A castle on the high bank of the Inn, once the Formbach counts', in Passau's hands since the end of the 12th century.
In 1199 Wolfger laid out a new market square and castle square here: on 1 January 1200 it is a building site of the bishop's, a Passau island in the Bavarian Innviertel, living on the Inn's ship traffic.
Who he is
- Name
- Bishop Wolfger of Erla, through his officers
- Title
- Bishop of Passau (lord); his officers hold the place
- Since
- As bishop since 1191
- Born
- About 1140
- Family
- See the Passau realm record
- Confidence
- medium
de.wikipedia (Obernberg am Inn): first mentioned about 950 under the counts of Vornbach (Formbach); came to the bishops of Passau near the end of the 12th century; in 1199 Wolfger laid out the market square and the castle square, and the early castle is credited to him; market rights from King Rudolf in 1276.
Overlord
The bishop of Passau, in the duchy of Bavaria.
What it holds
- Obernberg castle
- The new market square (laid out 1199)
- Ship tolls on the Inn (start date not pinned)
How it was acquired
End of the 12th century (from the Formbach heritage; how, not pinned).
Allies and rivals
The Andechs at Schärding and Neuburg downstream; the Bavarian duke round about; the Peilstein advocates of Reichersberg next door.
How things stand that morning
Held; the market and castle are being built.
Wealth
Inn shipping and crafts.
Military
The castle (early works under Wolfger).
Threats
- Bavarian ducal pressure
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1200 (not pinned)Building of the market and castle goes on.Depends on: Peace on the Inn. Stopped by: War with the duke or the Andechs.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The 1199 layout is dated in the town article; the lordship's bounds are not.
On the map: A disc; the later Passau court of Obernberg was a small enclave.
Primary sources for Passau (Wolfger)
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Schäftlarn and the Bavarian annals (12th and 13th centuries). Brief Bavarian annals. Read online
- The Austrian and Salzburg annals (kept in the 12th and 13th centuries, with continuations to the late 13th century). A family of monastic annals from Austria, Styria and Salzburg, printed together. Read online
- Bavarian monuments: the charters of the Bavarian monasteries and bishoprics (charters from the 8th century onward, published 1763 to 1916). The great charter series of Bavaria, arranged by monastery and bishopric. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.