The location was originally the site of an
Iron Age hillfort, founded probably sometime before or during the era of the
Roman-Germanic wars; including the
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (circa AD 9) and the
Battle of the Weser River (circa AD 16). Although it is unclear whether the surrounding area was controlled by the
Cherusci,
Chatti, or perhaps
Marsi (as described by
Tacitus), no particular reference to the Eresburg is known prior to the
Saxon Wars (AD 770–785). During the
Saxon Wars, the stronghold was repeatedly occupied by
Widukind, leader of the resisting
Saxons (those refusing to adopt
Christianity and the overlordship of the
Franks), and then abandoned to
Charlemagne's forces as the Saxons retreated to the home of Widukind's in-laws, today
Denmark. Local lore states that as Charlemagne's forces approached, the town's common folk would move into the
Drachenholler, a vast system of underground
gypsum caves beneath Eresburg, where they remained unnoticed until Charlemagne's people left. Though only a legend, the caves can still be seen, along with several watchtowers dated to the same time period (circa AD 800).
Religion Very near Eresburg is
Priesterberg, a hill overlooking the valley of the Diemel. This was reportedly the location of
Pagan sacrificial rites in the pre-Christian era. It is also thought to be the home of
Irminsul, a sacred tree or pillar which represented the
Germanic central pillar of the world. In AD 772, Charlemagne destroyed the Irminsul on Priesterberg (elsewhere reported as "near
Paderborn" or "near Eresburg"). The Irminsul was replaced by a stone structure, possibly a tower, the crumbling remains of which can still be seen. Around AD 800 the first Christian
church was constructed in Eresburg proper. Although the current church in Obermarsberg only dates to the 13th century, it is at least the second or third church to be built over the remains of
Charlemagne's original church. ==External links==