Starigard
Starigard — Oldenburg in Holstein · Starigard Oldenburg Wagrian Stronghold · Starigard Wagrien · Oldenburg in Holstein Slavic
Early Medieval Wagrian Slav 700–1168 (Obotrite Wagria)·Wagrian Slav (Obotrite–Wagria tribal; Helmold)·🇩🇪 Schleswig-Holstein, Ostholstein District, Oldenburg in Holstein town centre on Wagrian peninsula (Starigard Wagria) 5 km from Baltic coast, Germany
About
About Starigard
Starigard (Starigard Wagrien, German Oldenburg in Holstein) — Wagrian Slav princely hillfort (7th–12th c, Oldenburg/Starigard 8th c timber-earth Wallburg 120×110 m, 10 m rampart, princely hall) 5 km from Baltic on Wagrian peninsula, capital of Wagrian tribal principality. Excavated W. Neugebauer and M. Müller-Wille: rampart 10 m high 20 m wide, inner burgwall, 6th–12th c sequence, 10th c princely hall 15×7 m, Slavic Sukow–Feldberg–Menken pottery, 10th c bishopric 968 briefly. Helmold von Bosau chronicle Slavic bishopric. Helmold describes Wagria–Obotrite confederacy. Burned 1148/1168 Danish–Saxon, succeeded by Lübeck–Holstein. Oldenburg medieval town over Slavic fort.
Why it mattersWagria capital 700–1168 — Helmold Starigard Wallburg 120×110 m princely hall
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01968 bishopric — how brief?
Theories
- 01Wagria as Obotrite–Danish buffer
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.700 Wagrian Wallburg; 10th c princely hall 15×7 m
- Period
- Early Medieval Wagrian Slav 700–1168 (Obotrite Wagria)
- Culture
- Wagrian Slav (Obotrite–Wagria tribal; Helmold)
- Builders
- Wagrian Slav princes (Kruto Wagrian dynasty)
- Purpose
- Wagrian peninsula Wallburg 120×110 m controlling Wagria–Baltic–Hedeby corridor
- Abandoned
- 1148 burned Saxon; 1168 Danish–Saxon Holstein transition
- Rediscovered
- 1920s Wallburg survey; Helmold 12th c chronicle
- Excavation
- Excavated
700 CE
Wagrian Wallburg 120×110 m founding Starigard
968 CE
Brief bishopric Wagria 10th c princely hall 15×7 m
1148
Burned Saxon–Danish 1168 Holstein takeover
On the ground
Structures & features
54.2950° N · 10.8880° E · 25 m · 3 mapped features
Wallburg Rampart 10 m
rampartEarth-timber Wallburg rampart 10 m high 20 m wide 120×110 m enclosing princely hill
54.2955° N · 10.8885° EPrincely Hall 15×7 m
hall10th c princely hall 15×7 m Wagrian dynasty Helmold bishopric 968
54.2945° N · 10.8875° EOuter Wagrian Settlement
settlementOuter Wagrian Sukow–Feldberg pottery settlement below Wallburg to Baltic coast
54.2960° N · 10.8890° E
Gallery