Oranienburg

Oranienburg (Slavic languages: "Bóźow") is a town in Germany, with about 45.000 people. It is located a few kilometers north of Berlin. It was originally settled by Slavic people, and was probably called Bochzowe. Germanic settlers arrived in the 12th century, and kept the original name. Because of the strategic location, a castle was built in the 13th century. The first known reference occurred in 1216, as "Bothzowe". City rights were awarded in 1232. The name Bothzowe, lives on in Bötzow. In 1483, the castle lost its importance, and Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg built a new residence there, he used for hunting. During the thirty years war, Bötzow was pillaged, and burnt down.