Agnes von der Vierbecke

Agnes von der Vierbecke, also Agneta ( in Hengsen (today Holzwickede) – 4 October 1378 in Dortmund) is the only medieval woman from Holzwickede and Dortmund to be documented in the historical record. Agnes is known for her participation in the feud between the Dortmunders and Count Dietrich von Dinslaken, a brother of Count von der Mark.

Early life Agnes was born and raised on the noble estate of Haus Vierbecke in Hengsen. She married a Dortmund patrician named Sudermann and had a son with him, Arnold (or Arnt) Sudermann.

Attempt to smuggle Dinslaken's soldiers into Dortmund After she was widowed, Agnes became a friend of Count Dietrich von Dinslaken. She is alleged to have become involved in Dinslaken's attempt to take over the town of Dortmund. According to tradition, Agnes agreed to help smuggle Count Dietrich's soldiers into the heavily fortified town of Dortmund on 4 October 1378, the Sunday after Michaelmas.

A troop of soldiers hid in one of Agnes' hay wagons, along with a load of wood, and Agnes drove the wagon to Dortmund's Wißstrasse Gate. Hidden in the bushes in front of the gate was young Count Conrad von Dortmund with his armed men, waiting to assist in an attack.

Agnes told the guards at the gate that the wood in her wagon was hers, in order to smuggle her load of soldiers into the town.

Next Agnes parked her wagon next to the outer gate, ensuring that it could no longer be closed. The gatekeeper, Hermann Rübenkamp, knew Agnes personally, and did not suspect any ill intentions.

Then Agnes asked gatekeeper Rübenkamp to bring her a pot of pepper stew from a market stand. The gatekeeper agreed, and went to fetch it, abandoning his post. When he left, Agnes proceeded to climb up the Wißstrasse Gate tower, and gave a signal with a white handkerchief for the enemy troops to attack.

However, the gatekeeper had left the inner gate closed when he went to fetch the stew, so the attack failed. The attackers were slain by the Dortmund guards and militia.