History
Even in Roman times, Mayen (lat. Megina) was an important economic centre. From the end of the 3rd Century up until the Middle Ages, potteries were established here, whose products made their way across Central Europe. An even older – prehistoric – use was found for the quarries in the nearby area; the basalt was used to make millstones and the tuff was used in the production of sarcophagi. These sarcophagi were found buried with significant glass artifacts (which are now displayed in the Genovevaburg Museum in Mayen).
The name Mayen probably comes from the name Megina. Records from as far back as 847 show this as a designation of the town, coming from the Celtic word ‘magos’ meaning field. In the 8th Century the legend of Genoveva of Brabant, names Mayen as the seat of government of Duke Siegfried of the Pfalz.
Mayen received its first official recognition in 1041, and was granted Town Status in 1291 from Rudolf I von Habsburg, at the same time as Bernkastel, Welschbillig, Montabaur and Saarburg. Mayen is possibly linked to the town of Maifeld, which lies a short distant to the south-east, since Mayen was called the capital of the Meiengau in the Middle Ages.
During the Second World War, in particular during the Air Attacks of 12 December 1944 and 2 January 1945, up to approximately 90% of the town was destroyed, and only after a special referendum was it decided to rebuild it.
Up until 1973, Mayen was the District Centre of the Mayen District (with number-plate code MY). After 1973, the district administration was moved to Koblenz and the District was renamed Mayen-Koblenz District with the new number-plate code of MYK; Koblenz kept its own code of KO.
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