In accordance with the History of the Germans Podcast, Weinsberg, a town in the north of the state of Baden-Württenberg, Germany, was a possession of the immensely powerful House of Welf whose leader, Henry the Proud contested the election of Korad III, of the House of Hohenstaufen as King of the Romans and future emperor. Konrad III reacted by putting Henry the Proud into the imperial ban and deposing him as Duke of Bavaria and Saxony.

This marked the beginning of a long struggle between Welf, Staufer or Guelfs and Ghibellines, as they were called in Italy.

In the ensuing civil war, the Welf were able to hold on to Saxony, however, had a much harder time in Southern Germany. One of their key strongholds was the castle of Weinsberg (Schloss Weinsberg), near Heilbronn. In 1140, King Konrad III besieged the castle, and when an attempt by Henry the Proud’s brother to relieve the siege failed, the defenders were prepared to accept terms of surrender.

One of the concessions the king offered was for the women of Weinsberg to take as much of their personal possessions they could carry on their shoulders out of the castle before the place was to be sacked. The women, fearful for their partners’ lives, decided to carry them down the hill to safety instead, leaving their worldly goods behind.

Despite his brother’s advice to stop the women, Konrad III was entertained by the situation and allowed them to go ahead. The castle of Weinsberg has been called “Schloss Weibertreu” (the castle of wifely loyalty) ever since.

Unfortunately, Schloss Weinsberg was eventually destroyed during the Peasants War of 1525.

After the year 1819, a local group of women began collecting funds for the renovation of the castle that stabilised the existing structure.

In 1855, the architect of the famous Schloss Lichtenstein suggested the construction of a Pantheon in honour of famous German women, which was rejected due to the opposition of the Württenberg authorities.

Joseph Goebbels picked up the idea and began plans for a great Walhalla in honour of the German women, to be inaugurated in 1940. Nevertheless, the outbreak of WWII prevented this.

The ruin of Weinsberg is still managed by the Frauenverein Women’s Association, founded in 1819.

For more on German history, check out the History of the Germans Podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Podbean and all other providers of fine audio entertainment. To find this episode, go directly to: https://pod.fo/e/110a4f