Navnet Rosborg kommer sandsynligvis af den gamle benævnelse “rot”, som betyder fugtig sumpjord uden sivbevoksning, hvilket stadig kendetegner dette område - Vestre Enge.
Højvande i Vejle Fjord har sandsynligvis omdannet engene omkring Rosborg til en stor sø, således at borgen med sine voldgrave udgjorde en glimrende fæstning. En fæstning, hvorfra der kunne holdes kontrol med de fartøjer, der sejlede på åen.
Rosborg har været en betydningsfuld borg i det 14. århundrede. I 1406 blev Mogens Munk (en af Dronning Margrethe den Førstes meget ansete rådgiver) lensherre over Rosborg. Da han få år senere døde på slagmarken er borgen kommet under Koldinghus Len. Dette er sidste gang man hører om borgen Rosborg.
Efter borgen blev nedlagt ejede den danske konge fortsat ladegården indtil Vejle by overtog den i 1572. I 1770 blev ladegården revet ned og erstattet af herregården Pedersholm.
I 1912 foretog en række elever fra Vejle Latinskole udgravninger på stedet og fandt blandt andet nogle kander af rhinsk stentøj fra det 14. århundrede. Heraf var en af kanderne særlig flot, da den øverste del var modelleret som et skægget mandshoved, en såkaldt “skæggemand”.
Placeringen af borgen har været fordelagtig, da den har ligget ude i en sump, hvilket ikke var unormalt for danske borganlæg. Jorden til at bygge voldstedet med er blevet fragtet til stedet, der var nemlig ingen naturlig forhøjning dér. Voldstedet består af en ca. 40 m. lang og ca. 25 m. bred borgbanke, der hæver sig indtil ca. 1,75 m. over den omgivne engflade. Man kan spore flere forskellige bygninger på stedet. Den ældste bygning har sandsynligvis været af træ, der muligvis er brændt ned. Senere har man opført en bygning af teglsten.
I dag er der ikke meget at se. Som det står skrevet i en avisartikel fra 1948: “Dette er Rosborg - eller - Sandheden i Ære - her dækker Engens frodige Græs og smukke, vilde Blomster Resterne af den forsvundne Borg.”
Kilder: Lokalhistorisk arkiv, www.historiskatlas.dk
English:
Rosborg was a medieval castle in the meadows west of Vejle. It is unknown, when it was builded and who builded it, but it was probably builded by a magnate in the second half of the 14th century. The government of Vejle was also moved from the older royal castle Borgvold (placed where the train/bus station is today).
High tide in Vejle Fjord has probably turned the meadows surrounding Rosborg into a big lake, so that the and its moats made a excellent fort. A fort, from where the ships on the river where controlled.
Rosborg has been a important castle in the 14th century. In 1406 Mogens Munk, an adviser of queen Margaret I, became feudal overlord at Rosborg. When he died on the battlefield a few years later, Rosborg became a part of fief of Koldinghus. That is the last time we here anything about Rosborg.
After the castle was resigned, the Danish king still owned the farm buildings until the city of Vejle took it over in 1572. I 1770 the farm building was pulled down and replaced by the manor Pedersholm.
I 1912 some students of the grammar school of Vejle (Vejle Latinskole) did excavations at the site and discovered among other things Rhine stoneware from the 14th century.
The location of the castle has been advantageous, because it has been located in a marsh, which was not unusual for Danish castles. The earth used to build the castle has been transported to the site, because there were no naturally rise. The castle mounds consists of an 40 times 25 meter earthwork, lifted up to 1.75 meter above the surrounding meadow. Several buildings can be spotted at the site. The oldest building was probably made of wood, perhaps is it burned down. Later a building of bricks was builded.
To day is not much visible. As it says in a 1948 newspaper article: “This i Rosborg. Or - to be true - here are the lush grass of the meadow and beautiful, wild flowers covering the remnant of the disappeared castle.”
Husk selv skriveredskab.
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