Blacksmiths and locksmiths at the Burghausen court of Duke George the Rich
Late medieval metal craftsmanship
By BAYERN TOURISMUS Marketing GmbH
Stadtmuseum Burghausen
Burghausen Castle
Late medieval royal court of dukes of Bavaria-Landshut
The imposing castle complex of Burghausen was the family residence and second residence of the Lower Bavarian Wittelsbach dukes in the late Middle Ages.
Duke Georg, who like his father and grandfather was called the Rich, married the Polish king's daughter Hedwig in a magnificent wedding in Landshut in 1475. Duchess Hedwig then moved to Burghausen Castle and lived there with her daughters. They were served by a court of over 100 people. Burghausen Castle was an important royal court in the late Middle Ages.
Hammerschmiede Burghausen (2015) by Gerhard NixdorfOriginal Source: Stadtmuseum Burghausen
Blacksmithing at royal court
Numerous craftsmen worked for the dukes. Their workplaces and living quarters were located in the castle. One important trade was that of the blacksmith. In 1485, Karl the Blacksmith worked for the lordship. He shoed Duchess Hedwig's riding horses and maintained the various carriages.
Blacksmiths supplied important construction tools for castles
Duke George the Rich spent 27 years building Burghausen Castle into a mighty fortress. Dozens of craftsmen worked on the construction site at the same time. Mighty walls were erected. But how could the heavy stones be pulled into the heights in the Middle Ages? The blacksmiths made a so-called spreader wolf (Spreizwolf) for this purpose.
The "Spreizwolf"
The chisel was necessary for lifting large and heavy stone blocks to build high walls. Stonemasons first chiseled holes in the stone. The chisel was then sunk into these holes. When pulling it up, the two wedge-shaped pieces of iron jammed firmly into the stone block. This allowed the heavy stones to be pulled upwards by a crane.
A specialist in the blacksmith's trade: the armorer
The ironworking trade became increasingly specialized in the Middle Ages. In the field of armor, new weapons and fighting techniques required an improvement to the chain mail previously worn by knights and soldiers. Iron plate parts, which were joined together to form plate armor for the body, provided far better protection. A new branch of blacksmithing emerged for the manufacture of this armor.
Brustharnisch und Hellebarde (2015) by Ron RonsonOriginal Source: Stadtmuseum Burghausen
The chest plate
For the manufacture of armor, the armorer received sheets of iron from the hammersmith's workshop. From these, he used hammers on anvils to shape a breastplate, for example.
The unadorned chest armor was part of the equipment for simple foot soldiers.
Armor for tournaments
Armor was not only worn on purely military occasions, but also at tournaments, the princely leisure activities. In 1486, Duke Georg organized a large tournament in Burghausen. Only knights of noble birth were allowed to take part in tournaments. Originally, they were supposed to train for military conflicts. However, it soon developed into a courtly festival that provided an opportunity to showcase their status.
Burg Burghausen (2014) by Gerhard NixdorfOriginal Source: Stadtmuseum Burghausen
The “Dark Ages”
A constant battle against the darkness and the cold characterized the lives of the inhabitants in the Middle Ages. Window openings were closed with wooden shutters or hides. Little light penetrated the rooms.
Glass and light
In the Middle Ages, only the church and royal courts could afford glass for window openings. Glaziers were employed at the Burghausen court. They joined the small panes of glass together with metal frames made of lead. This created large glass surfaces that let daylight into the rooms but kept out the cold.
Blacksmiths were important for illumination
When it got dark, artificial lighting provided some light. This could be pine shavings, candles, oil lamps or torches, for which the blacksmiths made holders. The torches, soaked in resin or pitch, were held in iron torch holders. Although they gave off a bright light, they also produced a lot of soot and smoke. This is why they were not used in living areas, but in large rooms and outdoors.
Schloss by Herbert OellerOriginal Source: Stadtmuseum Burghausen
Locksmithing at court
The castle in Burghausen was considered the safest place in the Duchy of Lower Bavaria. For this reason, the rich Dukes of Bavaria-Landshut not only housed their families and the state treasury here, but also prominent prisoners. The locksmiths who made the locks and keys played an important role. Locksmith Niklas secured the sensitive areas of Burghausen Castle. These included, for example, the silver chamber, where the silverware and valuable jewels of the dukes were
Historical keys
Locksmiths secured secret areas
Keys were needed for the vaulted rooms in which the state prisoners were held. The most prominent prisoner in the main castle of Burghausen was Duke Ludwig the Bearded of Bavaria-Ingolstadt, who died here in Burghausen in 1447 after six months in prison.
The Burghausen City Museum at Burghausen Castle
On a mountain ridge between the Salzach river in the Alps and the natural oasis of Wöhrsee lake, the world's longest castle rises 1051 meters above Burghausen's old town. The Burghausen City Museum is located in the main castle of the medieval fortress of the Dukes of Bavaria-Landshut. The main castle marks the end and at the same time the architectural highlight of the castle complex.
The collections of the City Museum, founded in 1899, offer an impressive overview of the history, art and culture of Burghausen and its surroundings. Three permanent exhibitions from 2016 and 2019 introduce visitors to the world of castles from the late Middle Ages and Burghausen's town and art history in an entertaining way with numerous interactive stations.
Burghausen City Museum / OELLER Concept and Design
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