Everything about Westfalen totally explained
Westphalia (
German:
Westfalen [vɛstˈfaːlən]) is a region in
Germany, centred on the cities of
Bielefeld,
Bochum,
Dortmund,
Gelsenkirchen,
Münster, and
Osnabrück and included in the states of
North Rhine-Westphalia and
Lower Saxony.
The name "West-phalia" probably means "West-Plain". The second word, "Falen", is related to the Germanic words "Field", "Flat", and "Floor" (all of which are related to the Latin "planus" through a common
Proto-Indo-European root, *pele, meaning "flat, (to) spread").
Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers
Rhine and
Weser, located north of the
Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia" was applied to several different entities in history. For this reason specifications of area and population are greatly differing. They range between 16,000 and 22,000 km² in land area, and between 4.3 million and 8 million inhabitants. There is however consent that both Münster and Osnabrück as well as Bielefeld and Dortmund are part of Westphalia.
History
Roman Incursion
Around 1 A.D. there were numerous incursions through Westphalia and perhaps even some permanent Roman or Romanized settlements. The
Battle of Teutoburg Forest took place near Osnabrück (as mentioned, it's disputed whether this is in Westphalia) and some of the tribes who fought at this battle came from the area of Westphalia.
Charlemagne
Charlemagne is thought to have spent considerable time in Paderborn and nearby parts. His war against the Saxons also took place (partly) in what is thought of as westphalia today. Popular legends link his adversary
Widukind to places near Detmold, Bielefeld, Lemgo, Osnabrück and lots of other places in Westphalia. Widukind was buried in
Enger, which is also a subject of a legend.
Middle Ages
Originally Westphalia was a part of the
Duchy of Saxony, until it was elevated to the rank of a duchy by Emperor
Barbarossa in
1180. The
Duchy of Westphalia comprised only a small area south of the
Lippe River.
There is no dominant religion in Westphalia.
Roman Catholicism and
Lutheranism are on relatively equal footing. Lutheranism is strong in the eastern and northern parts with numerous free churches. Münster and especially Paderborn are thought of as Catholic. Osnabrück is divided almost equally between Catholicism and Protestantism.
Prussia
Parts of Westphalia came under Prussian control during the 1600 and 1700 but most of it stayed divided little duchies and other feudal areas of power.
After the defeat of the Prussia Army at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt the Treaties of Tilsit those parts where lost and became part of the
Kingdom of Westphalia from
1807 to
1813. It was founded by
Napoleon and was a
French vassal state. This state only shared the name with the historical region; it contained only a relatively small part of Westphalia, consisting instead mostly of
Hessian and
Eastphalian regions.
After the
Congress of Vienna, the
Kingdom of Prussia received a large amount of territory in the Westphalian region and created the
province of Westphalia in
1815. The northernmost portions of the former Westphalia, including the town of
Osnabrück, had become part of the states of
Hanover and
Oldenburg.
The present state of
North Rhine-Westphalia is composed of the former Prussian province of Westphalia, the northern half of the former Prussian
Rhine Province, and the former state of
Lippe.
Westphalia is known for the
1648 Peace of Westphalia (in fact the two treaties of Münster and Osnabrück), which ended the
Thirty Years' War.
A linguistic definition of Westphalia includes the former Prussian province (except
Siegen-Wittgenstein), Lippe and the region around
Osnabrück.
Present-day common use, however, restricts the notion to the present part of
North Rhine-Westphalia, because of the name.
Westphalia is also the location of Baron Thunder-Ten-Tronckh's castle in
Voltaire's novella
Candide, from which place Candide began (and ended) his voyage.
Volkswagen released a model of their
Type 2 van named the "
Westfalia".
Points of interest
The biggest culture cave of
Europe is located in
Balve.
Sir Peter Lely, appointed Principal Painter to
Charles II of England in 1662 was born Pieter van der Faes in Westphalia in 1618.
In
Attendorn you can find a cave with limestones.
Westphalia is the primary setting for
Voltaire's
Candide.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Westfalen'.
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