French Colony of Magdeburg

The French colony of Magdeburg ( la Colonie Française de Magdebourg ) was a separate independent from the city of Magdeburg in Magdeburg community. It consisted 1685-1808 parallel without demarcated territory for Altstädtischer citizenship and founded a little later Palatine colony. Its members were French Protestant refugees, who were under the protection of the Elector. The colony had its own town hall, mayor, court and even its own citizens Guard.

History

In 1661, France was moved away from the previously practiced religious tolerance to the Huguenots living in the country. The calvin table Reformed Huguenots saw exposed to increasing persecution. On October 22, 1685, Louis XIV issued the Edict of Fontainebleau, where Catholicism was declared the French state religion. The practice of other religions were banned and destroyed Reformed churches.

On October 29, 1685 Brandenburg Elector Frederick William issued the Edict of Potsdam in Brandenburg- Prussia, which, since 1680 also to the Magdeburg belonged to religious refugees from France invited in the land settling. The edict was secretly distributed as a leaflet in France. The aim of the Brandenburg- Prussian government was the establishment of as many professionals, entrepreneurs and craftsmen, so as to obtain economic impacts. The asylum seekers were offered considerable privileges, such as ten-year tax exemption, exemption from military service and financial support for homes and workshops. A total of 9 cities were recommended as residences, including Magdeburg, where soon arose the next Berlin 's largest and economically most important colony in Brandenburg- Prussia. Already in the autumn 1685 arrived loose first Huguenot refugee families. As a founding date of the colony could see the December 1, 1685, where the Magdeburg city commander Ernst Gottlieb von Borstel ( 1630-1687 ) the order from Berlin got everything required to initiate as soon as the preacher Banzelin arriving with the first French families. The first squad of 50 Huguenot then met on December 27, 1685 in Magdeburg.

However, the settlement of the religious refugees in Magdeburg met with considerable resistance in the population and the local authorities. The Calvinist newcomers were in the Lutheran Magdeburg as a heretic. Electoral commands to facilitate the settlement, as the land in return for compensation to be performed making available of houses and deserts were disregarded. The resident of the city electoral civil and military authorities therefore had to take over a part of the supply functions. The inclusion of the three years later immigrant from the Palatinate colonists with similar privileges, Palatine colony, also called Walloon colony formed was then already much friendlier.

Until 1703 the number of French colonists had grown to 1,350 people. However, the economic situation of the French colony turned out to be bad, at least significantly worse than that of the Palatine colony dar. The proportion of craftsmen to the colonists was relatively low. Due to the flight situation, people had left behind their assets, especially land. Many refugees were poor. Also, 34 female heads of households, were unusual for that time listed. These women and their families earned with great difficulty with sewing, to the annoyance of long-established craftsmen, their maintenance.

The hoped Manufacturgründungen also took place in Magdeburg. Approximately 200 to 250 refugee families worked there. However, it soon became apparent that the goods manufactured there in time for the large numbers were deductible only hard under the numerically and economically weak population of Brandenburg-Prussia. Even exports to other countries were difficult feasible, even there just manufactures were often created. Therefore, there were bankruptcies and business tasks, each of which endangered the economic livelihood of the workers.

Personalities of the French colony of Magdeburg

• Moyse Garrigue ( born September 9, 1708 Magdeburg, † February 1, 1750 ibid ); was a jeweler and goldsmith, Gerichtsassessor of the French colony of Magdeburg and Director of the French orphanage of the colony.
• Karl Maquet ( born October 8, 1767 in Magdeburg, † December 16, 1823 in Magdeburg ) was a German businessman, entrepreneur and long-time priest of the French Reformed Church of Magdeburg.