Offenburg in the Thirty Years' War
Being the gateway to the Kinzig valley, Offenburg has a strategic key position and was therefore of interest for both warring parties, the Catholics and the protestants. The town was occupied by the Swedes between 1632 and 1635. Offenburg was subsequently occupied by imperial troops under the command of Hans Reinhart von Schauenburg. In 1638, Johann Jakob von Grimmelshausen entered his service and quickly advanced from "insolent musketeer" to secretary in the Schauenburg regiment. In the Heilig-Kreuz-church he married Katharina Henninger, the daughter of a master lieutenant of the guard from Zabern. Grimmelshausen advanced to one of the most important authors of the 17th century. He described the Ortenau countryside in which he lived until he died in 1676 in many of his works, including the novel, "Simplicus Simplicissimus".
The town of Offenburg owes its patron saint to the confusion of the Thirty Years War. According to the legend, the holy Ursula repelled a hostile attack by appearing on the town walls, thus saving the town from a great disaster. The Ursula column sponsored by the honorary citizen, Senator Dr. Franz Burda is to be found on Rathausplatz.
The Complete Destruction of the Town
As we are informed by the council protocol dated 12th October 1689, Offenburg was "totally ruined and raised to the ground" in 1689 by troops belonging to the army of Louis XIV, this being during the Palatine War of Succession. Almost all architectural monuments from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were destroyed. Only the Capuchin monastery survived the fire as a complete building.
Offenburg belongs to Baden
The Napoleonic Wars put an end to Middle Austrian imperial province of Ortenau. The Habsburg were forced to withdraw from southwest Germany. Their territory was mediatised, i.e. they lost their direct connection to the empire and were placed under the control of the princes. Offenburg also had to renounce its privileges as a town of the empire and was annexed by the grand duchy of Baden in 1803.
