New Imperial Constitution
In May 1849, Rastatt Town Hall was at the heart of the revolution. The mayor at the time, Ludwig Sallinger, was a staunch supporter of the democratic movement and he headed the town council. He ensured that the decrees of the Offenburg Assembly were proclaimed from the window of the town hall on 13th May. Although this did not proclaim a republic, it did publicize a new Imperial Constitution.
At that time, the soldiers in Rastatt had already joined forces with the revolutionary vigilantes. Now they were fighting side by side for democracy. On 14th May, they were sworn in under the new Imperial Constitution. This took the revolution in Rastatt to a new level. That same night, Grand Duke Leopold – the ruler of Baden at the time – fled into exile in Koblenz.
