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Münster

  (mʊn'stər, mŭn'-, mün'-) pronunciation

A city of west-central Germany north-northeast of Cologne. Founded c. 800 as a Carolingian episcopal see, it was a prominent member of the Hanseatic League after the 14th century. Today it is an industrial center and a canal port. Population: 272,000.

 

 
 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Münster

City (pop., 2002 est.: 267,197), western Germany. Founded in 804 as a bishopric, it was named Münster in 1068 and was chartered in 1137. A member of the Hanseatic League from the 13th century, it was seized by the Anabaptists in 1535. The Peace of Westphalia was signed in Münster in 1648, and in 1815 Münster became the capital of Prussian Westphalia. Although it suffered heavy damage in World War II, most of its historic buildings were restored or rebuilt, including the 13th-century cathedral and 14th-century town hall. It is a centre of Westphalian culture.

For more information on Münster, visit Britannica.com.

 
German Literature Companion: Münster

Münster, city of the Land Nordrhein-Westfalen and the capital of the former Prussian province of Westphalia (1815-1945). In the 16th c. it was held for over a year (1534-5) by Anabaptists (Wiedertäufer), who proclaimed the Millennium (Tausendjähriges Reich) and maintained a reign of terror until they themselves were put down by terror. In 1648 the Peace of Westphalia (see Westfälischer Friede) was signed in the town hall. Münster again became prominent in the late 18th c., when it was noted for a Catholic circle centred on the Princess (Fürstin) Gallitzin (1748-1806, née von Schmettau). Goethe was greatly impressed by her and characterizes her in the first pages of the final section (Münster, November 1792) of the Campagne in Frankreich. The university (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität) was founded in 1773.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Münster
(mün'stər) , city (1994 pop. 267,367), North Rhine–Westphalia, W Germany, a port and industrial center on the Dortmund-Ems Canal. Its manufactures include heavy machinery and textiles. The city is also a trade center for the Westphalian cattle market. Münster was founded (c.800) as a Carolingian episcopal see. Its bishops ruled a large part of Westphalia as princes of the Holy Roman Empire from the 12th cent. until 1803, when the bishopric was secularized. From the 14th cent. the city was a prominent member of the Hanseatic League, trading especially with England and Russia. In 1534–35 it was the scene of the Anabaptist experimental government under John of Leiden. In 1648 the Treaty of Münster was signed there (see Westphalia, Peace of). Münster passed to Prussia in 1816 and became the capital of the province of Westphalia. It was severely damaged in World War II but was rebuilt after 1945. Münster still retains some of its medieval character. Its historical buildings include the cathedral (13th cent.), the Lambertikirche (14th–15th cent.), the Liebfrauenkirche (14th cent.), and several other churches, in addition to a baroque palace (1767–73), a Gothic city hall (14th cent.), and several gabled houses. The city is the seat of a university and contains the Westphalian state museum.

 
History 1450-1789: Münster

The prince-bishopric of Münster was the largest and most populous Catholic ecclesiastical territory in the Holy Roman Empire. Founded in 805 C.E., it covered 4,571 square miles (12,100 square kilometers) in the Westphalian region (Kreis) of northwestern Germany and had 311,341 inhabitants in 1800. It was predominantly rural apart from Münster itself, which, with 14,000 inhabitants, was the largest Westphalian town. Grain and cattle were the main products, and most peasants remained bound by varying degrees of feudal servitude until the early 1800s. As in other German prince-bishoprics, the cathedral canons elected each bishop and dominated the administration together with the local nobility, who controlled the territorial Estates, or assembly. The spread of Lutheranism in the city of Münster heightened longstanding tension between its inhabitants and the bishop, particularly after the election of Franz von Waldeck (1491–1553) in 1532. Defense of civic autonomy became enmeshed with the expression of new religious ideas, notably Anabaptism, which attracted a large following around the Dutch immigrant Jan van Leyden. Leyden's followers seized control in 1534, initiating a radical social experiment that included polygamy. The bishop blockaded the city with the assistance of other princes who regarded the Anabaptists as godless subversives. Many Lutheran citizens shared their opinion, and Leyden's regime collapsed amidst growing internal discontent and external military pressure in June 1535. Leyden was executed in 1536, but the city retained some autonomy, and Lutheranism spread to the surrounding countryside by the 1580s, while most of the nobles became Calvinists under Dutch influence.

The election of Ernst of Bavaria (1559–1612) as bishop in 1584 signaled an important change of direction. Ernst had secured control of the archbishopric-electorate of Cologne in a disputed election the previous year and was a representative of militant Catholicism. Münster remained linked to Cologne until 1650, as his successor, Ferdinand of Bavaria (1577–1650), was also elected there. The association with Cologne was continued by other dual elections in 1683–1688 and 1719–1802 and considerably increased Münster's political importance within the empire. It also complicated the territory's own politics, since the Estates generally resented initiatives from Cologne, where their ruler preferred to reside. Ferdinand joined the Catholic League and coordinated its policy in northwest Germany during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). The canons tried to curb external influence by choosing a local noble, Christoph Bernhard von Galen (1606–1678), as Ferdinand's successor. Galen proved to be Münster's most ruthless and significant bishop. Known as Bommen Berend, 'Bomber Bernhard', and the Kanonenbischof, 'Cannon Bishop', for his enthusiasm for the military, he was determined to reimpose Catholicism and secure his territory against the Protestant Dutch and Swedes. Skillfully exploiting the divisions between the canons, the Estates, and the city, he raised taxes for an army that sometimes numbered twenty thousand men. This was loaned to other powers, particularly the emperor, in return for subsidies and political support. The latter proved crucial in Galen's long struggle with the city, which endured four sieges before finally capitulating in 1661. Episcopal authority was firmly established, and Münster became solidly Catholic by the eighteenth century. Further involvement in later European wars drained territorial resources, and Münster declined to only regional importance, despite the continued association with Cologne. Prussia gained influence in Münster after 1795 and annexed it in 1802.

Bibliography

Arthur, Anthony. The Tailor King. The Rise and Fall of the Anabaptist Kingdom of Münster. New York, 1999.

Benecke, Gerhard. Society and Politics in Germany 1500–1750. London and Toronto, 1974.

Bönninghausen, Clemens Maria Franz von. Die kriegerische Tätigkeit der Münsterischen Truppen 1651–1800. Coesfeld, 1978.

Jakobi, Franz-Josef, ed. Geschichte der Stadt Münster. Münster, 1993.

Kohl, Wilhelm, and Christoph Bernhard von Galen. Politische Geschichte des Fürstbistums Münster 1650–1678. Münster, 1964.

Kohl, Wilhelm, ed. Westfälische Geschichte. Vol. I, Von den Anfängen bis zum Ende des alten Reiches. Düsseldorf, 1982–.

Po Chia-Hsia, Ronnie. Society and Religion in Münster 1535–1618. New Haven, 1984.

—PETER H. WILSON

 
Dialing Code: The telephone dialing code for: Muenster, Germany

The country code is: 49
The city code is: 6071

 
Wikipedia: Münster
Münster
Panorama of Münster
Panorama of Münster
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Münster
Münster (Germany)
Münster
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region Münster
District Urban district
City subdivisions 6 city districts
Lord Mayor Dr. Berthold Tillmann (CDU)
Governing parties CDU / SPD / Greens
Basic statistics
Area  km² ( sq mi)
Elevation  m  (197 ft)
Population  
Please give "Stand or population_as_of" in YYYY-MM-DD format , e. g. 2005-12-31
[1]
 - Density /km² ( /sq mi)
Founded 793
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST ([[UTC+1]]/[[UTC+2|+2]])
Licence plate MS
Postal codes 48143-48167
Area codes 0251
 02501 (Hiltrup, Amelsbüren)
 02506 (Wolbeck, Angelmodde)
 02533 (Nienberge)
 02534 (Roxel)
 02536 (Albachten)
Website muenster.de

Coordinates: 51°57′46.6″N 07°37′43.3″E / 51.962944, 7.628694
For other places with the same or similar names, and other uses of the word, see Munster (disambiguation)

Münster (IPA: [ˈmʏnstɐ]) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is most well known as the location of the Anabaptist rebellion during the Protestant Reformation and as the site of the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia ending the Thirty Years' War in 1648. Its bishops held temporal power for many centuries.

History

In 793 Charlemagne sent out as missionary the Frisian Liudger (later canonized) to convert the Saxons with whom he had been battling, offering as headquarters his recently demolished Frankish stronghold of Mimigernaford ("ford over the Aa river"), at the crossroads of the road from Cologne and the road to Frisia. Liudger was a product of Utrecht and the York school of Ethelbert, which produced many of the clerics who served in Charlemagne's chancelry. He built his church and cloister on the right bank of the Aa, on the height called the Horsteberg: it was the monastery ("monasterium") from which Münster derives its name. In 805 Liudger travelled to Rome to be ordained the first bishop of Münster, and soon founded a school (The Gymnasium Paulinum is believed to have been founded as the monastery school in 797). The combination of ford and crossroad, marketplace, episcopal administration center, library and school, established Münster as an important center [2].

In the Middle Ages Münster was a leading member of the Hanseatic League.

In 1534 the Anabaptists (specifically the Melchiorites), led by John of Leiden, took power in the Münster Rebellion and founded a democratic proto-socialistic state. They claimed all property, burned all books except the Bible, and called it the "New Jerusalem". John of Leiden believed he would lead the elect from Münster to capture the entire world and purify it of evil with the sword in preparation of Jesus's Second Coming and the beginnings of a New Age. However, the town was recaptured in 1535; the Anabaptists were tortured to death, their corpses were exhibited in cages, which can still be seen hanging on the Tower of St. Lamberti's steeple.

The signing of the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 at Münster and Osnabrück ended the Thirty Years' War and was one of the foundations upon which modern Europe was built. It also guaranteed the future of the prince-bishop and the diocese; the area was to be exclusively Roman Catholic.

In 1780 the University of Münster (today called "Westphalian Wilhelms-University", WWU) was established, now a major European centre for excellence in education and research with large faculties in the arts, humanities, theology, sciences, business and law. Currently there are about 40,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled. In 1802 Münster was conquered by Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars. It became the capital of the Prussian province of Westphalia. A century later in 1899 the city's harbour started operations when the city was linked to the Dortmund-Ems Canal. With the spread of radio technology, in 1924 the radio and television organisation Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) was set up in Münster's harbour area.

View from the south-west of Münster in 1570 as seen by Remius Hogenberg. On the left is the Überwasserkiche, in the center is St. Pauls Cathedral and to its right St. Lambert's Church, and on the far right is the Ludgerikirche
View from the south-west of Münster in 1570 as seen by Remius Hogenberg. On the left is the Überwasserkiche, in the center is St. Pauls Cathedral and to its right St. Lambert's Church, and on the far right is the Ludgerikirche

World War II

During World War II Münster was maintained as the headquarters (Hauptsitz) for the 6th Military District (Wehrkreis) of the German Wehrmacht, under the command of Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Gerhard Glokke. Originally made up of Westphalia and the Rhineland, after the Battle of France it was expanded to include the Eupen - Malmedy district of Belgium. The headquarters controlled military operations in Münster, Essen, Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Bielefeld, Coesfeld, Paderborn, Herford, Minden, Detmold, Lingen, Osnabrück, Recklinghausen, Gelsenkirchen, and Cologne. Münster was the home station for the VI and XXIII Infantry Corps (Armeekorps), as well as the XXXIII and LVI Panzerkorps. Münster was also the home of the 6th, 16th and 25th Panzer Divisions; the 16th Panzergrenadier Division; and the 6th, 26th, 69th, 86th 106th, 126th, 196th, 199th, 211th, 227th, 253rd, 254th, 264th, 306th, 326th, 329th, 336th, 371st, 385th, and 716th Infantry Divisions (Infanterie-division). Thanks to its military presence, Münster was a guaranteed Allied target. About 91% of the Old City and 63% of the entire city was destroyed by Allied air raids. In the 1950's the Old City was rebuilt to match its pre-war state, though many of the surrounding buildings were replaced with cheaper modern structures. The Bishop of Münster in the 1940's was Cardinal Clemens August Graf von Galen, one of the most prominent critics of the Nazi government. In retaliation for his success, Münster was heavily garrisoned during WWII and five large complexes of barracks are a still resented feature of the city.

Postwar period

From 1974 onward, the city was the residence of the American artist Moondog, an eccentric individual who idolized postwar Germany. In 2003, Münster hosted the Central European Olympiad in Informatics. In 2004, Münster won an honorable distinction: the LivCom-Award for the most livable city in the world with a population between 200,000 and 750,000. For more information about the honour, see the leaflet (.pdf) and the 10-minute DivX coded film: the 48mb-version or the 87mb-version from the official Münster-homepage.

Town Hall in the Prinzipalmarkt.
Enlarge
Town Hall in the Prinzipalmarkt.
Münster: the Prinzipalmarkt with St Lambert's church.
Enlarge
Münster: the Prinzipalmarkt with St Lambert's church.
St. Paul's Cathedral.
Enlarge
St. Paul's Cathedral.

Main sights

  • St. Paul's Cathedral, built in the 13th century in a mixture of late Romanesque and early Gothic styles. It has been completely restored after WWII damage. It includes an astronomical clock of 1540, adorned with hand-painted zodiac symbols, which traces the movement of the planets, and plays a Glockenspiel tune every noon.
  • The Prinzipalmarkt, the marketplace in the city centre with the Gothic town hall (14th century) in which the Peace of Westphalia treaty which put an end to the Thirty Years' War was signed in 1648.
  • St Lambert's Church (1375), with three cages hanging from its tower above the clock face. In 1535 these cages were used to display the corpses of Jan van Leiden and other leaders of the Münster Rebellion, who promoted polygamy and renunciation to all property.
  • The Schloss (palace), built 1767-87 as residence for the prince-bishops by the Baroque architect Johann Conrad Schlaun and Wilhelm Ferdinand Lipper. Now the administrative centre for the University.
  • "Münster Arkaden" (2006), new shopping centre between Prinzipalmarkt and the Pablo Picasso Museum of Graphic Art.
  • The fortress "Zwinger", build 1528. Used from the 18th to the 20th century as a prison. During World War II, the Gestapo used the "Zwinger" also for executions.
  • "Krameramtshaus" (1589), an old guild house, which housed the delegation from the Netherlands during the signing of the Peace of Westphalia.
  • Signal-Iduna Building (1961), the first high-rise building in Münster.
  • LVM-Building, high-rise building near the Aasee.
  • LBS-Building, location of Münsters first zoo. Some old structures of the former zoo can be found in the park around the office building. Also the "Tuckesburg", the strange looking house of the zoo-founder, is still intact.
  • "Cavete", the oldest academic pub in Münster
  • Haus Rüschhaus (1743-49), a country estate situated in Nienberge, built by Johann Conrad Schlaun for himself
  • Stadthaus (1773)
  • Erbdrostenhof (1749-53), a Baroque palace, also built by Schlaun
  • Clemenskirche (1745-53), a Baroque church

Museums

  • University Geology and Palaentology Museum, exhibiting several important finds, housed in an old city palace
  • Westphalian State Museum of Art and Cultural History
  • University bible museum
  • City Museum ("Stadtmuseum"), exhibition of a large collection showing the political and cultural history of the city from its beginning up to present, housed by a converted former department store
  • University Mineralogical Museum
  • Westphalian Horse Museum ("Hippomax")
  • Mühlenhof open-air museum, depicting a typical Westphalian village as it looked centuries ago
  • Westphalian Museum for Natural History, state museum and planetarium
  • West Prussian State Museum ("Drostenhof Wolbeck")
  • Museum of Lacquer Art (founded and operated by the company BASF Coatings)
  • Pablo Picasso Museum of Graphic Art, the only museum devoted exclusively to the graphic works of Pablo Picasso

Scientific education and research

  • University of Münster (Westphalian Wilhelms-University (WWU))
  • University of Applied Sciences Münster (Fachhochschule Münster)
  • University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Fachhochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Münster)
  • Catholic Polytechnical College Münster (Katholische Fachhochschule Münster)
  • Academy of Arts Münster (Kunstakademie Münster)
  • Police College (Hochschule der Polizei)
  • Army NCO College (Unteroffizierschule des Heeres)
  • about 92 Schools of primary and secondary education, many with international partnerships

City boroughs

  • Coerde
  • Kinderhaus
  • Sprakel
  • Handorf
  • Gelmer
  • Wolbeck
  • Gremmendorf
  • Angelmodde
  • Hiltrup
  • Amelsbüren
  • Berg Fidel
  • Mecklenbeck
  • Albachten
  • Gievenbeck
  • Sentrup
  • Roxel
  • Nienberge
  • Häger
  • St. Mauritz
  • Mauritz
  • Kreuzviertel
  • Handorf

Twin cities

Münster is twinned with the following places:

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Sights

Images

History

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Flag_of_North_Rhine-Westphalia_(state).svg    Urban and rural districts in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany    Flag of Germany
Urban districts Aachen · Bielefeld · Bochum · Bonn · Bottrop · Dortmund · Duisburg · Düsseldorf · Essen · Gelsenkirchen · Hagen · Hamm · Herne · Köln (Cologne) · Krefeld · Leverkusen · Mönchengladbach · Mülheim · Münster · Oberhausen · Remscheid · Solingen · Wuppertal Deutschland_Lage_von_Nordrhein-Westfalen.svg
Rural Districts Aachen · Borken · Kleve (Cleves) · Coesfeld · Düren · Ennepe-Ruhr · Euskirchen · Gütersloh · Heinsberg · Herford · Hochsauerland · Höxter · Lippe · Märkischer Kreis · Mettmann · Minden-Lübbecke · Oberbergischer Kreis · Olpe · Paderborn · Recklinghausen · Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis · Rhein-Erft-Kreis · Rhein-Kreis Neuss · Rhein-Sieg-Kreis · Siegen-Wittgenstein · Soest · Steinfurt · Unna · Viersen · Warendorf · Wesel


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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