About Fulda

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About Fulda

History & Historical - around Fulda

744 On March 12, monk Sturmius founded the Benedictine monastery of Fulda on behalf of Boniface.

754

After his martyrdom in Friesland, Boniface was buried in the church of his favorite monastery in Fulda.

He is venerated as a saint from the beginning. Many pilgrims come to his grave to pray.

765

King Pippin places the monastery under his protection. This makes Fulda Monastery an imperial monastery that must support the king in military security and the missionary work of the Saxons.

774

Emperor Charlemagne comes to Fulda for the first time. He removes the monastery from the control of the imperial administration. The monks are also free to choose their abbot.

782

Emperor Charlemagne holds a court day for all the princes of the empire in the Fulda monastery. The monastery is responsible for the food and accommodation of several hundred people.

791

Abbot Baugulf and his architect Ratger begin the massive construction of the second monastery church. The church is modeled on St. Peter's in Rome. More and more monks come to the monastery.

819

On November 1st, the new monastery church, the so-called Ratger Basilica, is consecrated by Archbishop Haistulf of Mainz. At over 100 m long, it is one of the largest churches north of the Alps.

822

The circular St. Michael's Church in the monks' cemetery is a replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It is dedicated to the Archangel Michael as the monastery's mortuary chapel.

822 -842

The monastery with its almost 600 monks and its painting and writing school developed into an important educational center under Abbot Rabanus Maurus.

912

King Conrad I visits the Fulda monastery with the tomb of St. Boniface at Easter. He gives the monastery numerous pieces of land. In return, the monks include him in their prayers.

919

In January, King Conrad I was buried in the monastery church near St. Boniface, as he wished. It is not known where exactly the royal grave is located.

1019

Emperor Henry II grants Abbot Richard the right to hold markets, mint coins and collect customs duties for Fulda. Goods can now be sold at the market in front of the church in the middle of the city.

1020

Pope Benedict VIII comes to Fulda together with Emperor Henry II. This is a very special event. It will be 960 years before the next Pope (John Paul II) comes to Fulda.

1114

A coin bearing the Latin inscription “civitas fuldensis” “reveals” that Fulda is now a “city.” However, no document about the granting of city rights has yet emerged.

Around 1160

Abbot Marquard had the economically flourishing city secured by a wall reinforced with a moat, gates and towers. Fulda became an important trading center.

1220

Emperor Frederick II elevated the abbots of Fulda to prince-abbots. From then on, they were not only the heads of the monastery, but also the city's rulers and sovereigns.

1294

Prince Abbot Heinrich V of Weilnau began to build a new abbot's castle outside the monastery grounds. This castle is located on the site of today's city palace.

1300

Only about 50 monks still live in the Fulda monastery. In the city of Fulda, the shoemakers, bakers, tailors, butchers, blacksmiths, linen and wool weavers and tanners have organized themselves into guilds.

1331

There are uprisings against the city lord's tax collection. The citizens destroy parts of his castle. The uprisings are crushed and the citizens have to rebuild the castle.

1348

The largest plague epidemic of the Middle Ages also reaches Fulda. The Black Death strikes twice in quick succession and claims many lives in the city and the surrounding area.

1398

The monastery church (Ratger Basilica) is partially destroyed by a lightning strike. It takes over 30 years until it is completely rebuilt.

1438

Construction of the "New Church" of St. Mary begins. In 1451 it became the guild church of the wealthy wool weavers. Today it is called Severi Church.

1451

Construction of a new Gothic church begins on the site of the old market church. It takes 19 years for the church to be completed. It later becomes the town's parish church.

1523

Adam Krafft proclaims Martin Luther’s new reformatory teachings in the Fulda area.

1525

During a peasant uprising, the monasteries of Michaelsberg, Frauenberg, Neuenberg and Petersberg are destroyed. The uprising is crushed with the help of Landgrave Philip of Hesse.

1600

Fulda has 5,000 inhabitants. About 3,800 of them live within the city walls.

1603 -1606

Balthasar Nuss, the centgraf of Prince Abbot Balthasar von Dernbach, carries out numerous witch trials. Around 250 people – women as well as men – are tortured and executed.

1618

The Thirty Years' War begins and leaves devastating traces in Fulda's territory: troops of soldiers are constantly passing through. The population is starving and the whole country is becoming impoverished.

1632

The city of Fulda is occupied by Swedish troops and handed over as booty to the Hessian Landgrave William V. The Landgrave brings the books from the monastery library to Kassel.

1704

Fulda slowly gets a new face: Prince Abbot Adalbert von Schleifras and his master builder Johann Dientzenhofer begin converting the old monastery church into a baroque cathedral.

1706

Prince Abbot Schleifras begins the renovation and extension of his residential palace parallel to the cathedral.

1712

The reconstruction of the baroque cathedral is completed. 9 years later, the baroque residential palace also shines in new splendor.

1720

The Italian Andrea(s) Gallasini was appointed building inspector and later court architect. He built churches, official buildings and houses for court officials throughout the Fulda region.

1734

Prince Abbot Adolf von Dalberg founded a state university. It existed with all faculties until 1805.

1752

Pope Benedict XIV elevates the Prince Abbey of Fulda to a Prince-Bishopric. Amand von Buseck becomes the first Prince-Bishop of Fulda.

1834

The first municipal code is issued: from now on, municipalities are allowed to govern themselves. The citizens' committee becomes the parliament and the head of the city is now a mayor.

1863

The first gas lamps illuminate the streets of Fulda.

1866

Fulda is occupied by Prussia and becomes part of the Kingdom of Prussia along with Kurhessen. The connection to the railway network offers new development opportunities for the city.

1900

The Fulda rubber works are founded, which later bears the name Fulda tires – “black, wide and strong”

1972

24 villages were incorporated as part of the Hessian regional reform. This meant that the city of Fulda suddenly grew by almost half. The number of inhabitants rose from 45,000 to 60,000.

1980

Pope John Paul II visits Fulda.

1989

After the border was opened on November 9, Fulda is now once again in the middle of Germany.

2004

The 1250th anniversary of Boniface's death will be celebrated with a large special exhibition. The musical "Boniface" will have its world premiere. This will set the course for further successful musical productions as part of the "Musical Summer Fulda".

2005

The Esperanto Congress Center is opened. This means that events with up to 5,000 people can be held in Fulda.

2019

Fulda is celebrating its 1275th city anniversary. Four milestones in Fulda's history provide cause for celebration: the founding of the Fulda monastery by Sturmius (1275 years), the consecration of the Ratger Basilica (1200 years), the burial of King Conrad I in Fulda (1100 years) and the granting of market, coinage and customs rights (1000 years).