Kaisheim Abbey
Encyclopedia
Kaisheim Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Kaisheim
, Bavaria
, Germany
.
. Count Henry's initial gift of the land was made in 1133; the foundation charter was dated 21 September 1135. The first church was dedicated in 1183 by the Bishop of Augsburg
, but was damaged in a fire in 1286, and re-built in its entirety between 1352 and 1387, when the new building was dedicated.
The foundation charter guaranteed the new monastery immunity and independence from secular powers, but on the extinction of the Counts of Lechsgemünd in 1327, their territories passed to the Wittelsbach
Counts of Graisbach, who were unwilling to honour the original terms. Although in 1346 the abbey succeeded in obtaining from the Emperor Charles IV
a confirmation of the rights included in the charter, and was declared an Imperial abbey , the Wittelsbachs were not inclined to honour it.
In 1505, the territory of Pfalz-Neuburg was created, which inherited the rights of the County of Graisbach, including territorial rights over Kaisheim. During the Reformation
, the conversion of Otto Henry, Duke of Neuburg and Elector Palatine
, to Protestantism
, led to fears the abbey would be dissolved, although this danger soon passed.
Finally, in 1656 the then abbot George IV Müller reached agreement with Duke Philip of Pfalz-Neuburg that the abbey's Imperial immediacy would be respected. This carried with it the obligation however to provide troops to the imperial army when required, and from this date onwards the abbey had to accommodate a small standing force of soldiers of some 80 men.
The buildings underwent a major re-building in the 1720s in the Baroque
style.
In 1802, the abbey was dissolved in the secularisation of Bavaria, and its assets taken by the Bavarian state. The premises were at first used for military purposes, later as accommodation for the displaced Bavarian Franciscan
s. From 1816, the buildings have been used as a prison
, and now house the Justizvollzugsanstalt Kaisheim.
The Kaiser's Hall and the library are of particular architectural interest. In the east wing, known as the Kaiser's wing, the Bayerisches Strafvollziehungsmuseum (Bavarian Museum of Punishment) has displayed the permanent exhibition Behind Bars since 1989.
Kaisheim
Kaisheim is a municipality in the district of Donau-Ries in Bavaria in Germany. It was the location of the Imperial abbey, Kaisheim Abbey.-History:...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
History
It was founded by Henry II, Count of Lechsgemünd (d. 1142) and his wife Liutgard, and was a daughter house of Lucelle Abbey in AlsaceAlsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. Count Henry's initial gift of the land was made in 1133; the foundation charter was dated 21 September 1135. The first church was dedicated in 1183 by the Bishop of Augsburg
Bishop of Augsburg
The Bishop of Augsburg is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Augsburg in the Ecclesiastical province of München und Freising.The diocese covers an area of 13,250 km².The current bishop is Konrad Zdarsa who was appointed in 2010....
, but was damaged in a fire in 1286, and re-built in its entirety between 1352 and 1387, when the new building was dedicated.
The foundation charter guaranteed the new monastery immunity and independence from secular powers, but on the extinction of the Counts of Lechsgemünd in 1327, their territories passed to the Wittelsbach
Wittelsbach
The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria.Members of the family served as Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria , Counts Palatine of the Rhine , Margraves of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland , Elector-Archbishops of Cologne , Dukes of...
Counts of Graisbach, who were unwilling to honour the original terms. Although in 1346 the abbey succeeded in obtaining from the Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
a confirmation of the rights included in the charter, and was declared an Imperial abbey , the Wittelsbachs were not inclined to honour it.
In 1505, the territory of Pfalz-Neuburg was created, which inherited the rights of the County of Graisbach, including territorial rights over Kaisheim. During the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the conversion of Otto Henry, Duke of Neuburg and Elector Palatine
Otto Henry, Elector Palatine
Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine, a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty was Count Palatine of Palatinate-Neuburg from 1505 to 1559 and prince elector of the Palatinate from 1556 to 1559...
, to Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, led to fears the abbey would be dissolved, although this danger soon passed.
Finally, in 1656 the then abbot George IV Müller reached agreement with Duke Philip of Pfalz-Neuburg that the abbey's Imperial immediacy would be respected. This carried with it the obligation however to provide troops to the imperial army when required, and from this date onwards the abbey had to accommodate a small standing force of soldiers of some 80 men.
The buildings underwent a major re-building in the 1720s in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style.
In 1802, the abbey was dissolved in the secularisation of Bavaria, and its assets taken by the Bavarian state. The premises were at first used for military purposes, later as accommodation for the displaced Bavarian Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s. From 1816, the buildings have been used as a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, and now house the Justizvollzugsanstalt Kaisheim.
The Kaiser's Hall and the library are of particular architectural interest. In the east wing, known as the Kaiser's wing, the Bayerisches Strafvollziehungsmuseum (Bavarian Museum of Punishment) has displayed the permanent exhibition Behind Bars since 1989.
Abbots of Kaisheim
- Udalrich 1133-1155
- Konrad I 1155-1165
- Diethelm 1165-1174
- Albert 1174-1194
- Ebbo 1194-1210
- Konrad II 1210-1228
- Heinrich I 1228-1239
- Richard 1239-1251
- Wolvich 1251-1262
- Heinrich II 1262-1266
- Trutwin 1266-1287
- Heinrich III 1287-1302
- Johann I Chonold 1302-1320
- Ulrich I Zoller 1320-1339
- Ulrich II Nubling 1339-1360
- Johann II Zauer 1360-1379
- Johann III Molitor 1379-1400
- Johann IV Scherb 1400-1422
- Kraft von Hochstadt 1422-1427
- Leonhard Weinmayer 1427-1440
- Nikolaus Kolb 1440-1458
- Georg I 1458-1479
- Johann V Vister 1479-1490
- Georg II Kastner 1490-1509
- Konrad III Reutter 1509-1540
- Johann VI Zauer 1540-1575
- Ulrich III 1575-1586
- Georg III 1586-1589
- Domenicus 1589-1594
- Sebastian 1594-1608
- Johann VII 1608-1626
- Jakob 1626-1637
- Georg IV 1637-1667
- Benedikt 1667-1674
- Hieronymus 1675-1681
- Elias 1681-1696
- Judas Thaddäus 1696-1698
- Roger von Röltz 1698-1739
- Cölestin I Meermols 1739-1771
- Cölestin II Angelsbrucker 1771-1783
- Franz Xaver Müller 1783-1803