Neuss's Journey to Freedom from Slavery
Roaring Through Medieval History: A Siege to Remember at Clemens Sels Museum Neuss!
Gear up for an exhilarating journey back in time as the Clemens Sels Museum Neuss presents a special exhibition, "Neuss 1474. Siege by Charles the Bold," from April 14 to September 29, 24! This thrilling event takes you right to the heart of a pivotal moment in history that began July of 1474 and lasted ten tumultuous months.
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, marched with an army of 14,000 soldiers, hailing from territories that are now France, Belgium, Italy, England, and the Netherlands, upon the gates of Neuss. The city found itself under one of the largest sieges of the Middle Ages, as the attackers bombarded it with cutting-edge artillery and relentlessly attempted to breach its defenses.
Why, you ask? The dispute was over the throne of the Archbishop of Cologne. The deposed Rupert of the Palatinate had called upon Charles the Bold for aid. The duke was to conquer Neuss, as the city was on the side of Rupert's opponents. Neuss, then a small but mighty fortified city, sought independence from the overbearing influence of Cologne. The siege would ultimately be brought to an end by an imperial army led by the German Emperor Frederick III.
This groundbreaking exhibition promises a wealth of unique pieces from the medieval battlefield before Neuss, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the city's approximately 4,000 inhabitants. Helmets, swords, stirrups, and cannonballs will all be on display, showcasing the intense battles and the daily lives of the city's residents. These artefacts are mostly excavated from Neussian citizen homes, cloisters, fortifications, and will be displayed in their entirety for the first time.
Young, old, history buffs, and curious explorers alike are invited to embark on this intriguing time journey. The exhibition is cleverly divided into thematic areas, shedding light on various aspects of life during the siege, including churches, cloisters, weapon finds, and the epic Battle at the Reckberg.
For the younger visitors, there's a dedicated area where they can don medieval attire, build their very own castle, and dine in grand medieval style with foods available at the time.
In collaboration with Bettina Schneidewin, Dominik Kaulen, and the school department of the Rhein-Kreis Neuss, a series of audio stations have been created. Dramatic audio plays produced at the Kreuzschule Neuss will bring the medieval era to life.
Historical figures such as Charles the Bold, the Holy Ursula, and Hermann of Hesse will share their perspectives and experiences during the siege time at video stations. Detailed models of the siege sites, presented in a modern city map by the 3D printer, illustrate the scale of the conflict.
A jaw-dropping highlight of the exhibition is the presentation of a possible course of the Battle of Reckberg in the year 1475, visualized through an animation by media artists Sean Fortune and Frederic Printz. This immersive display is sure to captivate and transport you straight into the heart of the medieval spectacle.
On International Museum Day, May 19, 2024, living history comes to life! Members of the "Zonser Garnison A. D. 1474 e. V.", dressed in historically accurate attire, will be on hand to address any questions about the siege.
The Theater AG of Neuss's Gohresschule, led by Janie and Dominik Kaulen, will present an captivating performance based on a medieval siege in the Garden Hall of the Museum on June 9, 2024. This will be followed by a series of guided tours and interactive workshops for children, adding even more dimensions to the immersive exhibition experience.
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Delve into the captivating world of politics and war-and-conflicts as the special exhibition "Neuss 1474. Siege by Charles the Bold" at Clemens Sels Museum Neuss offers a glimpse into a crucial moment in general-news history. This fascinating event showcases the impact of Charles the Bold's relentless attack on Neuss, a small fortified city seeking independence, during a dispute over the Archbishop of Cologne's throne.
