Remember when Schwabenplatz was Königsplatz? Schwabenplatz sits quietly in Berlin-Biesdorf. This square holds a story of renaming. Let me tell you about it.
Schwabenplatz is a square. It is located in Berlin-Biesdorf, Germany. The square was originally named Königsplatz. That translates to King’s Square. On May 24, 1951, Königsplatz was renamed Schwabenplatz.
Berlin is a relatively young city. It was founded in the 13th century. Berlin has faced many changes in its history. It has seen glorious times and dark periods. The 20th century was especially intense. The city’s name has Slavic origins. The word “brl” means swamp or morass. The suffix “in” is typical for place names. So, Berlin means a place in the swamp.
Around 60,000 BC the Berlin area saw its first settlement. Hunters and fishermen settled at Spree, Dahme and Bäke around the 9th century BC. The Slavic tribes came to the Lusatian region from the 6th century. The construction of the Slavic fortress south of the mouth of the Spree took place around 750.
The merchants from the Lower Rhine-Westphalian area established a settlement on the Spree Island at the end of the 12th century. Cölln was first mentioned in a document in 1237. This year is considered the official founding year. The settlement of Berlin was founded opposite Cölln on the northern bank of the Spree in 1244. The name Berlin was also mentioned in documents for the first time then.
In 1307 Berlin and Cölln joined together in a union. They secured their rights and pursued a common defense policy. In 1415, the Hohenzollern rule began. Frederick I was appointed Elector and Margraviate of Brandenburg. Berlin and Cölln finally merged to form a municipality with joint administration in 1432.
Elector Frederick II dissolved this union again in 1442. Under Elector Johann Cicero, the palace became the residence of the Brandenburg electors. The twin city gained political importance but lost its urban liberties.
In 1709, Berlin, Cölln, Friedrichswerder, Dorotheenstadt, and Friedrichstadt united. They formed the capital and royal residence city of Berlin. Berlin now had 55,000 inhabitants. The old city fortifications were demolished in 1734. They were replaced by a new 14.5 km long wall. Berlin now had about 80,000 inhabitants.
French Emperor Napoleon entered Berlin with his troops on October 27, 1806. The French occupation troops left again in December 1808. In 1810, the first university opened. It is today’s Humboldt University. The city had 200,000 inhabitants in 1816.
10,000 people took part in a rally on March 18, 1848. Barricade fights with the troops loyal to the king ensued. Prussian troops entered Berlin again on November 10, 1848.
King Wilhelm I of Prussia became the first German Emperor on January 1, 1871. Berlin became the capital and political, economic, and scientific center of the Empire. With 1,008,566 inhabitants, Berlin exceeded the one-million mark on December 31, 1877.
The name Schwabenplatz may not echo kings. It marks a shift in Berlin’s story. It reflects a change after the Second World War. It honors the people of Swabia. The city forever evolves. Schwabenplatz is just one example.