suburb in front of the Diez Gate. He also founded the Holy Spirit Hospital in the bridge-area suburb. The construction utilized forced labor from the farmers of Gerlach’s villages. The projects exceeded the financial capacity of the Lordship of Limburg, and Gerlach had to repeatedly borrow money from Limburg merchants. In 1337, Gerlach expelled the Jews from Limburg. They were allowed to settle in the city again only after an order by Emperor Louis IV in 1341. In the same year, in response to a request by Gerlach, Louis' rival, King Charles IV, authorized the City of Limburg to collect bridge tolls. A fire in 1342 and the first wave of the Black Death in 1349 began Limburg’s economic decline. The great fire of 1342 destroyed the greater part of the city. In the reconstruction, the city walls were extended around the suburb outside the Diez Gate, to offer more protection in a feud with the Counts of Diez. A moat was also added. The costs of the rebuilding effort after the fire and the cost of the feud ultimately exceeded the financial capacity of Gerlach, so that he had to pledge half of his realm of Archbishop Baldwin of Trier in 1344. At the beginning of 1346, he also pledged the second half to Baldwin. War broke out when Charles IV was elected King of Germany in the place of Emperor Louis IV in July 1346. Archbishop Baldwin supported Charles, while Gerlach belonged to the supporters of Emperor Louis. In return for Gerlach’s services, the emperor issued a comprehensive letter of freedom for the town of Limburg in 1346, and granted Gerlach 20,000 pounds heller. The fighting eventually spread to the Lahn Valley. Reinhard I of Westerburg, a supporter of Ludwig, had captured Grenzau Castle from Trier and on April 20, 1347 a relief army sent by Baldwin attacked from the rear. In the battle nearly 200 soldiers were killed, before Reinhard, followed by knights of Trier, escaped to Limburg Castle. Baldwin requested Gerlach to open the castle so he could arrest Reinhard. Baldwin pointed out that according to the pledge of his castle Gerlach had a sworn obligation to do so. Gerlach said he would legally examine the matter. On the day of judgment, about 800 soldiers from Westerburg were in Dietkirchen, while the army of Trier made its camp near Diez. In the court hearing, Gerlach declared