Roman period Hof in the Middle Ages was located in the Provincia Variscorum and was known in Latin as or meaning "Court of the Varisci/Narisci." It is assumed then that Hof was the place where the chief(s) of the
Varisci (or Narisci) tribe of the
Suebi people held court (and/or perhaps a
pagan temple or hall). The Varisci appear briefly in
Tacitus' Germania (Chapter 42) as participants in the
Marcomannic Wars. Their chief, Valao, was killed during battle around 167 AD and it is possible that these ancient peoples were then transplanted to Italy by
Marcus Aurelius and lost their identity. A few centuries later (4th or 5th century) the obscure
Armalausi peoples appear where the Varisci once lived, however the Latin name of stuck to the region. This is evidenced by nearby
Plauen being called
Plavia Variscorum and Hof:
Curia Variscorum. The name has been used to denote the city of Hof in numerous documents and publications throughout the years. This legacy remains even to this day as the word is German for 'court', just as is Latin for 'court'.
Sorbish-Frankish Conflicts (c. 600 – 1080) Sometime around the 6th century AD the Slavic
Sorbs began arriving near the
Saale River which runs through Hof. They are first mentioned in 631 A.D., when
Fredegar’s Chronicle described them as "Surbi" and as under the rule of a
Dervan, an ally of
Samo. The
Frankish Kingdom of
Charlemagne and his descendants were determined to Christianize the pagan Slavs and various campaigns were waged against them. The
Annales Regni Francorum state that in 806 A.D. Sorbian Duke
Miliduch fought against the Franks and was killed by
Charles the Younger the son of Charlemagne around nearby modern-day
Weißenfels. The region where Hof is located first came under the ecclesiastic control of the
Dioceses of Würzburg during this time period. Then in 1007 the region which contains Hof came under the
Bishopric of Bamberg which was established out of the Dioceses of Würzburg to further spread Christianity throughout this area. While the area around Hof remained
terra incognita during this time period it was not isolated from the rest of the world. Although not home to a king or prince, Hof was on located on a somewhat protected, and very important trade route; the
Via Imperii. This route led from Italy to the Baltic Sea and Hof was well situated to be a place of rest for travelers and traders as the flourishing markets of
Leipzig,
Zwickau, and
Nuremberg began to develop. The budding mining industry of silver and tin from the nearby
Ore Mountains would also contribute to the development of trade in this region.
Andechs-Merania and Vögte of Weida (1080–1373) It appears that the missionary efforts of Bamberg were fairly successful in Hof as sometime around 1080 a group of farmers (possibly
Sorbish) settled parts of modern-day Hof had built a chapel on Klausenberg an der Saale. They called their settlement "Rekkenze" which appears to be derived from the Western Slavic word meaning "river." Rekkenze was first mentioned in a document written by one Pastor Albertus of
St. Lorenzkirche in 1214 to the Bishop of Bamberg. The Slavic language has left many marks on the geography of this region and to this day there are two waterways known as "Regnitz" near Hof: the
Upper/Southern Regnitz (which flows in the south of Hof on the east side of the Saale River) and the
Lower/Northern Regnitz (which flows in the north and east side of the Saale). Also of note, the area around Hof, the southern Bavarian-Bohemian part of the Vogtland, was known as the
Regnitzland.
Rekkenze and other historic names of Hof This Rekkenze settlement, which later became Hof, went by this and many other names through the years. For example, Hof is also called "curia Reckenize" (court of Reckenize) and "schlosz Reckenitz" (Castle Reckenitz) in a document of the in the year 1276. It has been suggested that the name "Hof" is the shortened form of meaning "City on the Court at the Regnitz". Other names for Hof have included: (Variscorum), , , , , , , , and to name but a few.
House of Andechs-Merania In 1098
Count Berthold II of
Andechs inherited his father's lands including those in modern-day
Upper Franconia. In the 1130s he built
Plassenburg Castle in Kulmbach and from 1137 he styled himself as 'Count of
Plassenburg". He thus strengthened his influence in and around the nearby Regnitzland. Around 1230, Count Berthold's great-grandson, the Crusader
Duke Otto I von
Andechs-Merania fortified the area north of the Rekkenze farming settlement () at the area downstream now known as (New City).
Vögte of Weida By 1248 the royal house of Andechs-Merania dies out with Duke
Otto II. Soon after the Vögte of Weida acquired the Regnitzland including Hof. Vogt Henry VIII of Weida (1258–1279) earned the city of Hof and Regnitzland. He was married to Sophie, daughter of
Count Hermann II of
Orlamünde and
Beatrix of Andechs-Merania (daughter of Count Otto I). Under the guidance of the Vögte of Weida the first city wall and the foundation of the poor hospital (Armenspitals) were built (). Also, in 1270 there is the first mention of a castle at Hof and in 1278 the beginnings of the Klarissenkloster was established under the aid of the Vogt. The convent was blessed by the first Franciscan
Pope Nicholas IV in 1291 and came under the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Cross in 1292. In 1299 75% of the city (both Old and New Hof) was destroyed by a fire and the population was left destitute. It took over 30 years to rebuild Hof, however during the rebuilding process (1319) the Vogt Heinrich XII the Younger (der Jüngere) of Weida (1302–1324) confirmed traditional rights and privileges upon the City of Hof. These rights officially made Hof a city. In 1373, Vogt Heinrich XVI of Weida sold the Regnitzland to
Burgrave Friedrich V of
Nürnberg. However, due to this early history with the Vögte of Weida, Hof is still considered part of the geographical region known as the
Vogtland. To this day the (Shield) of Hof has the lion of the Vögte emblazoned in remembrance of the fact it was once owned by the Vögte. The name of the
Museum Bayerisches Vogtland in Hof today also pays homage to this history.
Brandenburg period (1373–1792) Burgrave Friedrich V died on January 21, 1398, and his lands were split between his two sons, Johann III and Friedrich IV, thus creating what has been called the
Principality of Bayreuth. Hof was under this
Hohenzollern Principality until December 2, 1791, and during this time was known as the (the "Princely Brandenburg capital city of Hof in the Vogtland").
Hussite Wars (1419–1434) Close to the end of the
Hussite Wars (between the 4th and 5th Crusade against them) Hof was sacked by the
Hussite followers of
Jan Hus. In 1430, during the period the
Hussites called the Spanilé jízdy (or "beautiful rides") they raided and devastated the city of Hof. on 25 January they burnt Plauen and then turned their attention to Hof. From the end of January into February they attacked and finally broke through killing many Hofers and looted and burned Hof. They also took away inhabitants of Hof as booty.
Rebuilding of Hof In 1432 a militia was organized to defend Hof. The organization of this Shooter's Guild is still celebrated in Hof annually in festival called Schlappentag [see description above]. in 1464 the Hospital and Hospital Church (Hospitalkirche ) were rebuilt. 1487 a foundation in Niclaskirche for pilgrims on the
Jacobsweg was built near the modern day St. Marienkirche. Jacobsweg is part of the famous
Camino de Santiago which ends in at
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. There is a plaque on the wall of Marienkirche that commemorates this pilgrim inn that is now lost. In 1498 a watch tower was constructed to add to the defenses of Hof.
Reformation While 1517 brought the
95 Theses, the spark that ignited the
Protestant Reformation, in Hof 1517 sparked a terrible fire that destroyed some 50 homes around the Orlaplatz and St. Michaeliskirche, severely damaging the rectory. The various churches and chapels in Hof at this time were all under the head pastor () of Hof, Margrave
Friedrich von Brandenburg of the
Hohenzollern family. This family often fought amongst themselves during the reformation using religion to gain political power. Friedrich tended to side with the Catholic Church against his brother
George "the Pious" who used the new Protestant religion to his advantage. In 1524, a reforming priest named
Kaspar Löhner was reassigned from his preaching position at
Kloster Birkenfeld, after complaints from the Abbess, and brought to Hof under Head Pastor Friedrich v. Brandenburg. Löhner had been performing Mass in German and singing German songs during the Mass. He arrived in Hof where his preaching continued to carry a certain reformation flavor. This is understandable given that he was a friend of
Martin Luther who had accompanied him from Wittenberg and Augsburg in 1518. While in Hof he married Margarethe Felitscher, daughter of the Mayor (Bürgermeister) of Hof Konrad Felitscher, and by which he became the father of
John Joshua Löner and the great-grandfather of the famous Lutheran theologian and hymn writer
Joshua Stegmann. Löhner and Medler both continued to receive opposition from powerful individuals including the regional governor () Christoph von Beulwitz who was a supporter of the Bishop of Bamberg. Being acquainted with Martin Luther, both Pastor Löhner and Schoolmaster Medler asked him for advice concerning this opposition and received a letter from Luther addressed from
Wittenberg on June 7, 1531, which encouraged them to stay. The letter begins: "" Translation: "[From] Martin Luther, to the venerable brothers in Christ and faithful citizens of the city of Hof, Kaspar Löner, Pastor, and Nicholas Medler, School Master."However, the next month (13 July 1531) both Löhner and Medler were ousted from Hof. This is due to the fact that even though George the Pious was actively trying to introduce Protestantism into his lands, he was constantly opposed by his brother Friedrich who held numerous
benefices in Hof. Also still holding great influence and power in and around Hof was the Bishop of Bamberg
Weigand von Redwitz. These two were able to somewhat curb the influence of Margrave George the Pious and the reformers. However, the next year, in 1532, George the Pious was able to obtain the famous theologian and reformer
Stephan Agricola and assign him to St. Michaeliskirche in Hof. Also during the year 1532 there was public shock throughout Hof as a local noblewoman who had become a nun (Veronika
von Zedtwitz) left the
Poor Clares' cloister in Hof and broke her vows to marry the rector of the Gymnasium in Hof, Conrad Meyer. Pastor Agricola continued his influential ministry in Hof until 1542 and during his time as Hof's pastor he was present at the meeting of Lutheran theologians at
Schmalkalden in 1537 and was a signer of the
Schmalkaldic Articles written by Martin Luther. It was during this time period that the Catholic population in Hof became severely limited, although it held on for a few more decades. In 1538 the Sigmundskirche was demolished and the St. Gangolf church was sold (and was later burned down and turned into barns). After the Franciscan monastery was abolished in Hof in 1564, Catholicism did not really regain ground in the city again until after Catholic Bavaria purchased Franconia in 1810. It wasn't until 1837 that the Catholic population of Hof received their own priest and 1844 until a small church was built (
Marienkirche).
Margrave Albert Alcibiades In 1546,
Margrave Albert Alcibiades of
Brandenburg-Kulmbach founded a Grammar School in Hof, which is today known as the
Jean-Paul Gymnasium, in honor of the most famous student that attended there:
Jean Paul Friedrich Richter. Jean-Paul Gymnasium is one of the oldest schools in Upper Franconia.
Siege of Hof On August 7, 1553, Hof came under a 7-week siege known as the
Siege of Hof. The siege was one of the major battles of the
Second Margrave War and Hof was finally taken from Margrave Albert Alcibiades by
Heinrich IV of
Plauen on September 28, 1553. Albert was able to briefly retake Hof on October 11, but it fell back into the hands of those allied against Margrave Albert on November 27. Some 18,236 stone cannonballs are said to have been shot into Hof during this siege with some cannonballs still visible today lodged in walls throughout Hof. For example, from the Saale River looking back one can still see a cannonball lodged in one of the towers of
St. Michaeliskirche from the siege of 1553. Aftermath:
St. Lorenzkirche was looted and burned during the siege and the old Watch Tower was also burned out. The Hospitalkirche, which was used as a war camp by the attackers, was attacked and destroyed by the city's defenders. Also, the end of the last Roman Catholic stronghold in Hof; occurred during this siege as Abbess
Amalie of Hirschberg escaped with her nuns to
Cheb (Eger). The Cloister was looted and later turned into a school. After the siege, Henry IV briefly put
Georg Wolf of Kotzau (who had once served Margrave Albert) in charge of the governance of Hof. Finally, Albert's cousin,
Margrave Jürgen Friedrich of
Brandenburg-Ansbach (reign of 1557–1603) took power and ruled over Hof and rebuilt it along with much of his Margraviate which had been ransacked during the war. The noted artist
Hans Glaser made a woodcut of the siege of Hof which is located in today in the
Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nürnberg.
Thirty Years War (1618–1648) Regional Prelude: Brandenburg-Ansbach to Brandenburg-Bayreuth After the death of the childless
Margrave Jürgen Friedrich of
Brandenburg-Ansbach in 1603, his margraviate was given to
Karsten, the son of
Elector Johann Jürgen of
Brandenburg. This was done in accordance with
House Treaty of Gera set in place in 1599 to provide for a
peaceful transition of power to the heirless Jürgen Friedrich.
Margrave Karsten took power over Brandenburg-Ansbach after Jürgen Friedrich’s death in 1603. In 1604, he moved his capital from
Kulmbach to
Bayreuth, thus changing the name of the margraviate to
Brandenburg-Bayreuth. This Margraviate had been a member of the
Franconian Circle since 1500 and Margrave Karsten was elected Colonel () of the Franconian Circle in 1606. He was also one of the founding members of the
Protestant Union founded in 1608 as a way of giving teeth to the
Peace of Augsburg (1555). Karsten was Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth which oversaw the governance of Hof when the 30 Years War broke out ten years later in 1618.
Fire of 1625 On November 6 a fire broke out in Hof that destroyed 174 houses. Hof was again left destitute and it took 40 years before widespread re-construction could be financed. During this time period Hof was left vulnerable, especially to the pillaging of the mercenary
Heinrich Holk's notorious cavalry unit, "Holk's Horse" (see below).
Heinrich Holk's Raids In 1632 and 33 Heinrich Holk's cavalry unit of Croatian and Polish forces ravaged the surrounding region (especially the neighboring
Electorate of Saxony). On 23 Jan 1633, 8 companies of Holk's Horse plundered Hof. The raiding, raping, looting, and destruction continued also in later raids on June 13 and August 11 of the same year. Fortunately for the distraught citizens of Hof Heinrich Holk's forces were politically stymied after the
Battle of Lützen on November 16.
Margrave Karsten in the war and aftermath During the war, Margrave Karsten formed an alliance with Sweden, although the Swedes sacked Hof on 29 May 1640.
Emperor Ferdinand II tried to depose him as ruler of Bayreuth in 1635; however, he continued in office. All of Europe was deeply affected by these wars. Disease, starvation, and warfare took a terrible toll on infrastructure, livestock, farmlands, and human dignity. After the
30 Years War it is estimated that one half of the population of Brandenburg was lost and in some areas as many as two-thirds. One can only imagine the joy when the wars ended and Margrave Karsten called a general festival of thanksgiving for peace which was celebrated throughout his Principality in February 1639. Hof seems to have recovered quickly under Margrave Karsten and it became a refuge for displaced Protestants, especially from Austria and Bohemia.
Postal link In 1683 Hof became a link in the postal service between
Leipzig and
Nuremberg. The post came through twice a week. Postal links to
Regensburg (1692) and to
Dresden (1693) followed.
Fire of 1743 In 1743 the Hof Castle burned down and was not rebuilt, although several walls of the castle are still visible in modern-day Hof.
Prussian rule (1791–1805) Hof came under Prussian rule on December 2, 1791, when
Margrave Karl Alexander, the last Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth, sold it to King
Friedrich Wilhelm II of
Prussia, a fellow member of the
House Hohenzollern.
Napoleonic Conflicts (1805–1810) On 3 November 1805 the Prussians had signed the
Treaty of Potsdam, agreeing to enter the
War of the Third Coalition against
Napoleon if he didn't agree to peace within four weeks. This treaty came to nothing after the
Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December 1805, when Napoleon decisively crushed the Third Coalition. This forced the Prussian envoy, Count
Karsten of
Haugwitz, to negotiate a treaty of friendship called the
Convention of Schönbrunn (15 December 1805) proclaiming an alliance between Prussia and France. As part of this treaty Prussia was forced to give up Brandenburg-Ansbach. In February 1806 Haugwitz went to Paris to ratify this Treaty of Schönbrunn and to attempt to secure some modifications in favour of Prussia. He was received with a storm of abuse by Napoleon, who insisted on tearing up the treaty and drawing up a fresh one, which doubled the amount of territory to be ceded by Prussia and forced her to a breach with Great Britain by binding her to close the Hanoverian ports to British commerce. The treaty, signed on 15 February, left Prussia wholly isolated in Europe and led Prussia into war with Napoleon later that year. In the
War of the Fourth Coalition (1806–1807) Hof was then briefly held by General
Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel von Tauentzien of the Prussian Army. Tauentzein more or less abandoned Hof on 8 October 1806 and Hof was easily taken by light cavalry from Napoleon's Marshal General
Jean-de-Dieu Soult's IV Corps that same day. Hof's geographic position made it an ideal 'jumping off' point of Napoleon's Campaign in Saxony which quickly resulted in the French-won
Battle of Schleiz the next day and soon thereafter the famous Napoleon victory at the
Battle of Jena. Napoleon sold Hof to the
Kingdom of Bavaria on 30 June 1810.
Bavarian rule (1810–1918) Fire of 1823 On 4 September 1823, the town was virtually destroyed by a fire as 9 out of 10 buildings were destroyed.
World War II In 1945, Hof suffered minor destruction due to aerial attacks but by the end of 1945 housed twice its previous population, receiving German-speaking refugees from neighbouring
Bohemia, where extensive
ethnic cleansing of Czechoslovakia's German-speaking population
was taking place.
Modern era From 1945 to 1990 Hof was very close to the
border between
East Germany and
West Germany. In 1989 thousands of East German citizens, who had demanded the right to travel or emigrate to West Germany and had been allowed to do so, first arrived on western soil at Hof's
railway station, having been placed on a special train and officially "expelled" by the East German government. Hof is located near the old Berlin-Munich autobahn, which was thought to be a possible invasion route by Warsaw Pact forces had the Cold War ever escalated into armed conflict (see
Fulda Gap).
Population development == Politics ==