Archbishop Robert Zollitsch and Bernhard in the background |
Seliger Bernhard (©Reinhard Dietrich/Wikipedia) |
The name "Bernhard" only sometimes had a good reputation in Freiburg. Bernhard von Weimar, yes, Weimar again, pushed Freiburg into misery in 1638 when, during the Thirty Years War, he besieged the city at Easter and took it after eleven days. Bernhard, born in 1604, was the eleventh son of Johann, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and had no chance to become heir to the throne. In these days, later-born children either became clergymen or warlords.
Bernard chose to support
King Gustav Adolf, the invader from Sweden and became one of his most valuable generals.
Following the King's death in
the battle of Lützen, Bernhard continued serving the Swedes. He was successful, and Swedish Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna granted him the former bishoprics of Würzburg and Bamberg,
which he took over as Duke of Franconia.
We read in Wikipedia:
A stern Protestant, he exacted heavy contributions from the Catholic
cities he took, and his repeated victories caused him to be regarded by
German Protestants [with Gustav Adolf dead]
as the savior of their religion. But in 1634, Bernard suffered a great
defeat at Nördlingen, losing the best of the Swedish army and his
duchy.
One year later, still longing to become a German prince, Bernhard made a pact with Cardinal Richelieu, the man Protestant Germans considered a twofold devil, being Catholic and French.
One year later, still longing to become a German prince, Bernhard made a pact with Cardinal Richelieu, the man Protestant Germans considered a twofold devil, being Catholic and French.
The Cardinal gave money and troops to his German-speaking general to fight
the Habsburgs on German territory. Soon, Richelieu felt cheated as
Bernhard used the French mercenaries to pursue his personal ambitions.
Bernard approaches the city of Breisach. |
Bernhard suddenly died in 1639,
and rumors had it that he was poisoned. Already in those days,
conspiracy theories circulated freely. Whatever the true story, the
French took it all following Bernhard's death, i.e., his troops, money,
and territories.
Indeed, Bernhard is not Freiburg's local hero, but he suddenly became Weimar's hero in 1935 when he was talked up as the Führer's predecessor in an exhibition devoted to him. A Weimar newspaper wrote: Duke Bernhard, who came out of the people, lived with the people, and belonged to the people, deserves the honor the national-socialistic movement bestows on him.
This is all so wrong. Like most of his contemporaries, nobleman Bernhard
did not give a hoot in hell for his people. At best, he considered them
cannon fodder when following his ambitious aspirations. In this respect,
he was a true predecessor of the Führer.
*
No comments:
Post a Comment