The cathedral city of the Harz foreland.
The bishops received market, mint and toll rights and high justice over the townsmen from Otto III in 989; merchants were active by about 1068 and the town began to loosen the bishop's hold about 1105. Henry the Lion's men burned the town, cathedral and close in 1179. The Templars came in 1192. Building of a town wall is first mentioned in 1199 and goes on until 1236.
Jews may have come from Halle about 1146 and refugees from the crusade persecutions of 1189.
Who holds it
- Name
- The bishop of Halberstadt (Gardolf)
- Title
- Town lord
- Since
- episcopal city
- Confidence
- high
de.wikipedia (Halberstadt).
Lord in 1200
The bishop through his officers (names not pinned).
How things stand that morning
The bishop's city; Staufen.
Charter
The 989 royal grant to the bishop; no town charter in 1200.
Council
Not attested (a town hall and seal appear in 1241).
Communities
Merchants; a Jewish community (from about 1146, reinforced 1189); the Templars (1192).
Fairs and markets
Market since 989.
Walls and castle
The cathedral close (rebuilt after 1179); the new town wall begun by 1199.
Trade and crafts
Market town of the northern Harz foreland on the road from Goslar to Magdeburg.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Dated points from de.wikipedia.
Primary sources for Halberstadt
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.
- Chronicle of the Lauterberg (Petersberg near Halle), Konrad of Lauterberg (about 1225). The house chronicle of the Wettin foundation on the Lauterberg, sharp-tongued and well informed on Saxony, Meissen and Magdeburg. Read online
- Deeds of the archbishops of Magdeburg (main text to 1142, continued in the 13th and 14th centuries). The Magdeburg house history, with a continuation covering Archbishop Ludolf of Kroppenstedt (1192 to 1205), a firm supporter of Philip who hosted the king's Christmas court at Magdeburg on 25 December 1199. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.