⭐ In the context of Bamberg, the Regnitz is considered…
Bamberg's location on the Regnitz River was crucial for establishing connections with Western Slavic peoples, particularly those in Poland and Pomerania, contributing to its prosperity and development.
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⭐ Core Definition: Regnitz
The Regnitz (German pronunciation:[ˈʁeːɡnɪts]) is a river in Franconia, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Main and is 63.7 km (39.6 mi) in length.
The river is formed by the confluence of the rivers Rednitz and Pegnitz, which meet in the city of Fürth. From there the Regnitz runs northwards through the cities of Erlangen and Forchheim. It finally meets the Main near the city of Bamberg. Including its source rivers Rednitz and Franconian Rezat, it is 187.4 km (116.4 mi) long, providing the furthest source (and hence length) of the Main's river system, the largest and longest right bank tributary of the river Rhine.
Bamberg (/ˈbæmbɜːrɡ/, US also /ˈbɑːmbɛərk/, German:[ˈbambɛʁk]; East Franconian: Bambärch) is a town in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg had 79,000 inhabitants in 2022. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby Babenberch castle. Cited as one of Germany's most beautiful towns, with medieval streets and buildings, the old town of Bamberg with around 2,400 timber houses has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
From the 10th century onwards, Bamberg became a key link with the Western Slavic peoples, notably those of Poland and Pomerania. It experienced a period of great prosperity from the 12th century onwards, during which time it was briefly the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. EmperorHenry II was buried in the old town, alongside his wife Kunigunde. The town's architecture from this period strongly influenced that in Northern Germany and Hungary. From the middle of the 13th century onwards, the bishops were princes of the Empire and ruled Bamberg, overseeing the construction of monumental buildings. This growth was complemented by the obtaining of large portions of the estates of the Counts of Meran in 1248 and 1260 by the sea, partly through purchase and partly through the appropriation of extinguished fiefs.
The Pegnitz has its source in the town of the same name at an altitude of 425 m (1,394 ft) and meets the Rednitz at 283 m (928 ft) in Fürth to form the Regnitz river. Shortly after the source, the Pegnitz unites with the 15 km (9.3 mi) long Fichtenohe while keeping the name of the shorter tributary. Some therefore consider the Fichtenohe as the upper course of the river Pegnitz. The source of the Fichtenohe is in Lindenhardt Forest (Landkreis Bayreuth) north of the town of Pegnitz.
The Rednitz (German pronunciation:[ˈʁeːdnɪts]) is a 46 km (29 mi) long river in Franconia, Germany, tributary of the Regnitz (more precisely: its southern, left headstream). Slightly richer in water than the other source river Pegnitz and also richer in tributaries, it is hydrographically regarded as the upper reaches of the Regnitz, although the longest flow path in its system is approx. 3 km shorter than that in the Pegnitz system. The Rednitz is formed by the confluence of the rivers Franconian Rezat and Swabian Rezat, in Georgensgmünd (district of Roth). The Rednitz flows north through Roth bei Nürnberg, Schwabach and the southwestern quarters of Nuremberg. The Rednitz joins the Pegnitz to form the Regnitz in Fürth.
The river first appeared in written sources in the 8th century with the Latin name Radantia. In the 11th century, the name of the river was given as Ratenza.