1414: City feud with Frankfurt: roots in historical depths

It may have begun in the 14th century. Back then, 600 or more years ago, the inhabitants of Offenbach, Bieber and Bürgel enjoyed the right to flee to the protection of Frankfurt's walls in the event of war. This was not meant to be as generous as it seems. Anyone who enjoyed "castle rights" in Frankfurt had to enlist there every year and work to maintain the defense systems. At the same time, the surrounding area was forbidden to protect itself with its own walls.

This led to a conflict in 1414. Members of the lower nobility active in and around Offenbach set about building a castle in Offenbach, a fortified house with walls and moats in any case. This was a gross violation of the rules. Outraged, the Frankfurt council protested to Offenbach's sovereign, who at the time was the Archbishop and Elector of Trier, a Falkensteiner.

The complaint was unsuccessful. In 1417, Frankfurt therefore turned to the highest imperial authority. It appealed to the emperor. Again without success. However, the bone of contention, the disputed castle, became a dilapidated old building. Until the Isenburgs chose Offenbach as their residence in 1556 and began building a more prestigious castle. In 1631, during the Thirty Years' War, the Swedish King Gustav Adolf took up residence. From Offenbach Castle, he demanded that Frankfurt surrender. This resulted in embarrassment.

The Frankfurt Council sent a negotiating delegation to Offenbach. They demanded protection, initially with the self-confident reference to their reputation and the importance of their city for trade, commerce and the financial economy, and finally more pleadingly. It turned out to be a humiliating encounter. The Swede was not prepared to negotiate. He harshly demanded total submission. Frankfurt had to endure a Swedish occupation.

The humiliation, in Offenbach of all places, hurt for a long time. Two hundred years later, however, the proud people of Frankfurt were hit even harder. That was when political circumstances made it possible for the people of Offenbach to successfully compete with the venerable Frankfurt trade fair. It was then that the impious prayer "Krieh die Kränk, Offebach!" was born.

The neighbors took revenge, again and again, wherever they had the opportunity. There was never a century without conflicts of interest. The respective occasions were certainly forgotten, but not the basic experience that trouble was always lurking in Offenbach.

It is only because the sources of the unease are no longer really known today that it is attached to behavior in traffic, soccer and carnival. Goliath's teeth gnash compulsively as soon as he sees David.

By Lothar Braun

Published in the Offenbach Post (opens in a new tab)