History Of St. Pölten
The Roman city of Aelium Cetium
The Roman city of Aelium Cetium, positioned precisely where the medieval old town of St. Pölten stands, existed from the end of the 1st century AD until approximately 450. Aelium Cetium held significance as a crucial civilian supply center in the Roman province of Noricum, facilitating access to various Danube border towns filled with soldiers within a day’s walk. Archaeological endeavors since 1988 have yielded substantial finds, providing insights into the Roman city’s layout. Notably, the Roman main street aligns with the contemporary Wiener Straße/Heßstraße.
The documented history of Aelium Cetium reveals a period of decline during the latter half of the 4th century, marked by a contraction of the inhabited area. In the initial half of the 5th century, a substantial portion of the population vacated the city, potentially seeking refuge in more secure Danube settlements. The last trace of ancient activity, represented by a grave with a bowl, dates to around 450. Consequently, Aelium Cetium was abandoned, leading to a prolonged hiatus in settlement at the site. This historical transition reflects a noteworthy phase in the evolution of the region, from the thriving Roman urban center to a period of depopulation and abandonment.
Origin of St. Pölten
St. Pölten’s origin is rooted in the complex political landscape of the early Middle Ages, marked by the Avar Empire’s presence in Central Europe from the late 6th century. The Avars, along with the existing population, inhabited the region that now constitutes Lower Austria. The Frankish Empire, expanding under Charlemagne, bordered the Avar Empire to the west, resulting in military conflicts. Charlemagne’s campaign against the Avars in 791 marked a turning point, leading to the defeat and eventual disappearance of the Avars by 822.
Following the conquest, the Frankish Empire, in conjunction with Christian church organization, initiated its influence in Lower Austria, including the region that eventually became St. Pölten. This process unfolded around 791, giving rise to new settlements and monasteries. The Hippolytus Monastery, attributed to Tegernsee Monastery, was constructed around 850, becoming a crucial element in the city’s foundation. The secular settlement adjacent to the monastery, likely representing early St. Pölten, lacks archaeological confirmation, but a document from 976 mentions the settlement “Treisma” near the “Monastery of Saint Hippolytus.”
The name “Pölten” itself is derived from the Germanized form of the male first name “Hippolyt,” honoring the western church father Hippolytus of Rome. St. Pölten’s medieval history is believed to have commenced with the construction of the Hippolytus Monastery in the late 8th century. The monastery, situated where the St. Pölten diocese building stands today, was associated with the Tegernsee Monastery and featured relics of Hippolytus of Rome.
Ceramic fragments dating back to the founding of the monastery have been discovered, and early medieval accounts referencing the Hippolytus Monastery date from the 10th century. The details of the monastery’s founding, including a story involving brothers Adalbert and Otkar, remain debated.
The settlement known as Treisma, owned by Passau, is also mentioned in medieval texts, with some scholars asserting that Treisma was an early name for St. Pölten. Treisma’s association with Pottenbrunn and Unterradlberg is suggested by Peter Scherrer. The town of Treisma is first documented in a 799 document.
The medieval city’s development, centered around the Hippolytus Monastery, saw initial completion around 1367. The St. Pölten city wall, constructed between 1253 and 1286, enclosed the old town. Urban development within the city wall gained momentum, influenced by the Aelium Cetium complex, where some Roman structures were adapted and repurposed. Streets and squares laid out in the Middle Ages often aligned with former Roman counterparts, showcasing continuity in St. Pölten’s historical development.
Middle Ages
St. Pölten, Austria’s oldest city, was granted market rights around 1050 and attained city status in 1159 under Bishop Konrad of Passau, preceding both Enns and Vienna, though the latter fact is a subject of debate. The Raizinsberg desert is documented in 1180.
During the late Middle Ages, the city underwent planned expansion in the 13th century, incorporating a western section with the Breite Markt (now Rathausplatz) and encircled by a city wall. The quarter surrounding the monastery fell under the monastery provost’s jurisdiction, while the Passau sector established a municipal administration with a judge and council.
Records from around 1300 mark the first mentions of Jews in St. Pölten, with instances of pogroms occurring in 1306 and 1338. In 1338, Bishop Albrecht II of Passau granted a new city charter.
St. Pölten remained under Passau’s jurisdiction until the close of the Middle Ages, gaining sovereignty when pledged to King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary. In 1481, Bishop Friedrich Mauerkircher pledged the city to the Hungarian king, establishing it as a pivotal stronghold in Lower Austria during the conflict against Emperor Friedrich III. The Hungarian king, in 1487, bestowed St. Pölten with a coat of arms and subsequently granted extensive toll and transport privileges. Upon the king’s expulsion, Maximilian I claimed the city as war spoils in the Peace of Pressburg in 1491, persisting in his claims against the actual city lord, the Bishop of Passau.
Elevated to a sovereign city, St. Pölten secured representation in the state parliament and received a new coat of arms from Ferdinand I in 1538, symbolizing its altered status. This historical trajectory highlights St. Pölten’s evolution from a medieval settlement to a city with strategic importance, shaped by the interplay of political, ecclesiastical, and territorial dynamics.
Reformation and Counter-Reformation
In 1522, St. Pölten’s Philipp Hueter faced the council and city judge for supporting the Reformation, reflecting the early influence of Martin Luther’s Protestant ideas brought by traders, particularly booksellers from southern Germany. By 1550, the Lower Austrian state parliament adopted Protestantism, prompting Lower Austrian cities, including St. Pölten, to safeguard their religious freedom against the Catholic Habsburg sovereign and Emperor Maximilian II.
In 1559, despite opposition from the canons’ monastery, St. Pölten’s council, led by Martin Zandt, ensured the appointment of the former Lutheran pastor Conrad Lindemayer to the parish church of Our Lady. The city, predominantly Protestant by 1569, established a German community school and a new “citizen hospital.”
The Counter-Reformation initiated in 1569 under anti-Protestant Georg Huber, the new canon of the monastery. Huber dismissed preacher Sigmund Süß, leading to the city council assuming his salary. The parish church was forcibly closed, then reopened by force under Zandt’s leadership. Emperor Maximilian found the councilors guilty, expelling Süß. Protestant activities moved to private spaces and noble landowners’ chapels.
In 1578, an imperial decree imposed restrictions, banning city council religious innovations, closing schools, and making the Corpus Christi procession mandatory. Visible Protestant presence vanished until 1623 when searches and book confiscations occurred in 1625.
Only in 1781, under Emperor Joseph II’s Patent of Tolerance, were Protestant churches allowed. From 1856, Imperial Count Gustav Adolf Bentinck’s Lutheran preacher led services in Fridau Castle, with St. Pölten resuming Protestant services in 1877. In 1892, a Protestant church was erected with support from the Baudissin-Zinzendorf family from Wasserburg Castle, catering to a congregation of 170 people. This timeline encapsulates the ebb and flow of religious affiliations in St. Pölten, reflecting the interplay of historical events, imperial decrees, and local dynamics in shaping the city’s religious landscape over the centuries.
Early modern period
The St. Pölten city wall played a crucial role in safeguarding the city against Turkish invasions during the First Austrian-Turkish War in 1529 and the Great Turkish War in 1683. The 17th and 18th centuries marked a significant period of prosperity for St. Pölten, with architects Jakob Prandtauer and Joseph Munggenast contributing to its baroque transformation. This era witnessed the construction of key structures like the cathedral, Carmelite Church, Institute of the English Fräulein, town hall facade, and aristocratic palaces, enhancing the city’s attractive baroque aesthetic. Renowned artists such as Daniel Gran, Bartolomeo Altomonte, and Tobias Pock were involved in the cathedral church’s embellishment (1722–1750).
Amid the Catholic reform, new monasteries emerged, and by 1770, the city housed six religious establishments. However, Emperor Joseph II’s dissolution of monasteries led to the survival of only the Institute of the English Fräulein (since 1706) and the Franciscan monastery (now Philosophical-Theological University). The Josephine reforms further solidified St. Pölten’s ecclesiastical importance. In 1785, the diocese of Wiener Neustadt was moved to St. Pölten, designating the dissolved canon monastery as the episcopal see. Johann Heinrich von Kerens served as the first bishop until 1792.
Following medieval pogroms, Jews resettled in St. Pölten in the 17th century. In 1863, the religious community, comprising approximately 800 members, was established, with half residing in the city.
The city faced significant challenges during the Napoleonic era. In 1805, after the march on St. Pölten, Napoleon I entered the city without resistance, leading to its plunder. Subsequently, the city experienced occupation by French troops in 1809. These events underscore the historical significance of St. Pölten, reflecting periods of cultural and architectural flourishing, ecclesiastical transformations, and the impact of external geopolitical influences on its development.
Industrialization and the first half of the 20th century
In 1858, the inauguration of the Kaiserin Elisabeth Railway, later becoming the Western Railway, marked a pivotal moment for St. Pölten, propelling its transformation into an industrial city. The subsequent construction of additional branch lines further fueled industrial development. The city witnessed industrialization from the 18th century, hosting smaller enterprises like hammer mills, paper mills, cloth manufacturers, and a calico factory. Notably, significant companies such as the Salzer paper factory, Voith machine factory, 1st Österreichische Glanzstoff-Fabrik AG, and the Bahn-Werkstätten were established after 1903. This period saw a substantial population increase (1848: 4,500, 1880: 10,000, 1922: almost 22,000), with new settlements emerging in Viehofen, Ober- and Unterwagram, Teufelhof, and Spratzern, all of which were incorporated in 1922.
Recognizing its burgeoning economic importance, St. Pölten was granted its own statute in 1922. However, the economic downturn of 1930 transformed the once optimistic landscape into an emergency area, characterized by widespread unemployment.
The aftermath of the collapse of the KuK monarchy in 1918 subjected St. Pölten to the political turbulence of post-war Austria. Events such as the civil war in 1934 and the annexation of Austria in 1938 had a notable impact on the city. These historical developments underscore the intricate relationship between St. Pölten’s industrial evolution, economic fluctuations, and its resilience in the face of broader political upheavals during the 20th century.
National Socialism and the Second World War 1938–1945
In March 1938, the annexation of Austria (Anschluss) saw the rise of National Socialists in St. Pölten. Pro-Austria rallies turned into celebrations with swastika flags after Chancellor Schuschnigg’s resignation. The NSDAP and SA took control of the town hall, and German troops entered Austria the next day, greeted with enthusiasm. Adolf Hitler visited St. Pölten in March 1938, shaping plans for its regional economic importance under Nazi rule, leading to the incorporation of neighboring towns into “Greater St. Pölten.”
During the Nazi era, defense facilities, an imperial motorway, and an expanded railway network were developed. Persecution of Jews intensified with arrests, deportations, and pogroms like the November 1938 attacks. By 1941, Jews were virtually absent, their properties expropriated. The war brought industrial shifts, converting production to armaments. Forced labor, particularly of women and prisoners, became widespread. Resistance, varying from religious to political, emerged. Notably, a workers’ movement-led resistance involved sabotage and strikes in major companies.
The Holocaust inflicted a heavy toll on St. Pölten’s Jewish community. Mass arrests, deportations, and expropriations occurred. Notably, the synagogue was destroyed, and a memorial now stands at the site. Financially, the state and individuals benefited from Jewish expulsions. War-induced industrialization significantly changed the city’s economic landscape.
In 1945, the Red Army took Vienna and later St. Pölten. Bombings, particularly in 1945, caused substantial damage and casualties. Nazi leaders clung to power until the Soviet Army’s April 1945 attack. Civilians suffered, and the city faced destruction. The Soviet troops, while generally viewed as liberators, also engaged in looting and rapes initially. St. Pölten faced challenges in rebuilding, with a large percentage of buildings damaged or destroyed.
The wartime period shaped St. Pölten profoundly, from political changes under Nazi rule to the economic shifts, persecution of Jews, and the resistance against the regime. The aftermath of the war marked a challenging reconstruction period, reflecting the complex historical journey of the city during this tumultuous era.
Soviet occupation and reconstruction 1945–1955
In April 1945, Günther Benedikt briefly served as the provisional mayor of St. Pölten after its liberation by Soviet troops. Subsequently, Franz Käfer, a former Schutzbund commander turned KPÖ member, became mayor, fostering a constructive atmosphere in the city’s reconstruction. Käfer’s call for unity transcended political affiliations, leading to collaborative efforts among representatives of KPÖ, SPÖ, and ÖVP on the local council during the initial post-war years.
The 1945 state elections witnessed the SPÖ’s significant victory in St. Pölten. Although Käfer resigned, Soviet intervention extended his mayoral term until the 1950 local council elections. With the decline of the Soviet influence, the KPÖ’s impact waned, as reflected in subsequent local council elections. The party’s influence dwindled from 13.2% in 1960 to 0.8% in 2001, with no further participation since then. From 1950 to 1960, Wilhelm Steingotter served as St. Pölten’s mayor.
Post-war St. Pölten faced challenges in emergency relief, reconstruction, and the establishment of the USIA (United Soviet Industrial Administration) group, which played a crucial role in stabilizing the labor market. Economic hardships, a lack of goods, and a black market characterized the early years after the war. By 1953, living conditions improved for those with lower incomes, but prosperity remained elusive. Rent laws and poor housing conditions contributed to low rents, particularly in barracks settlements.
The USIA, initially involved in dismantling German property, evolved into a significant force in the city’s economic stability. However, unemployment rose to over nine percent in 1953. The end of the occupation came in 1955, marked by the withdrawal of Soviet troops and the signing of the state treaty. The territorial changes through the decommunization of incorporated areas and the reduction of St. Pölten’s municipal area defined this period. The state’s role in returning 280 Lower Austrian USIA companies to their original owners was established, highlighting the complexities of the post-war economic landscape.
Overall, the years following World War II in St. Pölten were marked by political shifts, economic challenges, and the endeavor to rebuild the city, providing a nuanced understanding of the post-war period’s dynamics.
Development after 1955
St. Pölten, designated as the state capital of Lower Austria in 1986, emerged victorious in a 1986 referendum against other contenders such as Krems, Baden, Tulln, and Wiener Neustadt. With 45% support, the city secured its status as the capital, leading to subsequent developments.
In 1997, St. Pölten became the seat of the Lower Austrian state government, marking a pivotal shift as state authorities relocated from Vienna. The construction of the country house district further solidified the city’s administrative importance.
Acknowledging its contributions to international activities and town twinning, St. Pölten received the Council of Europe’s plaque of honor on July 9, 1999. Recognized as the leader of the “Cooperation Network of European Medium Cities,” the city was awarded the European Prize during the Council of Europe meeting on April 26, 2001. The establishment of the Lower Austria Museum in 2002 added a cultural dimension to St. Pölten’s evolving profile.
The city encountered controversy with the resignation of Bishop Kurt Krenn in 2004 amid allegations of abuse in the seminary. Klaus Küng succeeded him as the 17th bishop of the diocese of St. Pölten.
St. Pölten accommodates the Evangelische Superintendentur A. B. Niederösterreich, relocated from Bad Vöslau in 1998, reflecting religious diversity in the city.
A tragic gas explosion in June 2010 resulted in the loss of five lives and extensive property damage, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
Noteworthy archaeological excavations commenced on Cathedral Square in 2010, initially planned for two years. The square’s redesign was officially unveiled in September 2023 after prolonged excavations spanning around ten years. These efforts aimed at uncovering historical insights and revitalizing the city’s central space, contributing to St. Pölten’s cultural heritage and urban development.
