History Jever

jever castle

archaeological findings in vicinity of jever suggest area has been inhabited since neolithic era. dolmen located near town until @ least 1880 removed sometime @ end of 19th century due farming expansion. in addition tools such flint dagger , sickle have been found in jever area. later periods around 6th century bce there has been number of urns uncovered bronze spear tip , socket axe.

during roman period chauci had settlement in area of jever. around 826 frisia given louis pious danish king harald klak following conversion christianity, harald had sought refuge @ louis’ court after being driven homeland. 9th century epic gudrunlied mentions danish dominion of friesland , contains reference “givers” in area of sande first record of jever. further reference in 1158 notes town name of geverae , latinisiation of low german geveren or gaveren ( pasture , or alternatively place of thing ).

coins stamped in jever have been found far afield finnish gulf , warta in poland serves testament jever importance trading town. during 10th , 11th centuries jever port , had access north sea via both jade , harlebucht. on time land movements meant access sea disappeared , later construction of dikes has left jever inland. nevertheless, jever retained importance trading post. in 1546 hooksiel became outer harbour jever , extension of paved roads jever hooksiel need small ships sail jever abolished. today in centre of jever children’s playground climbing frame in shape of ship serves reminder of city’s important maritime past.

saxon dukes , subsequently house of welf later ruled on jever, @ end of 12th century, jever came under control of oldenburg. letter sent king philip iii of france, details between 1271 , 1285, people of Östringer subject no sovereign, selected own judges , chiefs (see frisian freedom).

jever granted rights town in 1347. around turn of 15th century town continued prosperous trading center, attracted not merchants pirates. famous of pirates band known likedeeler , , included klaus störtebeker , goedeke michels.

the last baron of jeverland edo wiemken who, in 1505, completed reconstruction of castle , buried in city church. after edo’s death jever came under control of graf edward i. maria of jever, daughter of edo restored city’s independence, , in 1536 whilst under rule jever received city rights has led city’s unofficial title marienstadt .

maria died in 1575 death kept secret fear of return of east frisians. instead, jever became 1 of oldenburg s territories last of maria. in 1667 jever through distaff passed under control of anhalt-zerbst. after prince frederick august, had supported english in american revolutionary war financial reasons, died in 1793, male-line of anhalt-zerbst perished , territories split. jeverland given catherine ii of russia, formerly princess sophia of anhalt-zerbst , frederick august s sole surviving sibling. remained russian until napoleon s armies occupied in 1807. between 1808 , 1810 part of kingdom of holland, napoleonic vassal state. when french forced withdraw in 1813, russia regained possession of jever , gave new grand dukes of oldenburg in 1818.

jever connected railway network in 1871 line sande. 1881, line connected westwards wittmund, esens , dornum, , 1888 there line northwards carolinensiel. railway station in jever still has waiting room exclusive use of duke of oldenburg day.

because anhalt-zerbst had guaranteed security , freedom of business jews, jever became center of jewish life in frisia, reaching peak in late 19th century. after many youngsters left larger cities hoped find better economic opportunities (and since 1920s escape growing anti-semitism). caused community shrink half of former size: 1933, there 98 jews left in jever. synagogue (inaugurated in 1802) destroyed in night of broken glass, , @ least 63 jever jews killed in holocaust.