Möckern | ||
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Coordinates: 52°8′26″N 11°57′9″E / 52.14056°N 11.95250°ECoordinates: 52°8′26″N 11°57′9″E / 52.14056°N 11.95250°E | ||
Country | Germany | |
State | Saxony-Anhalt | |
District | Jerichower Land | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Frank von Holly-Ponienzietz (CDU) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 530.19 km2 (204.71 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 64 m (210 ft) | |
Population (2015-12-31) | ||
• Total | 12,980 | |
• Density | 24/km2 (63/sq mi) | |
Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
Postal codes | 39291, 39279 | |
Dialling codes | 039221, 039223, 039225, 039244, 039245 | |
Vehicle registration | JL | |
Website | Möckern-Loburg-Fläming |
Möckern is a town in the Jerichower Land district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated east of Magdeburg. It is part of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft ("collective municipality") Möckern-Loburg-Fläming. The Battle of Möckern took place south of the town in 1813.
Möckern was originally called "Mokrianici" by the Slavs who settled in the area in the 7th and 8th centuries. The name meant a humid place, a reference to the formation, at that time, of extensive marshes around the Ehle River. By the middle of the 10th century, the settlement was an established German burgward, but it is believed that by the end of the 9th century, the settlement was already under German influence. As such, the burgward was obliged by a document from Otto I the Great in 948 to pay a tithe to the Magdeburg Moritz monastery. This document is considered to be the first mention of the place. At this period, a fortress was built on the site of the old Slavic settlement, and its keep is still part of the fortress today. The castle served as an outpost to protect Magdeburg and secured the important roads to Brandenburg and Zerbst. In 955, Otto I is supposed to have founded Möckern's parish church, following his victory over Hungary on August 10 of that year. Because that day is (St. Lawrence Day), the church was named for the saint. In the 11th century, Möckern acquired a defensive wall (made of boulders since the 12th century), which was equipped with three gates. Möckern already had its town charter.
Over the centuries, the sovereignty of Möckern took several twists and turns. In the 12th century, the Margrave of Brandenburg had sovereignty, but in 1196, Otto II, Margrave of Brandenburg gave it to the bishopric of Magdeburg. By the 14th century, Möckern had become the property of Quedlinburg Abbey, which, with the town as a manor, the Count of Arnstein mortgaged. In 1376, the abbey gave Brandenburg back its sovereignty. After that, Möckern was mortgaged several times, including to a family of nobles and to the bishopric of Magdeburg. In 1472, after several trials, the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg renounced the bishopric in favor of his vassal. Ownership of the fief then went to the Counts of Arnstein-Lindow, who held it till 1524, when they died out. In 1710, ownership went to Christian Wilhelm von Munchausen and in 1742, to another family, which held it until 1945.