Ponder this simple stone cross. It is the Steinkreuz von 1731. It stands as a silent witness to Bonn’s history. This isn’t just any stone cross. This is a story etched in stone.
The Steinkreuz von 1731 marks a specific year. 1731 saw Elisabetha Winris and Christian Kochge. They were a married couple and citizens of Bonn. They erected this cross. The inscription clearly states this. A 1731 DEN 20 APRIL HAT ELISABETHA WINRIS UND CHRISTIAN KOCHGE WES EHELEUTH DIESES CREUTZ AUFGERICHTET BURGEREN IN BONN.
Bonn itself has a history stretching back millennia. Around 30 BC, a small Germanic settlement emerged. Between 13 BC and 9 BC, the Romans established a military settlement. It was known as Bonna. It included fortifications and a bridge across the Rhine.
Over time, Bonna grew into a major Roman camp and fortress. Remnants of Castra Bonnensia remain in northern Bonn. Legend says two Christian soldiers were murdered here. A church was built over their burial site. This church evolved into the Bonn Minster. It is one of Germany’s oldest churches.
In 1244, Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden ordered defensive walls built around Bonn. The town also received a town charter. For 300 years, Bonn was the home of the prince-elector of Cologne’s court. During the 16th-century Reformation, Bonn resisted Luther’s new religion. In 1597, Bonn became the capital of the Electorate of Cologne.
While the Thirty Years’ War ravaged many German cities, Bonn remained largely intact. However, in 1689, the Nine Years’ War brought destruction. Joseph Clemens von Bayern initiated an ambitious building plan. His successor Clemens August built the Electoral Palace. He also built a new Town Hall and Poppelsdorf Palace.
The Steinkreuz von 1731 predates the Enlightenment in Bonn. Max Franz von Habsburg established a university. He transformed the southern part of the city into a spa town. During this time, Ludwig van Beethoven gave his earliest concerts.
In 1794, the French took control of Bonn. This occupation lasted until 1814. The city lost its university. The church lost much of its power. In 1815, the Rhineland came under Prussian control. A new university was founded. It attracted scholars like Karl Heinrich Marx.
After World War One, Bonn was occupied by Anglo-Canadian forces. Then, it came under French control again in 1920. The inter-war period was turbulent for Bonn. Nationalist sentiments grew.
During the 1930s, the Jewish community faced persecution. Allied bombing in World War Two destroyed the city center. After the war, Bonn was controlled by British forces. In 1946, it became part of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1949, it became the capital of West Germany.
After German reunification in 1990, Bonn lost its capital status. It retained some government roles. As the Federal City, Bonn became a second capital.
So, as you stand before the Steinkreuz von 1731. Remember the citizens of Bonn. Think of Elisabetha Winris and Christian Kochge. Think of the layers of history beneath your feet. The Steinkreuz von 1731 stands. It is a testament to faith, history, and the enduring spirit of Bonn.