Leutkirch im Allgäu

Geschichte

Leutkirch im Allgäu is a former Free Imperial Town located in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is part of the district of Ravensburg, in the western Allgäu region and belongs to the administrative region (Regierungsbezirk) of Tübingen.Since the municipal reform of 1972, the consolidated Leutkirch urban area comprises the town of Leutkirch im Allgäu itself and the former municipalities of Diepoldshofen, Friesenhofen, Gebrazhofen, Herlazhofen, Hofs, Reichenhofen, Winterstetten and Wuchzenhofen.HistoryEarly historyVery few protohistoric settlement remains have been found in the Allgäu region although a grave dating from the migration period has been found in the Leutkirch area. The area was probably settled by Alemanic tribes before the establishment of the Danube-Iller-Rhine limes during the Roman period.The town was created with the merger of the villages of Ufhofen and Mittelhofen and vestiges of those settlements were found under the old church of St. Martin. First mention of the church is found in a document of the Abbey of St. Gall dating back to 766. After the line of the local lord became extinct, the area was awarded to the counts of Bregenz and of Montfort.Era of the Free Imperial TownIn 1293, King Adolf of Nassau granted to Leutkirch the right to rule itself according to the Town Code of Lindau, thus effectively raising Leutkirch to the status of a Free Imperial Town. For a while, the town continued to be ruled by a bailiff appointed by the king. In 1311, there is mention for the first time of a town council whose members are also the town judges. An elected bürgermeister chaired the town council from the 15th century. A so-called Committee of Twenty, representing the guilds, was also part of the governing structure. Eventually, the town council was to be composed of a magistrate, two mayors, three secret councillors and nine councillors.