The Mystery of Germany's Aristocratic Mummies

Spiegel Online ^ | 06/14/2010 | Frank Thadeusz

[csvset]

When they died, Germany noble families of the 18th century did what the Egyptians had done before them: They had themselves mummified. As an increasing number of such well-preserved corpses are found, scientists are trying to find out why.

Baron von Holz had a difficult lot. During the Thirty Years' War, von Holz fought in the Swedish army as a mercenary, but he was not granted a hero's death on the battlefield. He was cut down, rather less heroically, at the age of 35 by either the flu or blood poisoning. And it was only in death, that his situation really improved.

His family dressed his mortal remains in precious calf-leather boots with nailed soles. The warrior was then laid out in a kind of luxury crypt under the castle of Sommersdorf near Ansbach, in modern-day Bavaria. In those vaults von Holz's corpse was privileged with an honor previously reserved primarily for Egyptian pharaohs: His body did not decompose.

More than 370 years after his untimely death, the nobleman still lies in his casket, well preserved. Von Holz was a giant of a man, standing 1.80 meters (around 5'10"), at a time when most humans were far shorter. To this day, his feet are still shod in those smart leather boots that his clan had made for him almost four centuries ago.

Secrets of Mummification

The corpse recently left its burial place in the castle cellar for the very first time so that archeologists from the Reiss Engelhorn Museums in Mannheim could take a close look at the mummy. It quickly became clear that the boot-clad baron had no external injuries and he seems to have been in excellent health when he contracted his fatal infection. What remains unclear is why the aristocratic soldier's body was mummified in the first.

[csvset]

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[SunkenCiv]

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[Little Bill]

I find it offensive that some square head Von should get stuffed while my families bones joined the chalk of the Cotswold to be lost to be lost forever.

[RegulatorCountry]

There’s a fascinating article in the sidebar of the linked article from Der Spiegel, regarding an archaeological dig at Wittenberg, uncovering Martin Luther’s household effects and waste. Some fairly revealing detail about Luther himself, as well.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,586847,00.html

[colorado tanker]

The Thirty Years War was devasting to Germany whose civilians died in even greater numbers than in WWII. Armies were still mostly composed of mercenaries (fighting for Sweden this fellow may well have been one) who were mainly expected to support themselves on the march. Hence, they plundered the surrounding villages and countryside, killing anyone who got in their way. It's estimated 15-30% of the German population was lost; one region lost over 60%. About half the men died. Some areas didn't recover their population until modern times. One result of the devastion and travelling armies were outbreaks of pestilence and disese, which laid this fellow low. Serving with the Swedes, he would not have been mourned by the people of Southern Germany. The term Schwedentrunk means Swedish drink. The soldiers, or their followers in the trains, would force a funnel into the victims mouth and pour in foul water, usually contaminated with manure, to force them to give up hidden valuables and food.

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, nobody had a gun to their heads. ;’)

[uglybiker]

Lemme see if ah got this right...
They're arist...arister........they're rich! Right?
An' they're mummies!
Ooooooooooh man! Ah see a li'l vacation over there in Kaiserland comin' up!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Fascinating — especially the sidebar article on Martin Luther.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks colorado tanker.

IOW, it’s better to fight for thirty years on someone else’s territory.

[happygrl]

Germany certainly is a blood-soaked land.

No wonder Germans comprised the highest number of immigrants to North America.

[bannie]

As always...THANK YOU for the ping!