Königsbach (Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Königsbach is a community (pop. 3,399 in 1957, 9,836 in 2006) in Baden, Germany. In the 1950s it was still mostly Protestant. There were Anabaptists here already in the 16th century. Around Bretten and Maulbronn they found temporary refuge about 1530. The wooded border regions of Württemberg, Baden-Durlach, and the bishopric of Speyer were favorable to the spread of the Anabaptist movement during the period of persecution, for they offered some security. In 1531 from 200 to 300 persons met in the forests of Bretten and Reibsheim (Bossert, LIX, 59, 77). Later on, when the group was greatly reduced by emigration to Moravia, it was served by Hans Schoch (Schochhans), who lived in Königsbach. About 1555 he was seized for conducting these meetings, but managed to escape from prison in the tower at Cannstadt (Bossert, Württemberg, 530 and 1021; LIX, 76). Further arrests were made in a forest not far from Königsbach, as reported on 11 February 1572 (Bossert, Württemberg, 346).

After the Thirty Years’ War Swiss Mennonites settled in Königsbach. On 24 August 1661 these Mennonites requested that the margrave of Baden confirm their former "privileges." A congregation was organized; a church book has been preserved, giving information dated 1766, besides entries on births, weddings, and funerals for the period 1815-1869. Of frequent occurrence are the names Ehrismann, Kempf, Täuscher, Wagner, and Wolber; there are references to families by the name of Egli, Eyer, Funk, Katz, and Oesterle. In the 1950s the church book was in the possession of the local Protestant pastor.

The number of Mennonites in Konigsbach decreased during the 20th century because of emigration. The census of 1910 enumerated 33, five of whom lived on the Johannestalerhof; in 1925 only 10 Mennonites were counted.

Bibliography

Bossert, Gustav. "Beitrage zur badisch-plalzischen Reformationsgeschichte." Zeitschrift für die Geschichte des Oberrheins 59 (1905).

Bossert, Gustav. Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer I. Band, Herzogtum Württemberg. Leipzig: M. Heinsius, 1930.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 537.

Krebs, Manfred. Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer. IV. Band, Baden and Pfalz. Gütersloh: C. Bertelsmann, 1951.

Mitteilungen der Badischen Historischen Kommission No. 27 (1905): 197.

Author(s)	Christian Hege
Date Published	1957

Cite This Article

MLA style

Hege, Christian. "Königsbach (Baden-Württemberg, Germany)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=K%C3%B6nigsbach_(Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg,_Germany)&oldid=95605.

APA style

Hege, Christian. (1957). Königsbach (Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=K%C3%B6nigsbach_(Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg,_Germany)&oldid=95605.

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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 219. All rights reserved.

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