Arnsburg Castle (Ruin) (Seega)

The Arnsburg, also known as Arensburg or Arnsberg, is a castle ruin above the village of Seega in the Kyffhäuser district in Thuringia. It is unclear whether the name of the castle - as frequently claimed - derives from "Adlerburg" (Eagle Castle).

Layout
Of the medieval castle, three pointed arches of a residential or utility building from the 14th century are preserved. Also present are remains of the Zwinger (outer bailey) and a renovated vault.

History
The castle is first mentioned in a document in 1116 in connection with the struggles between Emperor Henry V (1106–1125) and the Saxon princes. Since Burgrave Heinrich "with the head" of Meissen sought refuge in the castle, it was probably an imperial castle.

At an unknown time, the castle seems to have come into the possession of the Landgraves of Thuringia, as in 1229 a landgravial ministerialis Ulrich von Arnsburg is mentioned at the castle. In 1278 and 1289, the ministeriales residing at the castle are referred to as burgraves.

At the end of the 13th century, the Counts of Hohnstein also advanced into this area. In 1293, they were enfeoffed with the castle by Landgrave Albrecht II. In 1356, the castle came to the Counts of Schwarzburg. In 1433, the Schwarzburgers ceded the reversionary right to the Arnsburg to the Counts of Stolberg in the event of their extinction. In 1492, an uprising of the population occurred. The castle was pledged by the Counts of Schwarzburg to the Lords of Vippach in 1498. It seems to have been in a state of severe decay at this time. The final destruction probably occurred in 1525 during the Peasants' War, as the castle is no longer mentioned after 1599.