Rothenbuch - History

History

Rothenbuch is among the Inner Spessart’s oldest and most significant places.

In 1318, Rothenbuch had its first documentary mention in the words zuo den Rodenboychen when the Archbishop of Mainz, Peter of Aspelt and the Bishop of Würzburg, Gottfried III of Hohenlohe, concluded an agreement here dealing with coöperation on security questions.

In 1342, building work began on a palatial castle (Schloss) in Rothenbuch at the source of the Hafenlohr. The first castle dwellers may have indulged in the hunt.

In the German Peasants' War in 1525, the castle was heavily damaged or destroyed. In 1566, it was not only newly built but also expanded on Elector of Mainz Daniel Brendel von Homburg’s orders.

A first drawing of Rothenbuch is to be found on the oldest extant map of the Spessart, the so-called Pfinzigkarte from 1594

Rothenbuch achieved its greatest political importance when the Amtskellerei Rothenbuch, a financial and administrative authority for 14 places in the High Spessart, was established. In 1782, Rothenbuch was declared the seat of the Amtsvogtei.

The Electoral Mainz Amt passed along with this under the 1803 Reichsdeputationshauptschluss to the newly formed Principality of Aschaffenburg, with which it passed in 1814 (by this time it had become a department of the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt) to Bavaria.

On 3 June 1814, Rothenbuch became the seat of a Royal Bavarian Court. In 1879, the Court was dissolved and Rothenbuch was incorporated into the Bezirksamt and later District (Landkreis) of Lohr. In 1972, this district was abolished and Rothenbuch was grouped into the current Aschaffenburg district. From 1977 to 1993, Rothenbuch formed a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (Administrative Community) with Waldaschaff and Weibersbrunn. On 1 January 1994, Rothenbuch regained its municipal autonomy.