Schloßböckelheim Castle – Where the emperor Henry IV. lost his power

Would you like to see where an emperor lost his power? Then take a trip to Schlossböckelheim Castle, formerly known only as Böckelheim Castle. It was probably built around the year 824. As a fief it was part of the manorial system. The emperor loaned parts of land to faithful followers, like unfree nobles. They managed the castle and the estate that came with it (More about this topic see Eltz Castle, Hardenburg, Marksburg). Böckelheim Castle regularly changed its landlords. Henry III. was so unhappy with one of them, that he destroyed the castle to reclaim his fief.

Another sovereign was not so lucky. You may not see much of the castle’s walls anymore. But they once held emperor Henry IV. captive. He was imprisoned by his son on Böckelheim Castle. Henry IV. wrote about his time here, not too favourably: “There they put us into a harsh confinement and handed us over to our mortal enemies [...] We were hunger-stricken and thirsty and plagued by horror and fright at the brink of death. We became aware we were not to live much longer if we failed to surrender to his will.” Henry’s son hold his father to ransom because he needed the Imperial Regalia, the signs of the emperor like the imperial crown (More on this see Trifels). At this time they were kept in Hammerstein Castle.

From here it’s about an hours walk to the picturesque ruin of Disibodenberg Abbey. It was the home of Hildegard of Bingen, a famous nun of the Middle Ages.