The Region of KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the NetherlandsThe Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, currently under the rule of King William III. The country is governed by a parliamentary system established by the 1848 Constitution,…, the Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of PrussiaThe Kingdom of Prussia was one of the dominant powers in Central Europe. It was under the leadership of King Wilhelm I, who was (together with Otto von Bismarck) eager…, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover
Kingdom of HanoverThe Kingdom of Hanover was a German state established in 1814 after the Congress of Vienna. It was ruled by the Hanoverian branch of the British royal family until 1837,… (annexed in 1866). The region has a long history that predates the current borders and kingdoms. Legend tells us it was founded by a local tribe known as the Wituwari, yet no independent evidence of their existence has been found.
A Brief History
KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… was formed on the Regent BankRegent BankRegent Bank is a moraine that runs vertically through the Region of Kilden. It was formed during the Saalian glaciation, when glacial ice pushed the soil up, creating surface wrinkles…, a ridge that was pushed up during the Saalian glaciation. The soils on the flanks of the ridge and along the rivers are relatively fertile. This made the area suitable for early farming. Archaeological research shows that people already lived and worked here around 4300 BC. Small settlements of a few families grew along the ridge and the rivers, living from the land and the surrounding forests.
Over time, these settlements formed a loose region with its own identity. In Roman times the area was connected to the Tubantes and other Germanic tribes. Later, during the Saxon period, KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… was seen as a borderland of woods, rivers and small farming communities. Many old tales and legends, such as the Tale of Origin and the stories about the tribe of the Wituwari and the tree Thuja Tuianti, are set in this landscape.
A turning point came in the time of Charlemagne. According to later tradition, his armies cut down the sacred tree on the hill of ScheddelstedScheddelstedScheddelsted is a small hill on the Regent Bank moraine. It is located in the district of Aegheria. The moraine and hill were formed during the Saalian glaciation, when glacial… during the Saxon Wars. On that spot, a cross was planted, and later a small oratory was built. This chapel grew into St. Mary’s Chapel, and over the centuries, the site developed into Wingchere Abbey
Wingchere AbbeyWingchere Abbey is a monastery and a neighbourhood located on top of Scheddelsted Hill in the city of Lutheria. The Abbey was built around a sacred site where St. Mary's…. Around the abbey, the city of Lutheria
LutheriaThe City of Lutheria is one of the main cities in the Region of Kilden. It lies along an important trade route towards Belthem and other towns on the Regent… slowly grew. From this moment, the church became the main power in the Region of KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).….
In the Middle Ages, the lands around Wingchere are confirmed as an exempt provostery directly under the Holy See
The Holy See. A papal bull in 1219 describes the borders along paths, streams and the Regent BankRegent BankRegent Bank is a moraine that runs vertically through the Region of Kilden. It was formed during the Saalian glaciation, when glacial ice pushed the soil up, creating surface wrinkles…. In later texts, the area is called terra or regio Kildensis, the land of the Kild
KildThe Kild is a river that flows from roughly north to south through the Region of Kilden. It is the most important river in the area. It formed after the…. These church borders become the basis for what people later call the Region of KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).…. Although larger kingdoms rule around it, KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… has kept a special status as a church territory for many centuries.
After the Reformation and the Napoleonic period, the situation slowly changed. The surrounding lands were mapped and divided between modern states. Parts of KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… fall inside the Kingdom of the NetherlandsKingdom of the NetherlandsThe Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, currently under the rule of King William III. The country is governed by a parliamentary system established by the 1848 Constitution,… and parts inside Prussia (including the former Kingdom of HanoverKingdom of HanoverThe Kingdom of Hanover was a German state established in 1814 after the Congress of Vienna. It was ruled by the Hanoverian branch of the British royal family until 1837,… after 1866). Officially, KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… is no longer seen as a separate state. In practice, however, the old church borders, local customs and shared history still hold the region together.
By 1868, the Region of KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… is a small but distinct border region with its own character. It is shaped by the Regent BankRegent BankRegent Bank is a moraine that runs vertically through the Region of Kilden. It was formed during the Saalian glaciation, when glacial ice pushed the soil up, creating surface wrinkles… and the rivers KildKildThe Kild is a river that flows from roughly north to south through the Region of Kilden. It is the most important river in the area. It formed after the… and Holle
HolleThe Holle is a small river that flows from Perdegat, a source near the city of Lutheria, to the river Kild. The fresh water originates from an underground source which…, by the city of LutheriaLutheriaThe City of Lutheria is one of the main cities in the Region of Kilden. It lies along an important trade route towards Belthem and other towns on the Regent… and Wingchere AbbeyWingchere AbbeyWingchere Abbey is a monastery and a neighbourhood located on top of Scheddelsted Hill in the city of Lutheria. The Abbey was built around a sacred site where St. Mary's…, and by many villages and farms on the ridge. Politically, it is split between the Netherlands and Prussia, but in culture, religion and daily life, people still talk about KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… as one region. For them, KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… is not only a place on the map, but also a shared story that reaches back from the first farmers to their own time.
The Tale of Origin
In addition to the historical and archaeological discoveries in the area, there is an old oral tradition that describes how the region came to be. It is said to have begun long before the establishment of current borders, kingdoms, and lands, even predating the settlement of the primal Germanic tribes. According to some beliefs, the story originated when nomadic people, likely hunters and gatherers, were foraging the forests for food and water. Near what is now the city of LutheriaLutheriaThe City of Lutheria is one of the main cities in the Region of Kilden. It lies along an important trade route towards Belthem and other towns on the Regent…, a man began digging by a tree, likely searching for food or roots. Suddenly, water bubbled up, forming a small puddle that expanded, washing away the soil around the tree’s roots. Among these roots, the man discovered something so valuable that people began to venerate the site, frequently returning and eventually settling there. They became known as the Wituwari. The man’s family became the leaders or elders, as they held the secret of what lay between the tree’s roots. However, one day, the man and his family disappeared without a trace, taking their secret with them. Only two other families were entrusted with parts of the secret, and they took it upon themselves to protect it, despite not fully understanding its meaning. It is said that descendants of the original family line continue to safeguard the treasure, hoping to one day uncover its true significance.
The origin story is believed to have taken place in or around the city of LutheriaLutheriaThe City of Lutheria is one of the main cities in the Region of Kilden. It lies along an important trade route towards Belthem and other towns on the Regent…. The small lake from which the river HolleHolleThe Holle is a small river that flows from Perdegat, a source near the city of Lutheria, to the river Kild. The fresh water originates from an underground source which… begins, also known as PerdegatPerdegatPerdegat is the name of the lake adjacent to the city of Lutheria. It features a natural spring and serves as the source of the Holle River. Fresh water is…, is thought to be the “puddle” that was excavated, leading to the formation of the river HolleHolleThe Holle is a small river that flows from Perdegat, a source near the city of Lutheria, to the river Kild. The fresh water originates from an underground source which…. Tales from around 777 document that Charlemagne’s legions cut down a sacred tree and eradicated the Wituwari in an effort to Christianise the region. At the site of the current St. Mary’s Chapel, a cross was planted in remembrance of the gods they venerated, one of whom was a woman. A church was initially built in the name of that deity, but was later renamed St. Mary to align with Christian beliefs.
The Coat of Arms
The Tale of Origin is believed to be represented in the current Coat of Arms, although the design was created much later than the tale itself. The crest features a tree with roots embedded in a blue shield, symbolising the tree surrounded by water. Flanking the shield are two green beetles, thought to represent the family that discovered the treasure by digging in the soil. The shield is supported by a black wolf
Wolf and a white horse, said to symbolise the two families safeguarding the secret. Above the shield is a crown, indicating a certain status associated with the shield and possibly their secret. Below the shield is a banner with the Latin phrase “Ad Animam Ire Volo,” which translates to “To the Soul I Want to Go.” The meaning of this phrase remains unknown, but some believe it may hint at the Wituwari tribe or even reveal the secret.
The Flag
The flag of the Region of KildenKildenThe Region of Kilden is a rural area, stretching across parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the (former) Kingdom of Hanover (annexed in 1866).… features three horizontal stripes: blue, white, and yellow. The blue stripe symbolises the sky and its clouds, while the yellow represents the fields and plains. The meaning of the white stripe remains uncertain. In the right corner of the flag, there are three white flowers, symbolising fertility and growth. The flag was designed much later than the coat of arms, during the time when the Kingdoms of the Netherlands, Prussia, and Hanover were in power. It is suggested that the blue was inspired by the Dutch flag, the white by the Prussian flag, and the yellow by the Hanoverian flag, although this claim has been disputed.
