Schemmerhofen It is impossible today to determine whether the term
Scammara in a document in the year 851 referred to the village of Langenschemmern or Schemmerberg. Later references to
ad Scammares in 1095,
Schamern in 1127,
Scammun in 1242 and
Krutschemmern in 1319, indicate that no distinction was made during this period between the two towns. Only in 1361 is
Landenschammar referenced for the first time. From the end of the 14th century, a distinction was made between
Oberschemmern and
Unterschemmern (Upper and Lower Schemmern), even though the shortened name
Schemmern, as well as the name used today, was also mentioned during this period.
Schemmern is related to the word
Schiene and refers to the
reedbeds in the Riß River valley. Originally, the
hamlets of
Aufhofen and
Langenschemmern formed a single political entity. However, after the annexation by the newly formed
Kingdom of
Württemberg in 1806, the inhabitants of Aufhofen chose to secede from Langenschemmern. Since the properties of the inhabitants were spread over the territories of both villages, the separation was not completed until 1843. As part of the territorial reform ("Gebietsreform") in Baden-Württemberg, Langenschemmern and Aufhofen reunited on 1 August 1972 to become the community of Schemmerhofen. Schemmerhofen currently has a population of 2928.
Schemmerberg Schemmerberg has a population of 1220. First mentioned in 1267 as
Schamerberg, Schemmerberg has had its own
parish church, dedicated to
Saint Martin, since 1275. The origin of this church dates back to the earlier period of
Christianization of
Upper Swabia in the Early
Middle Ages. Originally belonging to the
Herren of
Schaemmern, Schemmerberg was divided in the late Middle Ages: one part belonging to the Counts of
Wartstein and the other to the
Herren of
Sulmetingen. Both of these dominions held their land rights in Schemmerberg as
vassals of the Austrian House of
Habsburg. The Counts of Wartstein sold their rights incrementally to the
Imperial Abbey Salem during the 13th and 14th century. When
Jakob and
Sebastian von Sulmetingen also sold their possessions in Schemmerberg to the Imperial Abbey Salem in 1496, the entire village was owned by this abbey. As part of the Salem Abbey, Schemmerberg fell under the jurisdiction of the bailiffs of
Upper Swabia, who resided in
Altdorf. Due to the distance to Altdorf, King
Maximilian I granted the Salem Abbey the right to establish a legal court in Schemmerberg in 1497. During the
German Peasants' War, the
Baltringer Haufen looted and destroyed the Schemmerberg Castle on 26 March 1525, after the resident monks had fled to
Biberach an der Riss. The castle was rebuilt in 1532 and eventually demolished in 1837. In 1742, the Salem Abbey received the privilege to inflict
high justice ("Blutgerichtsbarkeit" or "Blutgericht"). Following the
Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, (the
mediatisation and
secularisation of numerous
secular and
ecclesiastical principalities within the former
Holy Roman Empire) Schemmerberg became subject to the princely house of
Thurn und Taxis. In 1806, Schemmerberg was annexed by the newly formed
Kingdom of
Württemberg. On January 1, 1974, Schemmerberg was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.
Ingerkingen Ingerkingen has a population of 1194. Ingerkingen is a village situated along the road connecting the former
Free Imperial Cities Biberach and
Ehingen. This road was of Roman origin. The existence of a local aristocratic dynasty was first documented when, in 1246,
Friedrich von Magenbuch transferred ownership of a
demesne to the Imperial Abbey of Salem. In the course of this transaction, the brothers
Konrad and
Hermann von Ingerichingen renounced their rights to the demesne. Furthermore, several members of the local aristocracy appeared as witnesses in documents: in 1263 and 1286 a certain
Konrad von Ingerichingen and in 1298 a certain
Dietherus von Ingiringen. In 1314
Reinhard von Ingerichingen donated farms in the hamlet of Edenbachen to the Imperial
Ochsenhausen Abbey. Although Ingerkingen was under the jurisdiction of the Austrian house of
Habsburg, the
Imperial Knight of
Stadion were enfeoffed with this right. When a royal decree on 10 December 1494 extended this jurisdiction to all inhabitants of Ingerkingen, a long-lasting conflict with the monastery of
Buchau and the Imperial City of Biberach ensued, both of which feared this would infringe the rights they held in Ingerkingen. This was only resolved when
Hans-Walter von Stadion sold the rights of low and high justice together with six farms of varying size to Biberach on 5 April 1526. The Imperial City of Biberach was to be the owner of Ingerkingen until 1801, when, as a result of the
Treaty of Lunéville, the village fell to the
Margrave of
Baden,
Charles Frederick, only to be annexed by the newly formed
Kingdom of
Württemberg in 1806. On 1 January 1975, Ingerkingen was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.
Altheim Altheim has a population of 686. First mentioned in 851, Altheim is believed to be a
Frankish foundation. After having belonged to the territory of the
Imperial Knight of
Warthausen and their successors, the Counts of
Wartenstein during the 13th and 14th centuries, the ownership of the village became divided between several entities. In 1304, parts of the village came into the ownership of the Imperial Abbey of Salem. The rest of the village belonged to the dynasty of the
Imperial Knight of
Stadion. This part was transferred into the possession of the Imperial Knight of
Schienen zu Gammerschwang in 1505, who in turn transferred it to the Imperial Knight of
Stauffenberg in 1591. On 12 November 1621,
Hans Christoph Schenk von Stauffenberg sold half the village to the Imperial Abbey of Salem. The development of the village was heavily influenced by these incessant partitions of rulership. In 1699, Altheim counted 12 houses belonging to the Imperial Abbey of Salem, 33 houses to the Imperial Knight of
Stauffenberg and 2 houses to the monastery of Buchau. Together with Schemmerberg, Altheim first fell to the princely house of Thurn and Taxis, following the
Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, only to be annexed by the newly formed Kingdom Württemberg in 1806. On 1 January 1975, Altheim was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.
Aßmannshardt Aßmannshardt has a population of around 920. Aßmannshardt was first mentioned as
Aßmundeshart around 1180 in the Codex Hirsaugiensis, a book which systematically recorded all donations to
Hirsau Abbey. Evidence of earlier settlement has been discovered in several
tumuli which were dated to the
Hallstadt culture. The name of the village contains the elements of a personal name
Asmunt and the word
hart which means forest or meadow. toponymic evidence, such as
Leithauser Wiesen,
Lindacher-Weg-Ösch and
Aufhofer Weiher, suggests that there were more settlements on the territory that now constitutes the village of Aßmannshardt. Another name of a village now lost is mentioned when during the late Middle Ages a conflict arose between the parish Aßmannshardt and
Attenweiler regarding the rights held in
Husshoven. A local aristocratic dynasty was first recorded at the end of the 13th century when, in 1288,
Konrad Schenk von Asmushard donated a meadow in Altheim. After 1300, the village was held by
Seneschal Walter von Warthausen as a fief from Count
Walter von Landau. Together with
Warthausen, the village was sold to the house of Habsburg in 1331. It remained under the ultimate sovereignty of the house of Habsburg until 1806, being part of the
barony of Warthausen. Warthausen, having been mortgaged several times, finally came into the possession of the Imperial City of Biberach in 1446 only to be released from Biberach's rule after the
Protestant Reformation was introduced there. In 1529,
Martin Schad of
Mittelbiberach acquired the rights to Warthasuen and the village of Aßmannshardt. His family owned the village until they died out in the
agnatic line in 1696, after which the Counts of
Stadion were enfeoffed with Warthausen and thereby also Aßmannshardt. During the
Thirty Years War (1618–1648), Aßmannshardt was devastated. Most of the inhabitants died of war,
plague and starvation. The village itself was burnt down. In order to repopulate the village, settlers from the
Alps were introduced, mostly from
Montafon and
Vorarlberg. In 1662, there was not a single inhabitant who had either been born or brought up in the village. The barony, which officially had been part of the Kingdom of Württemberg since 1806, was sold to the state on 16 January 1826 by
Johann Philipp Eduard von Stadion, thereby relinquishing all seigneurial rights. On 1 January 1975, Aßmannshardt was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.
Alberweiler Alberweiler has a population of 753. There is evidence to suggest that the village was founded in the 8th or 9th century. In the 11th century, Alberweiler consisted of seven fishermen's huts, a chapel and the local castle (
Alberweiler Castle). In 1092 a parish church was mentioned. Alberweiler was subject to the Counts of Warthausen, a collateral line of which had its residence there, until 1585, when it came into the possession of the Counts of Stadion. The hamlet of
Grafenwald belonged to Alberweiler. Originally owned by the Counts of
Berg, the forest was cleared in 1581 and, following further clearing in 1683, was farmed by four tenants. On 1 January 1975, Alberweiler was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen. Wappen Alberweiler.png|Alberweiler Wappen Altheim (Schemmerhofen).png|Altheim Wappen Aufhofen.png|Aufhofen Wappen Assmannshardt.png|Aßmannshardt Wappen Ingerkingen.png|Ingerkingen Wappen Langenschemmern.png|Langenschemmern Wappen Schemmerberg.png|Schemmerberg ==Government and politics==