A rare ninth-century manuscript that marks the first recorded mention of “Westphalia” is going on display in Germany as part of a major exhibition celebrating 1,250 years of the region’s history. The exhibition, titled 775 – Westphalia, will open at the LWL Museum in the Imperial Palace in Paderborn this month, and features a manuscript of the Imperial Annals on loan from the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
The event is the centrepiece of the anniversary programme 1250 Years of Westphalia, organised by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL) and its Cultural Foundation. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to attend the opening ceremony on May 15 in Paderborn Cathedral, with the exhibition starting the following day.
A Milestone in Westphalian History
The exhibition takes its name from the year 775, when the Imperial Annals (Annales Regni Francorum) first mention the term “Westphalians” (westfalaos) in the context of Charlemagne’s wars against the Saxons. Though brief, the entry is regarded as a foundational reference for the region now known as Westphalia, located in present-day northwestern Germany.
“The entry in the annals for the year 775 is absolutely significant for the history of Westphalia, because this is where the people from Westphalia, the ‘westfalaos,’ are mentioned for the first time,” says Dr. Martin Kroker. the musuem director. “In the exhibition, we want to shed light on which region and, above all, who exactly was referred to by the term at this time.”
A Fragile Loan from Paris
The 9th-century manuscript is one of the two oldest surviving copies of the now lost original (BnF Ms. 10911, fol. 66r).
Bringing the Imperial Annals to Paderborn involved lengthy negotiations with the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Curator Anne Karl notes, “we had to negotiate for some time to be able to display the delicate parchment for at least four months – but it worked out, and we are very pleased.”
Before its public appearance, the manuscript will be professionally cleaned in Paris. A courier from the French library will accompany the document to Paderborn in an air-conditioned transport box, ensuring it arrives safely.
Once in place, the manuscript will be displayed under tightly controlled environmental conditions. Birgit Geller, senior conservator at the LWL Archives Office, highlighted the precautions required:
When presenting such manuscripts, the parchment’s high sensitivity to fluctuations in humidity and temperature must be taken into account. If the climatic conditions are not stable, the animal hide will deform. In addition, the opening angle of the manuscript must be adjusted to the condition of the binding; this is done with specially made bookends.
Tracing Westphalia Through the Centuries
The Imperial Annals are historical yearbooks, recorded at the court of Charlemagne between 787 and 793, though they cover events beginning in 741. According to modern scholarship, the first use of the term “Westphalia” appears in the annal entry for the year 775, where it refers to a group of rebellious Saxons encountered by the Frankish king. This seemingly incidental reference is now seen as the “birth certificate” of Westphalia.
Once the artists Pei-Yu Chang and Malte van de Water are finished, the manuscript will be exhibited in this area. Photo: filamente/D. Kolm
From this point of origin, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through centuries of Westphalian history, incorporating cultural artefacts, artworks, and documents that explore the evolving identity of the region.
To preserve the fragile manuscript, it will only be on display for four months before returning to Paris. From mid-September, it will be replaced with a later copy of the Imperial Annals, known as the Niederaltteich copy, now held by the Austrian National Library in Vienna.
Westphalia’s Anniversary Year
The exhibition is part of a wide-ranging cultural programme celebrating “1250 Years of Westphalia.” Organised by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe and the LWL Cultural Foundation, the anniversary marks the first recorded mention of Westphalia in 775. Events include exhibitions, music, literature, culinary projects, and podcasts, supported by roughly €3 million in funding.
Forty-four cultural projects across the region will explore themes of identity, origin, and belonging. The anniversary programme is held under the patronage of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will take part in the opening of the Paderborn exhibition.
The LWL Museum in the Imperial Palace is located in the city of Paderborn in western Germany, on the site of a Carolingian palace. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions on regional and medieval history, making it a fitting venue for this landmark event.
A rare ninth-century manuscript that marks the first recorded mention of “Westphalia” is going on display in Germany as part of a major exhibition celebrating 1,250 years of the region’s history. The exhibition, titled 775 – Westphalia, will open at the LWL Museum in the Imperial Palace in Paderborn this month, and features a manuscript of the Imperial Annals on loan from the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
The event is the centrepiece of the anniversary programme 1250 Years of Westphalia, organised by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL) and its Cultural Foundation. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to attend the opening ceremony on May 15 in Paderborn Cathedral, with the exhibition starting the following day.
A Milestone in Westphalian History
The exhibition takes its name from the year 775, when the Imperial Annals (Annales Regni Francorum) first mention the term “Westphalians” (westfalaos) in the context of Charlemagne’s wars against the Saxons. Though brief, the entry is regarded as a foundational reference for the region now known as Westphalia, located in present-day northwestern Germany.
“The entry in the annals for the year 775 is absolutely significant for the history of Westphalia, because this is where the people from Westphalia, the ‘westfalaos,’ are mentioned for the first time,” says Dr. Martin Kroker. the musuem director. “In the exhibition, we want to shed light on which region and, above all, who exactly was referred to by the term at this time.”
A Fragile Loan from Paris
Bringing the Imperial Annals to Paderborn involved lengthy negotiations with the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Curator Anne Karl notes, “we had to negotiate for some time to be able to display the delicate parchment for at least four months – but it worked out, and we are very pleased.”
Before its public appearance, the manuscript will be professionally cleaned in Paris. A courier from the French library will accompany the document to Paderborn in an air-conditioned transport box, ensuring it arrives safely.
Once in place, the manuscript will be displayed under tightly controlled environmental conditions. Birgit Geller, senior conservator at the LWL Archives Office, highlighted the precautions required:
When presenting such manuscripts, the parchment’s high sensitivity to fluctuations in humidity and temperature must be taken into account. If the climatic conditions are not stable, the animal hide will deform. In addition, the opening angle of the manuscript must be adjusted to the condition of the binding; this is done with specially made bookends.
Tracing Westphalia Through the Centuries
The Imperial Annals are historical yearbooks, recorded at the court of Charlemagne between 787 and 793, though they cover events beginning in 741. According to modern scholarship, the first use of the term “Westphalia” appears in the annal entry for the year 775, where it refers to a group of rebellious Saxons encountered by the Frankish king. This seemingly incidental reference is now seen as the “birth certificate” of Westphalia.
Photo: filamente/D. Kolm
From this point of origin, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through centuries of Westphalian history, incorporating cultural artefacts, artworks, and documents that explore the evolving identity of the region.
To preserve the fragile manuscript, it will only be on display for four months before returning to Paris. From mid-September, it will be replaced with a later copy of the Imperial Annals, known as the Niederaltteich copy, now held by the Austrian National Library in Vienna.
Westphalia’s Anniversary Year
The exhibition is part of a wide-ranging cultural programme celebrating “1250 Years of Westphalia.” Organised by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe and the LWL Cultural Foundation, the anniversary marks the first recorded mention of Westphalia in 775. Events include exhibitions, music, literature, culinary projects, and podcasts, supported by roughly €3 million in funding.
Forty-four cultural projects across the region will explore themes of identity, origin, and belonging. The anniversary programme is held under the patronage of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will take part in the opening of the Paderborn exhibition.
The LWL Museum in the Imperial Palace is located in the city of Paderborn in western Germany, on the site of a Carolingian palace. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions on regional and medieval history, making it a fitting venue for this landmark event.
You can learn more by visiting the LWL Museum website
Top Image: Birgit Geller assessing the condition of a parchment manuscript. Photo: LWL Archives Office for Westphalia
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