Herford is town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Located in the lowlands between the mountain chains of the Wiehengebirge and the Teutoburg Forest, it is the capital of the district of Herford (district). Population: 65,100 (1999).
The town was founded in 789 by Charlemagne in order to guard a ford crossing the narrow Werre river. One century later, Matilda of Ringelheim, daughter of Theudebert, duke of Saxony, grew up in the abbey of Herford; she was a descendant of the Saxon leader Widukind. In Herford she met Henry the Fowler, who later became king of Germany.
In late medieval times Herford was a member of the Hanseatic League. It was a Free Imperial City, i.e. it was directly subordinated to the emperor. This status was lost after the Peace of Westphalia (1648), when Herford was annexed by Brandenburg.
Herford is twinned with the town of Hinckley in England.
nds:Hiärwede
