Questions swirl about the significance of Tinghuset in Bornholm. Today we stand before Tinghuset. It is a place of historical importance. Tinghuset represents Bornholm’s legal and administrative past.
Bornholm has a rich history marked by conflicts. The island was fought over for centuries. Denmark, Sweden and Lübeck each sought control. Hammershus ruin stands as a testament to Bornholm’s strategic importance. It is the largest medieval fortress in northern Europe.
Let’s delve into the history of Tinghuset. The island was known as Burgundaholmr in Old Norse. This relates to Old Norse borg meaning height. It also refers to bjarg or berg meaning mountain or rock. Bornholm rises high from the sea. Some scholars believe the Burgundians were named after Bornholm.
Bornholm was pawned to Lübeck for 50 years starting in 1525. The island’s first militia formed in 1624. Swedish forces conquered Bornholm in 1645. They returned it to Denmark in the following peace settlement. In 1658 Denmark ceded the island to Sweden. This happened under the Treaty of Roskilde. A revolt broke out the same year. The inhabitants handed Bornholm back to the Danish kings.
Bornholm attracted many famous artists in the early 20th century. They formed the Bornholm school of painters.
During World War II a V-1 flying bomb crashed on Bornholm in 1942. This was one of the first signs of Germany developing flying bombs. The Bornholm rocket came from Peenemünde. Soviet forces bombed the two main towns in May 1945. They landed on the island on May 9th. The German garrison surrendered. Soviet forces left Bornholm on April 5th 1946.
The Soviet bombing of Bornholm left three thousand Danish civilians homeless. It damaged most houses in Nexø. Roughly one-tenth were fully destroyed.
After the evacuation of Soviet forces the Soviets took a firm position. They considered foreign troops on Bornholm a declaration of war. Denmark should keep troops on it to protect it. This policy continued after NATO formed.
In 1776 Bornholm’s landsting moved from Aakirkeby to Rønne. They rented space in Rønne Rådstue. Peder Hersleb Graah was appointed landsdommer over Bornholm in 1777.
Graah initiated the construction of ting or rådhuse in Nexø, Svaneke and Hasle in 1783. This ensured each of the island’s four herreder had a rådhus. Before this, byting were held in taverns or on larger farms. The old tingsteder were abolished after citizens’ participation in governance ended in 1682.
New råd and tinghuse were built in Bornholm’s herreds-købstæder in 1798, 1799 and 1805. Their architecture was almost identical.
Allinge-Sandvig citizens complained about going to Hasle. They feared losing old rights. They were allowed to keep their old Værneting. They had to build and maintain a tinghus at their own expense.
Nexø Raadstue still exists. It is now two stories high. It was built from Frederik Stenbrud sandstone in 1799. It replaced an older building.
From 1834 to 1881 six new rådhuse were built on Bornholm. Aakirkeby and Allinge-Sandvig got theirs last.
One consequence of the June 5th 1849 constitution was the construction of new rådhuse. Bornholm had a rådhus in Rønne from 1834. Subsequently, rådhuse were built in Hasle, Allinge, Svaneke, Nexø and Aakirkeby.
Archaeologists have explored Hammershus castle. It is the Judge’s house known as tinghuset.
Tinghuset stands as a symbol. It represents Bornholm’s journey through time. It has seen Viking strongholds and medieval fortresses. It has experienced wars and periods of peace. Tinghuset is a reminder of Bornholm’s unique place in history.