Kraichgau, formerly a part of the Palatinate, later a part of northern Baden, Germany, a fertile region, devastated in the Thirty Years' War, where many Swiss Mennonite exiles settled in 1652 on estates of the imperial knights. Some of their descendants are still living there, especially in the Sinsheim district.  -- Hege

Comprising the rolling land areas between the Odenwald and the Black Forest, the Kraichgau has belonged to the state of Baden since 1803-1806. Before 1806 parts of the Kraichgau belonged to the Elector Palatine, the Bishiop of Speyer, the Margrave of Baden, the Duke of Württemberg, and various imperial knights.

Research in progress (in 1987) shows the first Swiss Anabaptist settlers from the Zürich area arrived in 1648 in the villages of Dairen, Eichtersheim, and Elsenz. In 1650 the nobleman von Venningen reached a settlement and protection agreement with them. From 1650 to 1679 settlements were established in the Electoral Palatinate area near Sinsheim. In 1671 Anabaptist refugees from Bern settled in no fewer than 30 villages of the Electoral Platinate region.  -- TGlü

See also Baden-Württemberg Federal State.

Bibliography

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