV.
Biildings: Friedrich Building
Altan, hightening of the towers.
Founder of the town and fortress of Mannheim.
1610-1632
Elector Friedrich V, untill 1614 under the guardianship of his uncle Johann von Zwiebrucken. By his marrage to the English princess Elizabeth, as son-in-law of King James of England, fond of pomp.
Buildings: English Building,Pleasure Garden on the West Wall with Elizabeth Gate,Hortus Palantinus, Climax of Heidelberg's development under Electoral rule.
1618-1648
The Thirty Years War.
1620
Matth. Merian's Panorama of Heidelberg (first graphic).
1620
The Battle of Weissen Berg near Prague. By his defeat Friedrich V lost the Bohemain crown and the dignity of an Elector Palatine.
1622
Conquest of Heidelberg by Tilly. The famous Palatine library (Bibliotheca Palatina) was presented by Duke Maximilian of Bavaria to Pope Gregory XV and transferred to rome (1623). In the following years the town suffered a varied fate, submitting to Baverians, Swedes, and the Imperial troops.
1632-1680
Elector Karl Ludwig, brilliantly restored the Palatinate after the Thirty Years War. Father of Liselotte of the Palantinate, later wife of Philip of Orleans, brother of Louis XIV of France.
Buildings: Removal of the war damage Portal in the Emperor's Hall of the Ottheinrich Building.
1659-1661
Building of the Providence Church (Lutheran Parish)
1680-1685
Elector Karl.
Buildings: Karl's Redoubt, Karl's Tower and Casemate
1684
Ulrich Kraus's illustration of the castle.
1685-1690
Elector Philipp Wilhelm, resided in Duseldorf.
1689
Destruction of town and castle in the Palatinate-Orleans War (2nd March)
1690-1716
Elector Johann Wilhelm, resides in Duseldorf.
Buildings: removal of war damage. Plan for a new castle on the West Wall.
1693
Heidelburg again destroyed. The half-timbered house crumbles to ashes. The stone facade of the house Zum Ritter remains intact.
1697
The Peace of Ryswick
1700
Reconstruction started. The baroque town comes into being.
1701-1703
Reconstruction of the University and Town Hall.
1709
Foundation of the Jesuit Chirch laid.
1716-1742
Elector Karl Philipp, called the "Hunter of the Palatinate" on account of his fondness for hunting
Buildings: Outer Castle Gate and Guardroom Upper Prince's Wall.
1720
The Electoral residence transferred from Heidelberg to Mannheim. Building of the Mannheim Castle begun.
1742-1779
Elector Karl Theodor. Type of the art-loving baroque princes. His building activities were chiefly concerned with his Mannheim residence and the Schwetzingen Castle, whose magnificent castle
grounds still keep the memory of his name alive.
Heidelberg buildings: Renovations, Lower Prince's Well
1750
Karl Theodor's big vat built by the cooper Engler (approx. 50,000 gallons).
1764
On 24 june a great fire caused by lightening once again destroyed the castle, in the meantime restored to a large extent.
1775-1781
Building of the Karl's Gate
1775
Goethe in Heidelberg for the first time (Poetry and Truth).
1780
The Palatine Residence is transfered from Mannheim to Munich.
1784
The old wooden bridge destroyed by drifting ice on the Necar.
1786-1788
Building of arched stone bridge, today known as the Old Bridge.
1799-1802
Maximilian Joseph IV, Duke of Zweibruken.
1803
Under the influences of Nepoleonic formation of states the Palatinate on the right banks of the Rhine, and thus Heidelberg, Mannheim and Schwetzingen come to Baden.
1814&1815
Goethe's last visits to Heidelberg. (Meeting with the Boisseree brothers and with Marianne Willemer.)
1883-1890
Thorough servey and architectural design of the castle by the architects Koch and Seitz.
1886
100th anniversary of Heidelberg University.
1897-1900
Restoration of the Friedrich Building by Professor Karl Schafer.

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