HISTORY OF THE TOWN
(Deutsche Version)

Beside finds from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic Age there is evidence of settlements of ribbon ware (band ceramics) and string ceramics workers up to the urnfield culture of the Bronze Age both in the fields around and in the town. The Hallstatt iron Age is represented by an oval mound (rampart) on the nearby Vollburg, and the following La Tene Age by a Celtic four-cornered fieldwork at Bimbach (finds shown in our local Heimatmuseum). Discoveries in the earth within the local area show that Germanic tribes like the Markomannics, Alemannics and others passed through here on their migrations.

T After the year 500: permanent Franconian takeover of the land which probably belonged to the pre-Germanic (or Alemannic?) tribal district "Volksfeldgau".

Between 750 and 779: first mention of the name "Gerolteshove in Folcfelden" among five places (villis) in the "Ilbinc Gift" to the monastery of Fulda. Probably a Carolingian settlement of the "Hausmeier Age" (see French history: Merovingian Period). The name means: "at Gerold´s Court" (Gerold=Germanic; Gerwalt=the one who rules with the spear). The "Gerolds" were a leading Old-Franconian noble family. An Earl Gerold (Kerolt), an Alemannic and brother-in-law of Charlemagne was the first Bavarian prefect and fell in battle in 799 as a standard-bearer against the Awaren tribe.

Before 1350: first mention as a town and seat of an arch-deaconry.

1397-1400: devastation during the war of Franconian towns against the Würzburg Bishop Gerhard of Schwarzburg who besieged the "town of his diocese" in vain. In the battle of Bergtheim (4th of Jan. 1400) the standard-bearer of the eleven rebellious Franconian towns, Johann Braun from Gerolzhofen, is killed, and - after few years - the town again loses its status as a free city of the Holy Roman Empire.

1525: In the Peasants`War Gerolzhofen´s citizens, together with the mob of peasants, plunder the Bishop´s possessions in the town. Three ringleaders of the mob are executed.

1552: In the war of the Margrave Albrecht Alcibiades of Brandenburg-Kulmbach the town hall, the parish church and the Old-People´s Home (Spital) are "badly singed", in the course of which many documents are destroyed by fire.

1616-1619: After witch trials 261 witches are burnt, strangled or executed by the sword at the Schießwasen or Henkerwasen (Henker=hangman, Wasen=grassy place usually for executions), not including those who died in the witch-tower and in the tithe-prison.

1618-1648: In the Thirty Years War the town - from 1631 onwards - is repeatedly plundered and burnt; plague and famine reduce the population by a quarter.

1796: Stationing of Imperial troops under Archduke Charles of Austria; in the course of this: bombardment of the town by French revolutionary troops.

1805-1814: Gerolzhofen is finally joined to Bavaria together with the diocese of Würzburg.