Town · Margraviate of Meissen · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Döbeln

A castle on the Burgberg above the Freiberg Mulde, centre of a Burgward of the march of Meissen in the old Sorb district of Daleminze.

Otto II gave the castle and land to the abbey of Memleben in 981, and Memleben's property passed to Hersfeld. Men 'of Döbeln' appear in 1197, 1200 and 1204, and the German settlement probably grows into a self-governing town about 1200. The margrave's lordship in 1200 (perhaps as Hersfeld's vassal or advocate) is not pinned.

Who holds it

Name
Margrave Dietrich of Meissen
Title
Lord of the place
Since
1198
Confidence
medium

Lord in 1200

Margrave Dietrich of Meissen

How things stand that morning

The margrave's (not pinned).

Charter

No charter known; communal town about 1200 (probable).

Communities

Sorb and German.

Walls and castle

Castle on the Burgberg.

Trade and crafts

Mulde crossing.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: de.wikipedia.

Primary sources for Meissen

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.

Sources and studies

  1. de.wikipedia: Döbeln

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.