Holy Roman Empire History of Zürich

louis german s act founding fraumünster abbey.

zürich part of frankish-ruled alemannia 746, following blood court @ cannstatt, lying in turgowe (thurgau) dominated konstanz.

a carolingian castle, built on site of ruined roman castle grandson of charlemagne, louis german, mentioned in 835 ( in castro turicino iuxta fluvium lindemaci ). louis founded fraumünster abbey on 21 july 853 daughter hildegard. endowed benedictine convent lands of zürich, uri, , albis forest, , granted convent immunity, placing under direct authority.

in 1045, king henry iii granted convent right hold markets, collect tolls, , mint coins, , made abbess ruler of city.

zürich became reichsunmittelbar (direct control of emperor) in 1218 extinction of main line of zähringer family. city wall built during 1230s, enclosing 38 hectares (about 94 acres). bahnhofstrasse marks course of western moat. earliest citizens stone houses @ rennweg date period, using dilapidated carolingian castle quarry.

emperor frederick ii promoted abbess of fraumünster rank of duchess in 1234. abbess assigned mayor, , delegated minting of coins citizens of city. however, political power of convent waned in fourteenth century, beginning establishment of zunftordnung (guild laws) in 1336 rudolf brun, became first independent mayor, i.e. not assigned abbess.

from time, city increasingly came under domination of zünfte, process completed in 16th century suspension of monasteries following reformation. predigerkirche built in 1231 ad romanesque church of dominican predigerkloster nearby neumarkt , city s hospital. other convents in zürich, abolished after reformation in switzerland.

the codex manesse, major source of medieval german poetry, written , illustrated in 14th century in zürich.

the frankish kings had special rights on tenants, protectors of 2 churches, , had jurisdiction on free community. in. 870 sovereign placed powers on 4 in hands of single official (the reichsvogt), , union still further strengthened wall built round 4 settlements in 10th century safeguard against saracen marauders , feudal barons.

the reichsvogtei passed counts of lenzburg (1063–1173), , dukes of zahringen (extinct 1218). meanwhile, abbess of benedictine frau münster had been acquiring extensive rights , privileges on inhabitants, though never obtained criminal jurisdiction. town flourished in 12th , 13th centuries, silk trade being introduced italy.

in 1218 reichsvogtei passed hands of king, appointed 1 of burghers deputy, town becoming free imperial city under nominal rule of distant sovereign. abbess in 1234 became princess of empire, power rapidly passed council had named after police, came elected burghers, though abess still lady of zürich.

this council (all powerful since 1304) made of representatives of knightly , rich mercantile families (the patricians), excluded craftsmen share in government, though these last town largely indebted rising wealth , importance.