More Names to Cancel

From 1955 to 1957, Red Baron studied at the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen. Whenever the Württemberg hymn was sung, the name of its founder, Count Eberhard V (1445-1496), was on everyone's lips. His subjects simply loved their bearded Prince:

Württemberger Hymne Preisend mit viel schönen Reden Ihrer Länder Wert und Zahl, Saßen viele deutsche Fürsten Einst zu Worms im Kaisersaal. "Herrlich", sprach der Fürst von Sachsen, "Ist mein Land und seine Macht; Silber hegen seine Berge Wohl in manchem tiefen Schacht." "Seht mein Land in üpp'ger Fülle," Sprach der Kurfürst von dem Rhein, "Gold'ne Saaten in den Tälern, Auf den Bergen edlen Wein!" "Große Städte, reiche Klöster", Ludwig, Herr zu Bayern sprach. "Schaffen, dass mein Land dem Euren Wohl nicht steht in Schätzen nach." Eberhard, der mit dem Barte, Württembergs geliebter Herr, Sprach: "Mein Land hat kleine Städte, Trägt nicht Berge silberschwer. Doch ein Kleinod hält's verborgen, Dass in Wäldern, noch so groß, Ich mein Haupt kann kühnlich legen Jedem Untertan in Schoß." Und es rief der Herr von Sachsen, Der von Bayern, der vom Rhein: "Graf im Bart, Ihr seid der Reichste! Euer Land trägt Edelstein."

Württemberg's Hymn Praising with a lot of fine speeches Their own countries and number There sat many German princes Once at Worms in the Imperial Hall. "Marvel," said the Prince of Saxony, "Is my country and its power Silver deep down in its mountains Well, in some deep mining shaft." "Look my dominion's splendrous fullness," Said the Elector of Rhine, "Golden crops in every valley On the mountains finest wine." "Big cities, rich monasteries," Ludwig, Lord of Bavaria, spoke, "Make my country not inferior To yours regarding its treasures." Eberhard, the bearded one Württemberg's beloved count Spoke, "My country has small towns Carries no silver-pregnant mountains But one gem therein is hidden That in forests, no matter how big I can boldly lay my head Into each of my subjects' laps." And then called the Lords of Saxony Of Bavaria and of Rhine "Bearded count! You are the richest! Your country is a gem!" ©lyricstranslate.com

Recently, Eberhard was marked as an anti-Semite, and here we go again. Will Tübingen's University say goodbye to its name?

Studierendenrat (student"council) Tübingen demands the renaming
of the university and critical reflection on its current name
 (©Studierendenrat Tübingen)

As a young man, Count Eberhard was "voluptuous and addicted to pleasure," judging from those many illegitimate offspring reported.

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land transformed the Swabian knight. He returned with a beard and as a prudent man with the firm intention of being a faithful follower of his emperor and a good father to his country. While on his pilgrimage in 1468, he made the vow not to cut his beard henceforth. That owed him the epithet "im Bart."

In 1477, motivated by his mother, Mechthild of the Palatinate, Eberhard moved the Sindelfingen monastery to Tübingen and founded the university.

In the same year, Eberhard arranged for the expulsion or imprisonment of the Jews living in Württemberg. The University founding charter of October 9, 1477, states, "Wir wöllent ouch und gebieten ernstlichen denen von Tüwingen, das sie kein juden, ouch sust keinen offen wucherer by in, in der stat ... laussen wohnhafft belieben (We also wish and seriously command those of Tübingen that they don’t allow any Jews and other open usurers to remain in town)." Eberhard's anti-Jewish policy was certainly economically driven, for his subjects complained about excessive interest rates, and he also benefited from a debt cut following the expulsion of the Jews.

But Eberhard's hostility towards Jews stood out compared to other princes of his time.

In May 2021, the university senate appointed a commission of six historians to produce a balanced report. The experts attest to Eberhard the "typical anti-Semitic attitude of the time," without the count himself having been actively involved in or responsible for the persecution or murder of Jews.

Chairwoman of the commission and regional historian from Tübingen, Sigrid Hirbodian, favors retaining the name as part of Tübingen's university tradition. Eberhard, who gave the name, had his merits, and anti-Judaism must be seen from the perspective of the time when, unlike today, there was no attitude of religious tolerance. Other commission members think that the name should be "canceled."

The Tübingen faculties are divided too. Theologians and natural sciences favor renaming, medical and legal scholars are against it, and the philosophical faculty is split. To change the name requires a two-thirds majority in the University Senate. The chances of this happening are slim.

And what about Württemberg's hymn? Will it still be allowed to be sung?

Stop the blog: This morning, the students' motion to change the university's name to "University of Tübingen" did not find a majority in the University Senate. Fifteen members of the Senate voted in favor of the motion, 16 against, and 2 abstained.

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