Munich, Germany: A Historical City's Evolution

Munich, or München in German, is a city in Germany with a rich history that dates back to the 8th century. The name Munich is derived from the Old High German term Munichen, meaning by the monks, referring to the Benedictine monks who established a monastery in the area around the mid-8th century. While there is evidence of settlements in the region dating back to the Neolithic period, Munich was first officially mentioned in a document in 1158, and this date is generally accepted as its foundation year.

Throughout the centuries, Munich has grown and flourished, becoming a centre for arts, culture, science, and politics. It has been ruled by various dynasties, including the Wittelsbachs, who had a significant influence on the city's development. Munich suffered heavily during World War II, with its historic centre almost completely destroyed by Allied bombing raids. However, the city was carefully rebuilt, preserving its original street grid and restoring many historic buildings. Today, Munich is a thriving, cosmopolitan city, known for its beautiful historic centre, vibrant cultural life, high standard of living, and low crime rates. It is also a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Munich's origins

Munich, or München, is one of the oldest cities in Germany, with its origins dating back to the 8th century. The name "München" means "home of the monks" and refers to the city's roots at the Benedictine monastery at Tegernsee, which was probably founded in 750 CE.

Munich was first mentioned in a document in 1158, and this date is generally accepted as its foundation year. However, archaeological evidence suggests that the settlement of Munich is older than previously thought. In 1157, Henry the Lion, Duke of Bavaria, granted the monks the right to establish a market where the road from Salzburg met the Isar River. Henry also built a bridge across the Isar, and the marketplace was fortified.

Munich became the home of the powerful Wittelsbach family in 1255, who would rule Bavaria until 1918. The city grew in size and wealth under the Wittelsbach line of Holy Roman Emperors. Munich received city status and a fortified town wall in 1175. Despite fires and destruction over the centuries, some of the architecture from this period still remains, including the Old Town Hall and the Frauenkirche cathedral.

In the 16th century, Munich became the capital of Bavaria and a centre for the German counter-reformation and Renaissance arts. However, the Thirty Years' War brought occupation and a plague epidemic, which wiped out a third of the city's population.

Under the control of the Habsburgs in the 18th century, Munich developed into a hub of Baroque life, with the construction of buildings such as the Theatine Church and the Nymphenburg Palace. The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810, and the 19th century saw Munich booming as a centre of arts, literature, and music.

Despite its successes, Munich was a hotbed of political discontent, with uprisings across the country in the mid-19th century. The industrial revolution also brought a massive population influx to the city. Munich suffered little damage during World War I, but the blockades starved its population.

In the post-war period, Munich became a centre of political unrest once again, with the city polarised between the extreme right and extreme left. This environment contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, who attempted a coup in 1923 known as the Beer Hall Putsch. When the Nazis took control of Germany in 1933, Munich became the ideological centre of National Socialism and was referred to as the "Capital of the Movement".

During World War II, Munich was heavily bombed by the Allies, with over 40% of its buildings destroyed. However, the city was carefully rebuilt after the war, preserving its original street grid and restoring many historic buildings. Today, Munich is a thriving industrial and tourist centre, known for its beautiful historic centre, vibrant cultural life, and high standard of living.

The Benedictine monastery

Under the influence of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, the monastery was rebuilt and returned to Benedictine rule in 1031 CE. Monks from Tegernsee Abbey resettled the monastery under the leadership of the first abbot of the new foundation, Ellinger. The school and scriptorium were re-established under the second abbot, Gothelm, and the third abbot, Gotschalk. Gotschalk was responsible for translating the relics of Saint Anastasia to the monastery in 1053 CE, making it a place of pilgrimage and substantially adding to its fame and prosperity.

During the secularisation of Bavaria in 1803, the abbey was dissolved. Some of the former monks took up posts as university professors. The library and archives contained many priceless manuscripts and charters, including the manuscript of the Carmina Burana, a 13th-century collection of songs by wandering scholars, now housed in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich.

Henry the Lion

In 1157, Henry the Lion founded the city of Munich by establishing a new market on the Isar River. He also founded and developed numerous other cities in Northern Germany and Bavaria, including Augsburg, Hildesheim, Kassel, Lubeck, and Brunswick, which became his capital.

As a result of his opposition to the Emperor, Henry was tried in absentia, stripped of his lands, and exiled twice (1181-1185 and 1189-1190). He was eventually allowed back into Germany in 1185 but was exiled again in 1188 for refusing to participate in the Third Crusade.

Munich's early growth

In the early 14th century, Munich expanded under the rule of the first Wittelsbach Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV, who strengthened the city's position by granting it a salt monopoly. The city continued to grow and prosper until the Thirty Years' War, when it was occupied by the Swedes in 1632 and suffered a plague epidemic in 1634-35.

In the 19th century, Munich experienced significant growth and development. Under King Louis I, who ruled from 1825 to 1848, the city underwent a transformation with the construction of new public buildings, including the Ludwigstrasse, the Königsplatz, and the Alte Pinakothek. The city's population grew from 100,000 in 1854 to 500,000 by 1900. Munich also became a cultural hub, with King Louis II championing composer Richard Wagner and reviving the city's reputation as a centre for music and the arts.

Munich's modern history

In the 1920s, Munich became home to several political factions, including the Nazi Party. After the Nazis' rise to power, Munich was declared the "Capital of the Movement", and the city became the ideological centre of National Socialism. The party acquired 68 buildings in the area, and the first Nazi concentration camp was created in Dachau, 16km northwest of the city.

During World War II, Munich was heavily bombed, and its historic centre was almost completely destroyed. The city was liberated by US troops in 1945.

In the post-war period, Munich was carefully rebuilt, preserving its original street grid and restoring many historic buildings. The city's population grew, reaching one million in 1957, and its role in the German economy, politics and culture increased.

In 1972, Munich hosted the Olympic Games, but the event ended in tragedy when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists.

Today, Munich is a cosmopolitan city with a thriving industry and tourism sector. It has a high standard of living and low crime rates.

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