The historical novels of Ore Castle
The chronicle of the Knights of Tiefenbach is set far from the royal court in the landscape of the Siegerland. The initial novel is called: ORE CASTLE A. D. 1207 – TWO BROTHERS.
The storyline of this historical novel unfolds in the medieval ages. It not only reveals the history of the Ore Castle, but also of the Tiefenbach family.
Moreover, you will learn a lot about the family’s complex entanglements and the situation of the population in the Siegerland. Living in the Middle Ages was mainly influenced by poverty, struggle for survival and brutality that came from the powerful rulers.
The scenery of this historical novel is placed in front of this background: Powerful struggles of the Welfs and Hohenstaufen dynasty.
Ore Castle
Learn more about Ore Castle (in German: Erzburg) situated in Dreis/Tiefenbach, Netphen. In the novel it is the family seat of the Tiefenbachs in the Siegerland. Nowadays, remains of this high medieval castle can still be found.
The castle was situated on a hill in the village of Dreis/Tiefenbach, above the river Sieg. It consisted of a main castle, outer bailey, keep and it is assumed that it can be traced back to a former Frankish rampart castle complex.
It is also assumed that Ore Castle (Alte Burg) in Dreis/Tiefenbach is a pre-dynastic tower castle from around the year 1000. This kind of castles was relatively small in comparison to the common knight’s castles. But it was situated ideally to control the old Westphalian trade route.
The Knights of the Daube von Seelbach-Lohe family were living in this region. This family is among the oldest dynasties in the Siegerland. The Daube von Seelbach-Lohe knights gave up their knighthood in 1461 to become feudal lords of the Counts of Nassau. Later they fell completely into debt and lost their castle.
Power struggles between the Welfs and the Hohenstaufen dynasty
In volume one of this medieval novel series the setting is placed against the background of the powerful struggles between the Welfs and the Hohenstaufen dynasty.
King Philip of Swabia from the Staufer dynasty has a serious rival: Otto the IV. of Brunswick from the Welfs. The Knights of Tiefenbach, Endres and Sander, support Philip of Swabia. Heimerich, their father, has been executed and Endres is the new lord of the Ore Castle.
Redlef, their uncle, is Philip’s advisor. He lives in the Ginsburg.
The Ginsburg
In this historical medieval novel Redlef, Endres’ and Sander’s uncle, is lord of the Ginsburg. It is a castle/stronghold up in the mountains of Hilchenbach, Siegerland. Redlef is Isabel’s brother, former wife of Heimerich. Moreover, in the novel he is King Philip’s reliable and smart advisor. The Tiefenbachs (Endres and Sander), Ginsburgs, the Brabants and von Kaldens were followers of Philip of Swabia.
The Ginsburg was a Nassau fortress built in the early 13th century. It was first mentioned in a document, dated: 27 April 1292.
The Ginsburg, a medieval hilltop castle, is strategically located near Hilchenbach in the North Rhine-Westphalian district of Siegen-Wittgenstein.
It has been under reconstruction since the 1960s. You can have a marvellous view from the castle keep into the wooded landscape around Hilchenbach. Just visit the castle, the surrounding landscape and learn more about the castles, villages and regions which are mentioned in the ORE CASTLE novels.