Bad Kissingen and the Bees

How a Town Stood Up to a Superior Force in 1645

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A Town Under Siege

By the end of March 1645, the Swedish troops were certain: Bad Kissingen was to fall. Their plan called for a swift assault. But the residents weren’t going to let that happen; they barred the gates and sought shelter behind their walls. For nearly two weeks, the attackers repeatedly charged the fortifications without breaking through. Then, on the thirteenth day, they prepared for the decisive assault and had their cannons fire on the town beforehand. Things looked grim for the defenders. The wall had suffered from the bombardment, and they had run out of gunpowder and bullets. The citizens quickly gathered to consider how they could still defend themselves.

The Mayor’s Idea

There, Peter Heil, the mayor at the time, put forward an unusual proposal. Anyone in the city who kept bees was to hand over their hives. They would be collected and lined up along the top of the wall so they could be dropped onto the enemy if necessary. They acted without hesitation. When the Swedes advanced again, the defenders tipped the hives over the parapet. They crashed to the ground and shattered in the midst of the attacking army. The released bees swarmed the soldiers, and their stings eventually drove the Swedes back.

Legend or Truth?

It remains unclear how much of this story is true. Yet it is visible nonetheless: Anyone walking along the city wall at Eisenstädter Platz will find a monument to Peter Heil there. It depicts him holding a beehive.

Image source: www.kissingerhimmel.de/de/alte-stadtmauer.html