The House of Bavarian History is planning three major projects for the year 2022. The Bavarian exhibition “Die inns? Life in inns!” (April 30 to December 11) and the special exhibition “Bavaria and Olympia 1896 to 2022” (July 12 to January 15, 2023). But the “most important activity” this year, says director Richard Loibl, is the state exhibition entitled “Typically Franconian?” will hear. Both Loibl and the project manager Rainhard Riepertinger attach particular importance to the question mark. One wants to approach the phenomenon from different perspectives and grope for answers. So the question mark in the title says it all.
The exhibition goes back to the Day of the Franconians in 2016 and Horst Seehofer, who held the office of Prime Minister at the time. Günter Dippold, district home attendant in Upper Franconia, did not find the fact that the state exhibition on the subject of beer was held in the designated beer country of Upper Franconia, but in Lower Bavaria not particularly refreshing. Whereupon Seehofer promised him a state exhibition, gladly on the subject of “The Franconians and their humor”. Which, in turn, they probably found a little too specific in the House of Bavarian History – and now they are dealing with the somewhat larger topic “Typically Franconian?” occupy. Namely in Ansbach, the capital of Middle Franconia.
In Ansbach? Why the municipality, with its rather small-town charm in the center, is the district capital at all and is therefore responsible for the government of the cities of Nuremberg, Fürth and Erlangen, would be the first question, which is perhaps typical for Franconia – where the phenomenological basic understanding always also includes relevant historical knowledge. The Erlangen state historian Werner Blessing can explain the capital issue precisely, but unfortunately the answer is not too complex. It could be summed up as follows: Wherever territories were merged into larger states during Napoleonic land consolidation, the management tried to “continue to ensure the greatest possible centrality” for the previous residence cities – for example Ansbach. In Nuremberg, on the other hand, where no residence could be replaced, they were so furious in their “imperial city pride” at the occupation by Napoleon’s vassal Bavaria in 1806 that the rejection was obvious. As a result, the city of Nuremberg “would never have come into question” as the seat of government for Middle Franconia.
Be that as it may, Ansbach’s Mayor Thomas Deffner, who appeared in Franconian costume at the presentation of the project, presents his city as a “connection between Bavaria and Prussia”. From May 25th to November 6th, the state exhibition can be seen in the town church of St. Gumbertus and in the baroque orangery building of the margravial court garden. On a hike through nine Franconian regions you should be able to discover what is “typical” for Franconia – or at least could be. One thing in particular should be in focus: the historical and regional diversity of the Franconians.