The 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). 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.
Kilden was formed on the Regent Bank, 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, Kilden 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 Scheddelsted 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. Around the abbey, the city of Lutheria slowly grew. From this moment, the church became the main power in the Region of Kilden.
In the Middle Ages, the lands around Wingchere are confirmed as an exempt provostery directly under the Holy See. A papal bull in 1219 describes the borders along paths, streams and the Regent Bank. In later texts, the area is called terra or regio Kildensis, the land of the Kild. These church borders become the basis for what people later call the Region of Kilden. Although larger kingdoms rule around it, Kilden 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 Kilden fall inside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and parts inside Prussia (including the former Kingdom of Hanover after 1866). Officially, Kilden 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 Kilden is a small but distinct border region with its own character. It is shaped by the Regent Bank and the rivers Kild and Holle, by the city of Lutheria and Wingchere Abbey, 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 Kilden as one region. For them, Kilden is not only a place on the map, but also a shared story that reaches back from the first farmers to their own time.
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 Lutheria, 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 Lutheria. The small lake from which the river Holle begins, also known as Perdegat, is thought to be the “puddle” that was excavated, leading to the formation of the river Holle. 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 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 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 of the Region of Kilden 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.
On August 5, 1781, the only yet significant battle of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War occurred at the Battle of Dogger Bank. This battle took place on a vast sandbank in the shallow waters of the North Sea. While the outcome was technically inconclusive, both sides sustained considerable damage. However, for the Dutch Republic, this battle was viewed as a notable achievement.
On December 20, 1780, the Kingdom of Great Britain declared war on the Dutch Republic and started blockading Dutch ports to disrupt trade, particularly with America. However, the Dutch didn’t declare war until May of the next year.
On February 3, 1781, Great Britain seized control of the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Eustatius, a key trading centre for the Dutch Republic and its trade with America.
On June 8, 1783, a large crack formed in the Laki Craters, a volcanic fissure in southern Iceland. It released massive amounts of lava and toxic gases. The eruption, together with the nearby Grimsvötn volcano, lasted eight months. Within two years, 20% of Iceland’s population, 50% of its cattle, 80% of sheep, and 30% of horses had died. The ash clouds spread to Europe, causing crop failures for years. The event led to widespread famine and contribed to the French Revolution in 1789.
During the continuation of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, there were no significant battles. The Dutch Republic managed to avoid British efforts, which was, however, leading to a naval blockade. This blockade caused severe economic damage and pushed the Dutch into peace talks. On May 20, 1784, they signed the Treaty of Paris. As a result, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) gave up its spice trade monopoly, Britain gained access to the Maluku Islands and took control of Negapatnam in India. Additionally, the Dutch Republic settled its conflicts with Joseph II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
On January 24, 1789, representatives from Brabant met in secret. They declared themselves the rightful government, upholding their traditional rights and rejecting Emperor Joseph II’s reforms. This led to the creation of the States of Brabant, which infuriated the Austrian Emperor and sparked conflict.
On October 27, 1789, the revolutionaries, under Jan Andries van der Mersch’s leadership, won a major victory over the Austrian forces at the Battle of Turnhout. This triumph lifted spirits and bolstered the revolution’s credibility, as well as the push for Belgian independence.
After the revolutionaries won, the United Belgian States (États-Belgiques-Unis) was established on January 11, 1790. Most notably, this stateincluded Brabant, Flanders, Hainaut, Namur, and Limburg. However, despite their early success in gaining independence, tensions between radical democrats and conservative aristocrats soon weakened the new government.
While the Democrats and Aristocrats argued over their plans for the new state, Emperor Leopold II of Austria, successor to Joseph II, aimed to reclaim control. He made use of their internal divisions and swiftly restored Austrian rule, thus ending the independence of the United States of Brabant.
On April 20, 1792, France declared war on Austria, marking the beginning of the War of the First Coalition. At the time, France was governed by the Legislative Assembly and aimed to expand its revolutionary ideals. They also sought to address perceived threats proactively, because they had seen what happened to other countries, such as during the Batavian Revolution.
