Meldorf

Meldorf
Coat of arms
Meldorf
Location of Meldorf within Dithmarschen district
Coordinates: 54°5′N 9°4′E / 54.083°N 9.067°E / 54.083; 9.067Coordinates: 54°5′N 9°4′E / 54.083°N 9.067°E / 54.083; 9.067
Country	Germany
State	Schleswig-Holstein
District	Dithmarschen
Municipal assoc.	Mitteldithmarschen
Government
• Mayor	Anke Cornelius-Heide (Greens)
Area
• Total	21.25 km2 (8.20 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	7,267
• Density	340/km2 (890/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	25697–25704
Dialling codes	04832
Vehicle registration	HEI, MED
Website	www.meldorf.de

Meldorf is a city in western Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, that straddles the Miele river in the district of Dithmarschen.

It was first mentioned in writing before 1250 AD. In 1265 it received its municipal rights and served as the capital of Dithmarschen, a peasant republic with Allies in the Hanseatic league dating from 1468. The city was sacked in 1500 AD when King John of the Kalmar Union attempted to conquer the republic. His forces were routed by a force with poor arms and inferior numbers in the Battle of Hemmingstedt. In 1559, the republic was conquered. The city lost its municipal rights again in 1598 and would not regain them until 1870. It was county town until 1970 of the district Süderdithmarschen. After a district reform Süderdithmarschen and Norderdithmarschen merged to Dithmarschen and Meldorf lost the capitalship to the town of Heide.

The St. John´s Church (St.-Johannis-Kirche), also called Meldorfer Dom, is the largest church in Dithmarschen, the most important medieval church building at the North Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein and has a neogothic style.

Meldorf is the birthplace of mathematician Olaus Henrici, and the seat of the collective municipality Amt Mitteldithmarschen.