Heidenheim an der Brenz

History[edit]

There is evidence that human life existed within the city limits of Heidenheim as far back as 8,000 years ago. However, a permanent settlement was not established until approximately 1300 BC. Extensive ruins remain of settlements dating, predominantly, to the period from 1200 to 800 BC.


At the time of the Roman Empire from about 85 AD onwards, Heidenheim was the location of Castle Aquileia with attached cavalry of more than 1,000 mounted soldiers. The unit, called ala II flavia milliaria was later, around 159 AD, moved further North to Aalen. At first, the castle marked the Eastern end of the Alb Limes. But it did not take long until a civilian settlement was founded at this strategically important spot, marked by the intersection of five Roman roads. This settlement was the largest Roman city in what is today Baden-Württemberg and archeological finds suggest that it covered an area of approximately 37 - 50 acres (20.23 ha) (15 - 20 hectares). More recently, excavations have found the remains of a representative Roman administrative building. Its exact function was not fully understood as of May 2005, but given Aquileia's size, location and other indicators, it is believed that it was probably the capital of a Roman administrative district (see also Civitas). From 233 on, the Alamanni repeatedly attacked the Roman limes fortifications. The Roman surrender of the limes in 260 spelled the end of the Roman city of Heidenheim. It is not clear to what extent Romans stayed on under the new Alammanic rule but it is very likely that some remained.


Nothing is known about Aquileia/Heidenheim during the period of the Great Migration. However, in the 8th century Heidenheim was mentioned (again) for the first time in official documents. The creation of the city in the Middle Ages went hand in hand with the construction of Hellenstein Castle. The city wall was built in segments in 1190 and 1420 and Emperor Charles IV granted or confirmed the city's status as a market town in 1356. Through the rule of the von Helfenstein family, the city became part of the Duchy of Teck, ruled by Württemberg, in 1448. It temporarily belonged to the dukes of Bavaria between 1462 and 1504. Later still, albeit for only a short period, the city belonged to Ulm. During Württemberg times, it was always the seat of an administrative unit. This unit was an exclave of the dukes of Württemberg until 1803 when Württemberg's territorial gains connected the city with the main part of the duchy's territory. In 1807 Heidenheim was promoted to district status and then again to County status in 1938. The district reform of the 1970s did not change the county limits by much.


The economic development of the village and city is founded mainly on the area's ore deposits that were already being exploited in Roman times. However, the importance of this branch of the city's economy diminished near the turn of the 19th century due to great competition, first from Wasseralfingen and later from the Rhineland.


Heidenheim also played an important part in the textile industry. Flax grown in the Eastern Swabian Alps was used to manufacture linen. The business grew into an industry at the dawn of the 19th century with the help of cotton imports but declined after World War II due to international competition. During the war, a subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp was located here. It provided slave labour to local industry.^[6]


After World War II ended in 1945, a displaced persons camp was established in the city to help relocate Jewish displaced persons. The camp, housing at times up to 2,300 individuals, was dissolved in August 1949.


Mergelstetten was first mentioned in an official document by Bishop Walter von Augsburg in 1143 in which he confirmed that the nearby Cloister of Anhausen owned a mill, a fish pond and a farm. However, it is estimated that the first settlement was founded in the 7th or 8th century by the Alamanni. Other important dates for the local economy are 1828 when Jakob Zoeppritz from Darmstadt founded a woolen blanket factory and 1901 when Carl Schwenk of Ulm built the concrete factory.