Think of the Peasants' War – Upper Austria 1626: My, your, our history?

OÖ 1626 – A Contested Heritage
The Upper Austrian Peasant War of 1626 resulted from tensions that had built up over the years: political foreign rule, economic burdens, and conflicts over faith. Previously, the Frankenburger Punitive Court of 1625 had condensed these experiences into an event that has left a deep imprint on the collective memory.
The consequences of the war extended far beyond the military defeat. Repression, pressure on faith, and emigration shaped entire generations – and later became an important part of regional and Protestant memory and identity.
However, the way the Peasant War is remembered has changed repeatedly: at times seen as an illegitimate uprising, at other times as a struggle against foreign rule, sometimes as a testimony of faith, and later also as a social revolutionary liberation struggle, a national-religious popular uprising, or a reminder of tolerance and against violence. The different sites of memory in Upper Austria alone demonstrate that history is not a fixed possession but the result of negotiation. Various political and confessional groups have reinterpreted the events and used them for their present – up to today.
Our event series invites participants to engage in conversation about these multifaceted interpretations – openly, controversially, with respectful listening, and with the guiding question:

OÖ 1626: My, your, our history?
After a few short presentations, these will be discussed among the audience and reflected upon together. Musical accompaniment and food and drinks will be provided.