Old Aalten

Tag: Farm

  • Treaty of Wesel (1326)

    Treaty of Wesel (1326)

    The year 2026 marks exactly seven centuries since the political map of the eastern Achterhoek was drawn. On 28 June 1326, the Treaty of Wesel and an astronomical mortgage sum put an end to the ‘Bredevoorter Fehde’ (the Feud of Bredevoort). Consequently, the Lordship of Bredevoort – including the jurisdictions of Aalten, Winterswijk, and Dinxperlo – came under Guelders control. This is a reconstruction of a bitter, four-year war of attrition that would change the region forever.

    Anyone looking at the national borders around Aalten today will see a historical relic that leads straight back to the Middle Ages. The fact that this region belongs to Gelderland, rather than Germany, is due to geopolitical entanglements in the early fourteenth century. Until 1316, the border area was ruled by the Counts of Lohn. When Count Herman II of Lohn died childless that year, the county vanished, creating a power vacuum around the strategic castle of Bredevoort.

    The Lordship of Lohn around 1250, before the territory fractured in 1316 – © Günter Seggebäing, CC BY-SA 3.0
    The Lordship of Lohn around 1250, before the territory fractured in 1316 – © Günter Seggebäing, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The post-Lohn vacuum

    Even then, Bredevoort Castle was a flashpoint. Half of it had been held by the Bishopric of Münster since 1284; the other half was inherited by Otto of Ahaus in 1316. Troops belonging to Ludwig II, the Prince-Bishop of Münster, immediately occupied the entire castle. Although the Count of Guelders, Reinald I, also laid claim to the territory, he did not intervene militarily straight away. Instead, he concluded a three-year truce. It was only under his successor, Reinald II, that the conflict escalated into a true status war, with Guelders receiving active support from Count William III of Holland.

    In the summer of 1322, Reinald II managed to capture Bredevoort Castle in a surprise attack. To offset the expenses incurred, he marched through the Münster lands with 700 knights and infantry, plundering as they went. This heralded a ruthless four-year guerrilla war.

    Sleeping knights and a captured bishop

    The conflict was characterised by lightning raids and heavy casualties. One of the most remarkable confrontations took place in March 1323 near the town of Dülmen. A military unit from Borken, supporting the Bishop of Münster, surprised the Guelders army while the knights were asleep. The Borken forces deliberately killed the knights’ horses. Encased in their heavy armour, the Guelders warriors were virtually defenceless without their mounts; 86 knights and squires were killed, and a hundred knights were captured for ransom.

    However, the tables turned quickly. In May 1323, Prince-Bishop Ludwig II of Münster himself was captured by Engelbert II van der Mark, an ally of Guelders. The bishop was only released in November of that year, following the payment of an astronomical ransom of 5,000 silver marks.

    Bredevoort Castle (1597)
    Bredevoort Castle in 1597

    The peace that followed was short-lived. As soon as the bishop was free, he recaptured Bredevoort. By 1324, the armies faced each other once more near Coesfeld. It had become a full-blown European conflict: Reinald II had assembled an army of 7,000 cavalry, backed by the King of Bohemia, the Counts of Flanders, Holland, Artois, Van der Mark, Jülich, and Van den Bergh, as well as the Bishops of Liège and Utrecht. Münster was supported by troops from Osnabrück, the Lords of Lippe, the Counts of Waldeck and Sayn, and a host of Frisians, Hessians, Thuringians, and Franks.

    As the armies stood face-to-face near Coesfeld, a massive pitched battle loomed. However, King John of Bohemia and Count William III of Holland managed to persuade the sparring factions to reach a compromise, leading to the signing of a treaty on 1 September 1324. The Bishop of Utrecht subsequently delivered a binding, yet nuanced, arbitration on the claims in Deventer. Münster demanded that Guelders renounce its rights to Bredevoort, the Honborn jurisdiction, and the Reken estate. The Bishop of Utrecht ruled that both parties had to defer to the feudal overlord regarding Bredevoort. He was unable to rule on the remaining territories due to ancient feuds, though Münster was awarded 500 marks in damages.

    Since this ruling did not resolve the underlying tensions, the war flared up again unabated in early 1325. This led to the brutal destruction of the Münster-held part of the town of Vreden by Guelders troops on 3 January 1325.

    The Treaty of Wesel (1326)

    By 1326, both sides were financially and militarily exhausted. Mediated by Count Dietrich of Cleves and his brother John, the parties reached a definitive agreement in the Hanseatic city of Wesel.

    The peace terms dictated that Bredevoort Castle was permanently awarded to Reinald II of Guelders. In return, the Count of Guelders had to return the occupied Lordship of Bermentfelde (present-day Barnsfeld near Südlohn) to Münster, in exchange for 3,500 marks in compensation.

    It was here that the decisive financial mechanism came into play: bankrupt from the earlier ransoms and years of warfare, the Bishopric of Münster could not afford to pay these 3,500 marks. As security (a pledge) for this sum, the bishop mortgaged the jurisdictions of Winterswijk, Aalten, and Dinxperlo, along with the corresponding county court (vrijgraafschap), to Guelders. On 28 June 1326, this official peace treaty was signed, co-sealed by the Guelders towns of Zutphen, Groenlo, Arnhem, and Emmerich.

    The legacy of an outstanding debt

    The treaty stipulated that Münster could redeem the pledge — and thus regain governance over the three parishes — at any time by repaying the mortgage sum to the magistrates (schepenen) of Wesel. However, over the following centuries, Münster never managed to raise the funds.

    What began as a temporary mortgage thus became a permanent arrangement. The Lordship of Bredevoort remained permanently part of Guelders territory and later formed the Bailiwick (Ambt) of Bredevoort. The borders of these medieval jurisdictions are still visible today in the municipal boundaries of the eastern Achterhoek. An unredeemed debt from 1326 thus determined that the residents of Aalten, Winterswijk, and Dinxperlo are Gelderlanders today, and not Westphalians.

    Sources

    Archival Sources

    Digital Sources

    • [Compas, T. / Mijn Gelderland] De geschiedenis van de Heerlijkheid Bredevoort. Available via: mijngelderland.nl
    • [Genealogy.net] GenWiki: Amt Ahaus. Available via: genealogy.net

    Printed Sources and Literature

    • Arend, J.P. & Van Rees, O. (1840-1871). Algemeene geschiedenis des vaderlands, van de vroegste tijden tot op heden. Amsterdam: J.F. Schleijer.
    • Nijhoff, I.A. (1830-1875). Gedenkwaardigheden uit de geschiedenis van Gelderland. Arnhem: Is. An. Nijhoff.
    • Rabich, A. (2010). Die Regionalgeschichte von Dülmen und Umgebung. Dülmen: Laumann-Verlag.
    • Schmidt, F. (1903). Die Bredevorter Fehde zwischen Geldern und Münster (1319-1326). Münster: Wulf.
    • Scholz, K. (1995). Das Stift Alter Dom St. Pauli in Münster. Berlin/New York: Walter de Gruyter.
    • Spaen la Lecq, W.A. van (1801-1805). Oordeelkundige inleiding tot de historie van Gelderland (4 delen). Utrecht: Wild en Altheer.
    • Wisplinghoff, E. (1992). Germania Sacra: Historisch-statistische Beschreibung der Kirche des alten Reichs. Berlin/New York: Walter de Gruyter.
  • Bredevoort Castle

    Bredevoort Castle

    Bredevoort Castle, 3D impression by Paul van Druten

    Bredevoort Castle was a fortress in the heart of the eponymous town and former Lordship of Bredevoort in the County of Zutphen within the Duchy of Guelders. It was one of the most significant castles in Gelderland. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Bredevoort Castle played a major role in the struggle between Guelders and Münsterland.

    The castle was first mentioned in 1188 on a list of properties belonging to the Diocese of Cologne as “Castrum Breidervort“. At that time, the castle was a site of contention. Consequently, it had multiple owners, leading to a centuries-long struggle for control. In 1238, the castle came into the hands of Ludolf van Steinfurt and Herman van Lohn as a shared inheritance. The castle was to be fortified, with both parties sharing the costs. In 1278, the fortress was destroyed by Count Everhard I von der Mark during an act of revenge. Following this, the castle remained a ruin for 23 years. A deed of sale from 1284 refers to the “area castri Bredevort”.

    After years of conflict over Bredevoort between Münster and Guelders, the castle eventually returned to the hands of Count Herman van Lohn II in 1301. In that year, the bishops of Münster and Cologne pledged to assist Herman van Lohn with the restoration of the fortress. In the turbulent times that followed, the fortress frequently changed hands between Münster and Guelders through combat or sale. The bishops of Münster and Cologne were required to jointly fund the reconstruction of Bredevoort Castle.

    After centuries of fighting over the castle, the Bishop of Münster abandoned the struggle and sought peace negotiations. Following years of negotiation, peace was finally signed on June 28, 1326, with the Treaty of Wesel. This significant treaty was also signed by the cities of Zutphen, Groenlo, Emmerich, and Arnhem. As a result, Reinoud II of Guelders acquired the pledge of the jurisdictions in Winterswijk, Aalten, and Dinxperlo, as well as the County of Bredevoort. This move definitively incorporated the area into Gelderland.

    Bredevoort Castle
    In 1882, J. Craandijk produced two drawings intended to represent Bredevoort Castle. Whether these are accurate, however, remains a matter of debate.
    Bredevoort Castle, 'the Hall'
    Bredevoort Castle, ‘the Hall’

    Floor plan

    In 1562, the lord of the manor of Bredevoort, Diederik van Bronckhorst-Batenburg, Lord of Anholt, commissioned a floor plan of the castle at Bredevoort. This plan also described the functions and structural condition of the various components. Measurements were recorded in Rhineland feet. A Rhineland foot is over 31 cm long. The castle was a rectangle measuring 42 m long and 36 m wide. The walls were approximately 65 cm thick. An earthen rampart surrounded the castle, with roundels at the corners. The rampart was approximately 2 m wide.

    Floor plan of Bredevoort Castle, 1562
    Floor plan of Bredevoort Castle, 1562

    Explanations of the descriptions on the floor plan (translated from old script):

    1. This vault will collapse if it is not repaired soon.
    2. Here is the staircase leading to the knights’ hall.
    3. This wall is dilapidated. The vertical beams are rotted at the bottom. This is a large hall: 47 feet long and 23 feet wide, measured from the inside. Beneath it is a cellar. The floor consists of beams and planks and is finished with floor tiles. There is only one attic above the hall.
    4. This is a staircase to enter the large hall.
    5. This is the kitchen, 21 feet long and 23 feet wide. Beneath it is a cellar of the same size as the cellar under the large hall.
    6. This shed was built by Drost Isendoorn. The walls are masonry set between beams.
    7. This is the rampart that runs around the castle.
    8. This is a very dilapidated shed, much like a pigsty.
    9. The prison tower. It is 38 feet square (measured from the outside). The walls are 8½ feet thick. [This tower was likely used later as a powder tower, Ed.]
    10. Here are two roundels.
    11. The Drost’s chamber (Maarschalcksekamer) above the gate. [The name ‘Maarschalckse kamer’ dates from the period 1534-1555 when Marshal Maarten van Rossum was Drost of Bredevoort, Ed.]
    12. This is the chapel.
    13. From here, the hearth of the knights’ hall is stoked.
    14. This is the knights’ hall. The room is 36 feet long and 19 feet wide. Below this are the rooms of the burgrave (castle warden) and the steward. The gate entrance is also located below here.
    15. This wall is in good condition, as far as it can be seen above the rampart.
    16. This wall is built between wooden beams and has a thickness of half a brick. [The bricks used were ‘kloostermoppen’ of approximately 14 cm in width, Ed.]
    17. A dilapidated spiral staircase.
    18. Another room. Below this is a laundry room. Because the rampart rests against the laundry room, the wall is rotted. The stones are loose.
    19. This wall is largely built between wooden beams and is very dilapidated.
    20. This contains the grain mill and the baking ovens. Above is the servant’s room, with two attics and a chimney.
    21. This is where the Drost sleeps. The room is 28 feet long and 23 feet wide. Beneath it is a meat cellar.
    22. This room is divided in two. The floor is made of wood. The meat cellar also lies beneath this area.
    23. This upper room is called the salon (state room, armory). Below it is the armor room.
    24. Here the rampart touches the wall, causing the wall to let in moisture and show defects. The wall is very thick, and if the water could be kept out, it would likely provide some improvement.
    25. These two rooms, as well as the granary, are located above the bakehouse and brewhouse.
    26. This drawing was made in Arnhem after everything was measured as accurately as possible. The drawing is fairly accurate. However, in reality, some parts are slightly larger than depicted here, such as the chapel, the spiral staircase in the courtyard, and the prison tower.

    External Appearance

    Bredevoort Castle, by Piet te Lintum
    Bredevoort Castle, by Piet te Lintum

    Not much is known about exactly how Bredevoort Castle looked. While drawings of the castle exist, they are partly based on assumptions and imagination.

    The castle was built on a sandy ridge of approximately 42 x 26 meters, making it one of the larger castles in the Netherlands. Old maps show the main fortress to be a typical concentric castle, featuring double moats and a thick curtain wall. It included an outer bailey with heavy corner towers and a rectangular castle wall equipped with four corner towers, three of which were later lowered to become roundels.

    The castle and the town were separated by a double moat. Access to the castle from the town was via a bridge. One had to pass through two gates, the second of which was equipped with a barbican, and finally a gatehouse in the curtain wall before reaching the inner courtyard. Within the fortress, various buildings stood around a spacious inner court. These depictions changed over time, and the appearance and stature of the castle would have been altered frequently throughout the centuries due to conflict, war, city fires, and other causes.

    Destroyed

    The castle was heavily damaged by the Gunpowder Tower Disaster in 1646. Following this, the castle dominated the cityscape as a ruin for over 150 years until around the end of the 18th century. The last known mention of a visible ruin dates to 1791, recorded in the Bredevoort church council minutes when William V viewed the remains during his visit to Bredevoort. The main building (excluding the outer bailey, roundels, and curtain wall) had dimensions of approximately 42 x 36 meters. This made it one of the larger castles in the Netherlands.

    Bredevoort Castle (1597)
    Bredevoort Castle in 1597

    Remains

    Today, the remains of the castle—in the form of foundations, vaults, tunnels, and rubble—lie beneath and around the ‘t Zand square and the Hozenstraat in the heart of the town. In the spring of 2009, during archaeological research around the former school on ‘t Zand, part of the foundations was uncovered. Wall remains between 2.5 and 4 meters thick were found. On ‘t Zand square, foundations of the barbican were discovered. The contours of this gatehouse have been made visible in the paving with brass-colored bands.

    Sources

  • Aalten in the Middle Ages

    Aalten in the Middle Ages

    Historical sources reveal that Aalten was mentioned in 1152 as the parish of Aladon1. This indicates that a church existed at that time, which was presumably located on the same site as the current Old Helenakerk. A mention from 828 (Aladna)2 is not undisputed, although such an early dating for Aalten is certainly possible from an archaeological perspective. Indeed, traces of human habitation from that period have been found both at De Hoven and on the Damstraat.

    Burial Ground

    In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a large number of objects were collected during excavation work on Damstraat. Among the finds are 15 pots of widely varying shapes, some of which are beautifully decorated.

    In 1932, under the direction of Professor A.E. van Giffen, a burial ground was uncovered in Aalten behind the Manschot factory, now Manschotplein. Spearheads, stirrups, a shield boss, several small pots, and ten silver links from a belt were found.3 It is not unlikely that these finds originate from the grave of a single warrior.

    Part of the Damstraat was likely a Merovingian-Frankish burial ground around the year 800. The Merovingians were a dynasty of Frankish kings. The site has been heavily disturbed by house construction.

    Belt fitting, found at Damstraat in Aalten
    Belt fitting, found at Damstraat in Aalten

    Medieval Cellar

    Naturally, a burial ground is associated with a settlement. You will understand that we were very curious about where this settlement was located. In recent decades, a working group from the archaeological society A.D.W. has closely monitored excavation and construction activities in and around the current center of Aalten. In 1981, this resulted in the discovery of a cellar from the 12th century. The find was made in the renovated premises of what was then the Welkamp company (Bredevoortsestraatweg 5). No remains were found of the farmhouse of which the cellar was a part. However, the cellar itself yielded a wealth of information.

    Bredevoortsestraatweg 5, Aalten (2002)
    Bredevoortsestraatweg 5, Angelique Women’s Wear (2002)

    Because the cellar had been destroyed by fire, all objects present at the time of the fire were recovered within it. A total of six pots were found which, given their size, must have been used as storage jars. Unfortunately, five of the six pots were broken. A handle from a saucepan, in the shape of an animal head, was also found. Iron slag and a piece of lime indicate a smithy in the vicinity. It is possible that two hinges found were manufactured in this smithy.

    Bone remains showed that horses, sheep or goats, cattle, and pigs were kept. Charred grain remains of oats, wheat, and rye were found in a soil sample. With this find, the mention from 1152 was archaeologically confirmed. Several imported shards from Germany point to a dating in the second quarter of the 12th century.4

    Settlement

    Although this find was important in itself, no traces had yet been found of the older settlement associated with the burial ground. However, during the redevelopment of De Hoven in December 1982, traces of a Frankish-Merovingian settlement were discovered. The remains of a sunken hut from the 9th century5 are an indication that Aalten already existed at that time, albeit under a different name.

    A sunken hut should be imagined as a rectangular pit topped by a gable roof. Usually, these sunken huts had a craft function (e.g., a weaving hut) or a storage function. Only the larger ones were possibly also used as dwellings.

    This is what the Aalten hut bowl could have looked like (sketch made by Willem Doodeheefver)
    This is what the Aalten hut bowl could have looked like (sketch made by Willem Doodeheefver)

    After the sunken hut was abandoned, the pit was used as a refuse pit. A large number of bones from the same livestock as in the cellar find were discovered here. The discovery of bone remains from a deer indicates a minor role for hunting. Furthermore, charred grains and seeds such as barley, rye, emmer wheat (a prehistoric grain type), oats, lentils (possibly peas or vetch), pale-yellow hemp-nettle, goosefoot, and sheep’s sorrel were found.

    From the fact that pottery types found in the sunken hut also occur in the burial ground, we may conclude that both are contemporaneous. It is therefore not far-fetched to assume that the people who lived at De Hoven buried their dead at the current Damstraat.

    Second Find

    In December 1992, during work at De Hoven, not far from the previous site, remains of a sunken hut were found again, this time probably dating from the 8th century. This sunken hut was found on the grounds of De Hoven where road builder Jaartsveld was carrying out excavation work for the construction of a new parking lot.6

    This sunken hut was quite small and had almost certainly been the workshop of a weaver. A groove on the side of the pattern found indicated where the loom had stood. Spindle whorls and clay balls that served as weights for the loom were also found. The sunken hut was smaller than the one discovered in 1982. That one may have been a hut where a family lived.

    8th-century sunken hut, De Hoven, Aalten
    Archaeological research at De Hoven, 1992. Photo: Peter Rhebergen

    Willem Doodeheefver, one of the amateur archaeologists involved in the research, told a reporter:

    “You know it is an area in the vicinity of which something has been found before. You could see it very clearly during the excavation. Suddenly, in the red sand, the black imprints became visible where posts used to stand. That is always a huge surprise.”

    The National Service for Archaeological Heritage (ROB) recognized the importance of the finds and asked the Soil Research Working Group of the Archaeological Society A.D.W. to continue the investigation. An employee of Jaartsveld specifically returned from vacation to further excavate the site using a loader. Several new finds were made during this process. Many of the aforementioned finds can be viewed in the museum on the Markt.

    Origin of the place name

    Several theories circulate regarding the origin of the name Aalten. But what are they based on and how credible are they? Old Aalten delved into history to discover more about this.

    Read the full article: Origin of the place name Aalten.

    Sources

    1. Sloet, L.A.J.W. (1872) Oorkondenboek der Graafschappen Gelre en Zutfen, p.292 ↩︎
    2. Aladna in the Year 828 ↩︎
    3. Collectie Gelderland, Schatkamers van Gelderland ↩︎
    4. Schut, P. (1982) Een hutkom of kelder uit de 12de eeuw te Aalten (Gld.) ↩︎
    5. Schut, P. (1984) Een hutkom uit de 9de eeuw te Aalten (Gld.) ↩︎
    6. Willink, Joop (dec. 1992) Sporen Frankisch-Merovingische nederzetting (krantartikel) ↩︎
  • Aladna in the Year 828

    Aladna in the Year 828

    From historical sources, we know that Aalten was mentioned in 1152 as the parish of Aladon.1 However, there are indications that the village may have been mentioned much earlier, namely as Aladna in a charter from 828.2 Whether this mention actually refers to the current Aalten is still a subject of discussion. Nevertheless, archaeologists consider such an early dating certainly possible. Indeed, traces of human habitation from that time have been found both at De Hoven and on Damstraat.3 In this article, we delve into this ancient mention and examine two different theories.

    The deed of gift of Geroward

    The charter from 828 describes how, on February 7 of that year, a certain Geroward donated all his possessions, including those in Aladna, to the St. Martin’s Church in ‘Traiectum Veteri’ (Utrecht). Little is known about Geroward’s identity, but he must have been a man of standing. He was presumably a Frankish nobleman in the service of the Carolingian Emperor Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne.

    The original charter has not been preserved. What we know about it comes from later copies and transcriptions. The most important source is the ‘Cartulary of Radboud’, compiled in the Abbey of Egmond in the 12th or 13th century. This register contains copies of charters related to the Diocese of Utrecht. Later, this collection was included in the ‘Oorkondenboek van het Sticht Utrecht tot 1301’, compiled by S. Muller Fz. and H.T. Obreen.

    Below are the Latin text and the English translation of the charter in question.

    Source text

    Dum unusquisque presens seculum inhabitat, necessitate nimia cogitur, ut finem suum Dei solo judicio previdere et preoccupare bonis operibus studeat, ne eum inopinata et improvisa mors inveniat.

    Idcirco ego Gerouuardus, filius Landuuardi, trado ad ecclesiam sancti Martini, in Traiecto Veteri constituta[m], quicquid mihi hereditatis jure accessit in villa Langhara et in Ellenuuih et in Aladna et in Uuazefelde et in Humelle et in Theodon et in Hesim et in Asnon, cum omnibus adjacentiis, pratis, pascuis, silvis, aquis aquarumve decursibus, necnon et mancipia, quorum hec existunt vocabula: Feginuuard et uxor ejus Liutburn, Meginrauan et uxor ejus Vuerinhild, Albuuard et mater ejus Sigiuuih, Uulfbald et Hadagrim, Grimbald et uxor ejus Adaluuih, Garoberd et uxor ejus Folcuuihc, Arnolf et uxor ejus Adalgard, Saxani et uxor ejus Harduuih Vuerinbald et mater ejus Gerild, Heiegbrath et uxor ejus Meginfrid, Vuarbald et uxor ejus Geruuih, Adalgod et Marcuui, Saxini et Radini, Vulfini et uxor ejus Liuduuar, Odilgard et filius ejus Heriman, Aldric et filius ejus Landric, Gelo et Marcrad, Hungrim et uxor ejus Liuduuih, Aluuih et Seolo, Egbald et Tadhild.

    Acta est autem publice in villa Embrici, anno XV imperii domni Hludouuici imperatoris, incarnationis vero Dominice anno DCCCXXVIII, die VII Idus Februarii, coram testibus, qui hanc traditionem presentialiter confirmatam viderunt similiter et vestituram, quorum nomina subter notantur.

    Signum Gerouuardi, traditionem hanc peragentis.

    [The signs of] Hrauanuuardi, Egisgeri, Sigiberti, Gerberti, Theodansi, Albrici, Albuuardi, Ildiradi, Odilbaldi, Otberti, Roduuigi, Uuerinherdi, Friduberti, Vuibodonis, Ledradi, Geroldi, Gerici, Vuendilberti, Gerharii, Hildirad, Reinheri, Rodberti, Uuarmundi, Aldgeri, Vualonis, Rodhardies, Meinhardi, Hrauaningi, Egelberti, Gerbodi.

    Ego Geraccarus jubente domno meo Friderico episcopo scripsi et subscripsi.

    Translation

    While every man dwells in this earthly life, he is driven by a great necessity to foresee his end only through God’s judgment and to prepare for it through good works, lest death overtake him unexpectedly and unprepared.

    Therefore, I, Geroward, son of Landward, transfer to the church of Saint Martin, located in Old Traiectum, everything that has come to me by hereditary right in the villages of Langhara, Ellenwih, Aladna, Wazefelde, Humelle, Theodon, Hesim, and Asnon, with all associated lands, meadows, pastures, forests, waters, and watercourses.

    Likewise, I transfer the serfs, whose names are as follows: Feginward and his wife Liutburn, Meginravan and his wife Werinhild, Albward and his mother Sigiwih, Wulfbald and Hadagrim, Grimbald and his wife Adalwih, Garoberd and his wife Folcwih, Arnolf and his wife Adalgard, Saxani and his wife Hardwih, Werinbald and his mother Gerild, Heiegbrath and his wife Meginfrid, Warbald and his wife Gerwih, Adalgod and Marcwi, Saxini and Radini, Wulfini and his wife Liudwar, Odilgard and her daughter Heriman, Aldric and his son Landric, Gelo and Marcrad, Hungrim and his wife Liudwih, Alwih and Seolo, Egbald and Tadhild.

    This transfer took place publicly in the settlement of Embrici, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Louis (Hludowicus), and in the year 828 after the incarnation of our Lord, on February 7, in the presence of witnesses who confirmed this transfer and the associated settlement. Their names are listed below.

    The mark of Geroward, who performs this transfer.

    [The marks of] Hravanward, Egisger, Sigibert, Gerbert, Theodans, Albric, Albward, Ildirad, Odilbald, Otbert, Rodwig, Werinherd, Fridubert, Vuibodo, Ledrad, Gerold, Geric, Vuendilbert, Gerhari, Hildirad, Reinher, Rodbert, Warmund, Aldger, Vualo, Rodhardies, Meinhard, Hravaning, Egelbert, Gerbod.

    I, Geraccarus, have written and signed this by order of my lord, Bishop Frederick.

    Where was ‘Aladna’ located?

    There are two theories regarding the exact location of the places mentioned in the charter:

    1. The Hamaland theory: According to this view, Geroward’s possessions were located in the area that would later become known as the Carolingian county of Hamaland. The place names mentioned in the deed are linked by historians to contemporary locations in the Liemers and the Achterhoek. Within this theory, ‘Aladna’ is identified as the current Aalten.
    2. The North French theory: Another interpretation suggests that the mentioned places were not in the Netherlands, but in Northern France. In this scenario, Aladna would refer to the current Alette, a place in the Pas-de-Calais department. The other place names from the charter would also be located in this area.4

    Interpretations of the place names in both theories:

    Latin nameHamaland theoryNorthern-France theory
    Traiectum VeteriUtrechtTournehem-sur-la-Hem
    LangharaLangerak (near Doetinchem)Longuerecque
    EllenwihHeelwegHerlincourt
    AladnaAaltenAlette
    WazefeldeVarsseveld or Dwarsfeld near AnholtNesles
    HumelleHummeloWimille
    TheodonDidamTodincthun/Thérouanne
    Hesimthe Kniphees farmstead near ‘s-HeerenbergHées
    AsnonAzewijnAssonval
    EmbriciEmmerichEmbry

    In the eastern regions of the Netherlands, however, it is assumed that the Hamaland theory is the most likely. It is not without reason that the municipality of Aalten named a road after this mention: the Aladnaweg. And in the municipality of Montferland, a street is named after Geroward: the Gerwardstraat in Klein-Azewijn. The theory is centuries old: around 1730, Johann Friedrich Falken created a historical map of ‘the Netherlands in late Roman times’, on which he drew the county of Hamaland, including Aladna.

    Frisiae antiquae et veteris Brabantiae pars in pagos distributa
    Map of the former county of Hamaland in late Roman times, created by Johann Friedrich Falken, ca. 1730 5

    Conclusion

    The mention of Aladna in 828 remains an interesting subject of discussion. Many people consider the Hamaland theory to be the most likely explanation (or is that perhaps mainly wishful thinking?), but the North French interpretation cannot be entirely ruled out. Hopefully, future archaeological and historical research can provide more clarity regarding this early mention.

    Origin of the place name

    Several theories circulate regarding the origin of the name Aalten. But what are they based on and how credible are they? Old Aalten delved into history to discover more about this.

    Read the full article: Origin of the place name Aalten.

    Sources

    1. Sloet, L.A.J.W. (1872) Oorkondenboek der Graafschappen Gelre en Zutfen, p.292 ↩︎
    2. Oorkondenboek van het Sticht Utrecht tot 1301 (Delpher) ↩︎
    3. Aalten in the Middle Ages ↩︎
    4. ijpelaan.nl, The charters from the Cartulary of Radboud ↩︎
    5. Schmidt, J.G. (ca. 1730) Historical map of the Netherlands in late Roman times (Rijksmuseum collection) ↩︎