Desenberg Castle

The castle on the Desenberg had a strategically advantageous location, as the paths around the castle were visible from there.

A fortification is said to have existed on Desenberg as early as 766. The castle may have been founded by the Counts of Northeim in the 11th century on their own property. Through inheritance, it passed to Henry the Lion, who then granted it to his follower Widukind von Schwalenberg. During a rebellion against the Duke of Saxony, Heinrich besieged his vassal there in 1168. Miners from Goslar reportedly dug a tunnel to cut off Widukind's water supply. After Heinrich the Lion was outlawed in 1180, Archbishop Philipp I of Cologne besieged and captured the castle in 1181. It briefly belonged to the Hohenstaufen kings Frederick I and Henry VI but returned to the Welfs around 1200. Abbot Widukind von Corvey and Bishop Bernhard III of Paderborn opposed this and agreed to conquer and destroy the castle. Reconstruction likely occurred shortly afterward, as evidenced by Alexander von Desenberg's presence in 1217.

Under the rule of the Archbishopric of Cologne, the castle was leased to the von Spiegel family by 1256, becoming their seat of power. According to legend, a brave Saxon could frighten and kill a dragon living on the mountain through the reflection in his shield, achieved by the 'Mirror Knight.' The von Spiegel family, who still own the mountain and the castle ruins, bears a coat of arms with three mirrors. Due to the family's reputation as robber knights, the castle was destroyed in 1380 by the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.

During the Hessian-Paderborn Feud (1464–1471), Landgrave Ludwig II of Lower Hesse besieged the castle in 1464 without success. When the Spiegel family switched sides in the feud, Bishop Simon III of Paderborn stormed and largely destroyed the castle in 1470. Subsequently, the Spiegel family had to take the castle as a fief from the Bishopric of Paderborn.

In the mid-16th century, the Spiegel family left Desenberg and settled in nearby knightly seats. The castle fell into ruin, although in the last peace treaty of 1581, the Spiegel family was obliged by the bishop not to allow the buildings on the upper castle grounds to fall into complete ruin, to roof the tower again, and to have a gatekeeper reside on the premises.

Address

Am Desenberg 2, Warburg, Germany

Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Salian Dynasty (Germany)