Heimatbuch Röddenau: die 1200jährige Geschichte by Heinrich Kessler, published in 1983 by H. Kessler, is a local history (Heimatbuch) that traces the long-term development of Röddenau, a village in Hesse, over roughly 1,200 years. It combines narrative village history with transcriptions and summaries of archival material, church records, and regional documentation to reconstruct how broader political and military events affected the local community.
Pages 248–249 fall within the section where Kessler typically compiles document-based local historical notes rather than broad narrative chapters. In these pages, the content generally reflects Röddenau’s connections to Hessian administrative, military, or social history—often including references to individuals from the village, property or family records, or mentions of service in regional military formations. In many Heimatbuch compilations, this type of section is used to preserve otherwise scattered archival details that link the village to wider Hessian history.
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The Revolutionary Year 1848
News of the February Revolution in Paris caused outrage among the citizens of the southern and central German states as well as in Berlin. In our own homeland, peasants also rose up against the authorities. The princes could no longer rely on their officials and soldiers. The revolutionary unrest likewise spread through the population of Frankenberg and the surrounding area. Popular resentment and hostility toward the authorities were expressed, however, largely without bloodshed.
In Viermünden, the linen weavers Seibel and Wollmer—who were likely in contact with weavers in Wuppertal—took the lead. With the cry of “Raus!”, they went from house to house, beating on doors and windows, gathering supporters from the Oberdorf, and demonstrating in front of the estate building. When the estate officials could not be found, the smokehouse was looted and the distillery visited. This was followed by a night of disorder in the establishment of Friedrich Ballefeld (Henrichs). During the unrest, Seibel struggled with several individuals and was beaten. It was the only bloodshed that occurred.
The major revolutionary events are also reflected in various records and accounts from Röddenau and Frankenberg. A citizen of Röddenau reports: “In 1848 there was a year of unrest. On Hümichel’s wall, a man from the Lehmekütte (Engels) gave a speech on freedom and justice and addressed the mayor.”
In the National Calendar for the District of Frankenberg (1949), under “Frankenberg images from the revolutionary year 1848,” it is recorded:
“Shortly after the March events in Berlin, the uprising also began in our small town, which then had about 3,000 inhabitants. The population of Kurhessen became divided in its political outlook. A small part sought radical revolution (Volksverein), which gradually gained more supporters at the expense of the moderate direction.”
The Bürgerverein was permitted to hold meetings in the town hall. The radical faction initially gathered in the open air on the bleaching grounds. Both Marburg professors such as Hildebrand (moderate) and Bayrhoffer (radical), as well as local figures from Frankenberg and its surroundings, spoke for both sides.
A representative of the radical movement was Johannes Meiser from Meiserhof (Röddenau), who repeatedly appeared as a speaker on the bleaching ground. Another local speaker was Heinrich Wetter. He first belonged to the Bürgerverein but later joined the Volksverein. Two major public assemblies were held at that time.
The first took place at the end of March. People from the surrounding area attended, including a theology student named Scriba from Rengershausen. According to the chronicler, he made “unpleasant remarks, suggesting that only liberation should be discussed, and that the jesters of freedom were eager for action.” He was thrown down the steps of the town hall.
At the second meeting, shortly afterward, Heinrich Wetter spoke, urging continued opposition to the authorities and describing uprisings in Baden under Hecker and Struve. Various demands were voiced from the crowd: a shepherd called for the abolition of dog taxes, while another citizen demanded the removal of the salt tax.
Following such gatherings, processions frequently moved through the town. Nearly every evening, groups of young men sang through the streets. Their main song was: “The republic, we will have it, let everyone know it, blessed be Hecker and Stru-u-we.” Disobedient citizens and officials were often harassed with ridicule and “cat music.” Windows were broken and garden fences destroyed. The city police were powerless to stop these actions.
A civic militia had been formed to maintain order and protect property, consisting mainly of veteran soldiers. However, it was poorly equipped; only about half of its rifles were usable.
A third assembly took place at the end of March. Many inhabitants of Frankenberg and the surrounding area gathered in front of the town hall and formed a procession. After the town band passed through, the crowd moved to the bleaching ground. Johannes Meiser spoke again, calling for political freedom and encouraging people to acquire rifles or sharpen forks and scythes if necessary, adding, “Hurry, it will soon be over!”
When more extreme demands were made, the chronicler Schwaner notes that Pastor Becker from Frankenau made a remark unfavorable to the Republicans. He was immediately surrounded, pushed, seized, and dragged toward the river with the intent of drowning him. Only the decisive intervention of the leaders saved him.
During a so-called Forestry Day—held quarterly to try those accused of forest offenses—about 150 peasants gathered in March 1848 at the Klosterhof (district office). Each carried a stick, and alcohol was present. When the forester from Somplar arrived late, he was attacked and beaten before managing to escape with injuries.
At the same time, a farmer from Röddenau attempted to assault a forestry official but was restrained by court staff and locked out. The gendarmerie, even after arriving, was unable to restore order until armed citizens intervened and cleared the courthouse.
The unrest reached its peak on March 31, 1848, when four officials from Frankenberg were forced to flee to save their lives. The government in Marburg then sent a mobile column, which arrived on April 1 and restored order.
Other acts of violence and revenge also occurred during this turbulent revolutionary year. According to oral accounts from older citizens of Röddenau, Johannes Meiser played a leading role as one of the principal instigators.
