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Die Internetseite für Kaiserslautern, Kirchheimbolanden, Kusel, Landstuhl, Pirmasens, Ramstein, Zweibrücken:
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| Nanstein - the Sickingen-Castle at Landstuhl / Palatinate was built about the year 1160 by the Emperor Barbarossa. In 1475 the Knights of Sickingen gained the castle by marriage. The famous Knight Franz von Sickingen (1481-1523) fortified the castle in 1518, but fell in battle in 1523 against 3 powerfull princes of the Empire. From 1543 on, his sons and grandsons rebuilt the battered castle, till in 1600 it was a magnificent palace. Trough the castle remained untouched by the 30-years War, it was blown up in 1668 by the Palatinate Elector. The renovated castle then fell into ultimate ruin under the French in 1689. Since 1856, people interested in local history and the Sickingen family have been endeavoring to excavate and restore the rubble-buried remains of the castle of Nanstein, for it ranks among the noblest and most beautiful castle ruins in Germany |
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| The Sickingen-Castle Nanstein bears the name of the red sandstone-rock, wich reaches 15 m beyond the top of the 80 m high castle-mountain. The ground-plan consists of a central inner castle and numerous outworks. About 1600 the castle had reached its greatest size with a lenght of 125 m and breadth of 100 m; the present dimensions are 100 m by 50 m. |
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| Knight Franz von Sickingen was born on March 2, 1481 in Ebernburg Castle near Kreuznach. At the age of 18, he married Hedwig v. Flersheim, who gave him six children. Sickingen worked toward improvement of the miserable situation of the knightly class, wich had lost much meaning, militarily and politically, there by having become economically poor and more and more depentend upon the feudal princes. Sickingens´ goal was to rebuilt knighthood, to reform the Empire politically. For this Sickingen led a number of campaigns against rich cities and powerful princes; he always remained victorious and won much power and esteem. The mercenaries loved him and hastened to this Banners with the arms: Five silver roundels on the black shield. Sickingen and his friend Knight Ulrich von Hutten enthusiastically supported Dr. Martin Luther and his clerical reformation. In 1519 Knight Franz aided in the election of Charles V. to the German emperorship. Assuming the consent to the emperor, Sickingen undertook in 1522 the knights´ revolt against the princes. He attacked the bishopric of Trier, but was driven back and forced to take refuge in his Nanstein Castle. Here, beginning April 30, 1523, our knight was besieged and bombarded by the Electors of Trier and of the Palatinate and by the landgrave of Hessen. Already on the second day of battle, the great Tower crumbled, and the next day, May 1, a part of the main wall gave way. Examining the damage, Knight Franz was critically wounded. On May 7, 1523 Sickingen surrendered his castle to the three princes and died in the rock-chamber, loyal to his motto: "To God only be all Honor - |
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Quelle: Stadt Landstuhl
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