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1 History

In medieval times the villages of Dithmarschen enjoyed a remarkable autonomy. In the 15th century they confederated to a peasants' republic. Several times noblemen and their mercenaries tried to subdue the independent mini state, but without any success. In 1500 the greatest of these battles took place, the Battle of Hemmingstedt, where the peasants defeated the largely outnumbering army of HolsteinHolstein also refers to a breed of cattle. Holstein Hol shtayn) is the southern part of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, between the rivers Elbe, Eider and the Schlei firth. The capital of Holstein is Kiel. 1111- 1474 an Imperial Reichsunmittelbar County of and the Kalmar UnionThe Kalmar Union united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden under one monarch in 1397. The countries had given up their sovereignty but not their independence and Swedish dissatisfaction over the Danish centralized government gave rise to the (as one of the then two co- DukeThe term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Spas of Holstein also was the King of DenmarkKongeriget Danmark ( In Detail) Motto of the Queen: Guds hjaelp, Folkets kaerlighed, Danmarks styrke (English: God's help, the love of the people, Denmark's strength) Official language Danish Capital Copenhagen Kobenhavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Ministe). It was not until 1559Events January 15 Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. April 3 Peace of Cateau Cambresis France makes peace with England and Spain. France gives up most of its gains in Italy (including Savoy), keeping only Saluzzo, but keeps the three that the peasants had to give up their autonomy.

The conquerors divided Dithmarschen in two parts: The south became a part of Holstein in personal unionA personal union consists of two or more entities that are internationally considered separate states, only sharing the same Head of State (and thence also sharing whatever political actions are vested in the Head of State, but no, or at least extremely f with Denmark, the north came in the possession of the other Duke of Holstein. From 1773Events January 12 The first American museum open to the public is opened in ( Charleston, South Carolina). January 17 Captain James Cook becomes the first European explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle April 27 or May 10 The British Parliament passes the all of Holstein was united in personal union with Denmark and remained so until 1864Events January March January 21 Maori Wars: The Tauranga Campaign starts. February 27 American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia. March 1- Alejandro Mon Menendez takes office as Prime Minist, when Schleswig-Holstein was annexed by Prussia.

Actually the Middle Ages in Dithmarschen are held to have ended first in the 19th century, when the Kiel Canal was completed and agricultural reforms took place. Within the Bundesland Schleswig-Holstein the area was divided into the districts of Norderdithmarschen (North Dithmarschen) and Süderdithmarschen (South Dithmarschen), before it was united in 1970 to the district of Dithmarschen.