Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 11.djvu/200

 HUREMBERa

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NUREMBERa

succession in Landshut brought new poBsessionB to NurcmberR (the ally of Duke Albert of Bavaria-Mu- nich), so that it possessed more (25 sq. miles) than any imperial free city; it was called the Empire's Treasure Box on account of its political importance, its indus- trial power, and superior cult ure. It had now reached the pinnacle of its splendour. As an indication of its importance as an art and science centre during the fourti'( nth, tifteentli and sixteenth centuries, it records sucli iKiincs as Peter \ischer, Adam Krafft, Veit Stoss, Michael Wohlgemuth, Albert Durer, Hans Sachs, CJonrad Celtes, Willibald and Charitci* Pirkheimer,

Main Portal, St. Sebaldus, Nchemberq Johann Mliller (Hegiomontanus), Hartmann Schedel, Martin Behaim and others.

In 1521 Luther's creed was preached by some of the clergy, among whom was Andrew Osiander, preacher at St. Lornzkirche; there was also a distinct leaning towards the new teaching among the members of the council. They prohibited processions, passion plays during the Easter tide, and other celebrations. After 1.524 the possessions of the monasteries and cleri- cal institutions were confiscated; in 1525 the coun- cil accepted lAither's religion; the Dominicans, Car- melites and Minorites were forbidden to preach or to hear confessions; a preacher was placed over convents and the reception of any more novices forbidden. About the middle of the sixteenth century the city had become almost Protestant; only the members of the Teutonic Knights remained faithful; they suffered many restrictions and the loss of their church. After the Diet of Augsburg, 1529, when most of the Prot- estant estates of the empire formed the League of Smalkald, Nuremberg did not join. The Diet of Nuremberg, 1532, ga\'e religious freedom at least for a time: Protestants were allowed to continue the inno- vations already introduced by them and all processes begun against them in the Imperial Chamber, on ac-

count of these innovations, were suspended, pending the settlement of the whole religious question by a great council to be called within the year. The aid against the Turks which the enip<nir and king desired was granted. By consent of the Lutlieraiis the follow- ers of Zwingli were exempted from tin' provisions of this peace. During this period Numulierg remained as neutral as possible, so as not to quarrel with the em- peror and yet to retain its whole creed of the (iospel; it therefore accepted the interim regulation. During the revolution of the princes against Charles V, in 1552, Nuremberg endeavoured to ])urcliase its neu- trality by the payment of 100, (100 gul.lcn; but Mai- grave Albert Alcibiades, one of the leaders of the re- volt, attacked the city without declaring war and forced it to conclude a disadvantageous peace. At the Religious Peace of Augsburg the possessions of the Protestants were confirmed by the emperor, their re- ligious privileges extemled and tlu'ir independence from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Bamberg af- firmed while the secularizing of the possessions of the mona.steries was approved.

The unsettled state of affairs in the first half of the sixteenth century, the revolution in commerce and trade due to the discovery of America and the circum- navigation of Africa, and the difficulties in trade cau,sed by the territorial sovereigns, were responsible for the ilecline of the importance and affluence of the city. During the Thirty Years' War it did not always succeed in preserving its policy of neutrality. Fre- quent quartering of Imjierial, Swedish and League sol- diers, war-contributions, demands for arms, semi- compulsory presents to commanders of the warring armies and the cessation of trade, caused irreparable damage to the city. The population, which in 1620 had been over 45,000, sank to 25,000.

After the religious war Nuremberg remained aloof from the quarrels and affairs of the world at large; but contributions were demanded for the .-\ustrian War of Succession and the Seven Years' War, the former amounting to six and a half million guldens. Restric- tions of imports and exports deprived the city of many markets for its manufactures, especially in Austria, Prussia and Bavaria, and the eastern and northern countries of Europe. The Bavarian elector, Charles Theodore, appropriated part of the land which had been obtained in the war of succession in Landshut and which ever since had been claimed by Bavaria; Prussia also claimed part of the territory of Nurem- berg. Realizing its weakness, the city asked to be in- corporated in the Kingdom of Pru.ssia, but Frederick WiUiam II refused the request, fearing to ofTend Aus- tria, Russia, and France. At the imperial diet in 1803 the independence of Nuremberg was affirmed. But on the signing of the Rheinhund (Rhenish Federation) 12 July, 1806, the city was handed over to Bavaria 8 Sept. Its population was then 25,200 and its public debt twelve and a half million guldens. After the fall of Napoleon its trade and commerce revived; the skill of its inhabitants together with its favourable situation soon rendered the city prosperous, particularly after its public debt had been acknowledged as a part of the Bavarian national debt. Incorporated in a Catholic country the city was compelled to refrain from further discrimination against the Catholics, who had been excluded from the rights of citizenship. Catholic ser- vices had been celebrated in the city by the priests of the order of the Teutonic Knights, often under great difficulties. Their possessions having been confiscated by the Bavarian government in ISOti, I hey were given the Frauenkirche on the Market in 1S09; in 1810 the first Catholic parish was established, which in 1818 numbered 101(3 souls.

In 1817 the city was included in the department Rezalkreis (later Mittelfranken). The establishment of railways and the joining of Bavaria to the German Customs Union (Zollverein), commerce and industry