Perhaps no place name echoes through Essen’s history quite like Rellinghausen. This district whispers tales of powerful women, knightly families, and even a touch of witch hunts.
Rellinghausen, a district in southeastern Essen, boasts a history stretching back over a thousand years. In 1996, Rellinghausen celebrated its millennium. The earliest mention of this place is linked to Ruoldinghus or Ruodlinghus. Later, around 860, it was called Rellekhusen. It grew from a large estate owned by Eggihard and Rikilt. The estate was near today’s Stiftsplatz.
Its story is interwoven with the noble families of the region. It began with Eggihard and Rikilt. Their estate became the core of Rellinghausen. A relative of Altfrid, the founder of Essen Abbey, likely ensured the estate received a share of Essen’s tithes. Interestingly, Rellinghausen was excluded from the tithe given to the Archbishop of Cologne.
In 947, a document from King Otto the Great mentions Rellinghausen. It calls it a sub-parish of Werden. From 943, the tithe went to Werden Abbey every July 25th as Jakobsgeld. This continued until the abbey closed in 1802.
Rellinghausen became a collegiate foundation for lower nobility women. The Counts of Berg likely founded it. They owned much of the foundation’s land. The first secure mention is in a memorial document. It is from Theophanu, Abbess of Essen, who died in 1056. The document mentions the foundation’s church for the first time.
For a long time, people thought Abbess Mathilde of Essen founded the Rellinghausen foundation. But this is now disproven. Catholic forces in Essen tried to control the Protestant-leaning Rellinghausen foundation during the Counter-Reformation. In the 17th century, Rellinghausen sold its sovereignty to Essen Abbey. But it remained independent until it was dissolved in 1802.
The church’s history mirrors Rellinghausen’s turbulent past. The first church may have stood here around 750. In the 11th or 12th century, a Romanesque basilica was built. It was torn down in 1822. In 1634, the basilica was renamed St. Lambertus. Spanish troops had attacked Rellinghausen in 1621 and 1622 during the Thirty Years’ War. Before it was named after St. Jakob. The current classicist building with a neo-Romanesque tower was built between 1826 and 1829. Otto von Gloeden designed it with help from Karl Friedrich Schinkel. It was consecrated in 1852. The church burned down in World War II. It was reconsecrated in 1949. The baptismal font is said to be about 1000 years old.
Even the church wasn’t immune to crime. During the church fair on July 25, 1516, thieves stole a bag from the church. They thought it was a treasure. But the bag only held consecrated hosts. The thieves threw them away. A shepherd found the bag in the nearby Mühltal, now Annental. This event led to legends. A wooden chapel was built where the bag was found. In 1701, a baroque stone building replaced it. Today, a procession takes place every July 26 from the chapel to St. Lambertus Church. The 71st German Catholic Day took place in the St. Annen Valley from August 31 to September 5, 1932.
The Blücherturm also carries dark memories. The tower was built in 1567 as a court tower. It’s on Stiftplatz. It became known as Blücherturm because its last resident was a police officer. He resembled the famous Marshall von Blücher. Between 1571 and 1595, the court tower was the site of witch trials. Thirty-nine people were publicly executed.
Today, Rellinghausen blends its historical echoes with modern life. In 1910, Rellinghausen was incorporated into the city of Essen. Joseph Sartorius was the only mayor of Rellinghausen from 1876 to 1910. The buildings remind us of its past. The memory of coal mining has almost disappeared. As you wander through Rellinghausen, remember the layers of history beneath your feet.