Großweier

Großweier is an urban subdivision of the major county town of Achern in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The population of Großweier is approximately 1,500 inhabitants. Großweier was an autonomous rural municipality since the High Middle Ages. In 1973, Großweier was incorporated as an urban subdivision of Achern in the Ortenaukreis district.HistoryOriginsGroßweier was settled during the Middle Ages. The century of its original settlement is unknown. However, Großweier was dense, uninhabited forests at least until the 8th century CE. The surrounding Ortenau region, which Großweier belonged, was controlled by the Celts. In 12 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Augustus, the region was conquered by the Roman Empire as part of Germania Superior. The closest known Roman settlements to Großweier were Aquae (Baden-Baden) and Argentorate (Strasbourg). The region was subsequently conquered by the Alamannia after the rupture of the Limes Germanicus in 260 CE. The Franks expanded into Ortenau towards the end of the 7th century with the arrival of the first Christian monks. By 720, five Frankish monasteries are recorded in the Ortenau, including: Schwarzach, Schuttern, Honau and Gengenbach. Deforestation projects began in the early 8th century, as laymen and farmers arrived at the monasteries. Both spiritual and secular rulers took possession of newly deforested land and thus increased their spheres of influence. Gradually, farms and hamlets were settled and the population increased. The settlement of Großweier was a result of this era of expanding colonization into the Black Forest.