Naumburg Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Naumburger Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul
, located in Germany, is an important architectural work of the Late-Romanic
as well as the Early- and Late-Gothic
. Especially interesting are statues of the twelve cathedral founders (Stifterfiguren) and the magnificent Lettner
of the western choir, works of the Naumburg
masters. The church was erected with the transfer of the Episcopal See
from Zeitz
in 1028 next to an old Parish church. Thus it is the proto-cathedral of the former Catholic Diocese of Naumburg-Zeitz. After the Reformation
, in 1542, it became the see of a Protestant Bishop
, Nikolaus von Amsdorf, until 1548, then the Catholic Bishop, Julius von Pflug
, returned, but when he died, in 1564, it lost its function as episcopal see and fell under the control of the Electorate of Saxony
. It remains an Evangelical
church today.
erected a roughly 25 meter construction on the left bank of the Saale
near the mouth of the Unstrut
. The location for this castle, which was called "neweburg" that later became "Naumburg," was chosen for its advantageous proximity to the intersection of so many well-trafficked commercial highways.
His sons, Hermann and Eckard II
, founded a small parish church in the western part of the area around the castle. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was first mentioned in surviving texts in the Merseburg
Bishopric's Chronicle in 1021. In 1028, after some encouragement from the brothers they won approval from the King Conrad II
and Pope John XIX
to move the Episcopal See from Zeitz
to Naumburg on the grounds that the castle would provide more protection for the See than it could get in Zeitz.
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
, located in Germany, is an important architectural work of the Late-Romanic
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
as well as the Early- and Late-Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
. Especially interesting are statues of the twelve cathedral founders (Stifterfiguren) and the magnificent Lettner
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
of the western choir, works of the Naumburg
Naumburg
Naumburg is a town in Germany, on the Saale River. It is in the district Burgenlandkreis in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. It is approximately southwest of Leipzig, south-southwest of Halle, and north-northeast of Jena....
masters. The church was erected with the transfer of the Episcopal See
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
from Zeitz
Zeitz
Zeitz is a town in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, in the middle of the triangle of the federal states Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony.-History:...
in 1028 next to an old Parish church. Thus it is the proto-cathedral of the former Catholic Diocese of Naumburg-Zeitz. After 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...
, in 1542, it became the see of a Protestant Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, Nikolaus von Amsdorf, until 1548, then the Catholic Bishop, Julius von Pflug
Julius von Pflug
Julius von Pflug was the last Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Naumburg from 1542 until his death. He was one of the most significant reformers involved with the Protestant Reformation....
, returned, but when he died, in 1564, it lost its function as episcopal see and fell under the control of the Electorate of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
. It remains an Evangelical
Evangelical Church of the Church Province of Saxony
The Evangelical Church of the Church Province of Saxony was the most important Protestant denomination in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. As a united Protestant church, it combined both Lutheran and Reformed traditions...
church today.
The Naumburg Castle
Around 1000 AD, Eckard I the Margrave of Meißen and the most powerful man on the eastern border of the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
erected a roughly 25 meter construction on the left bank of the Saale
Saale
The Saale, also known as the Saxon Saale and Thuringian Saale , is a river in Germany and a left-bank tributary of the Elbe. It is not to be confused with the smaller Franconian Saale, a right-bank tributary of the Main, or the Saale in Lower Saxony, a tributary of the Leine.-Course:The Saale...
near the mouth of the Unstrut
Unstrut
The Unstrut is a river in Germany and a left tributary of the Saale. It originates in northern Thuringia near Dingelstädt and its catchment area is the whole of the Thuringian Basin...
. The location for this castle, which was called "neweburg" that later became "Naumburg," was chosen for its advantageous proximity to the intersection of so many well-trafficked commercial highways.
His sons, Hermann and Eckard II
Eckard II, Margrave of Meissen
Eckard II was the margrave of Meissen from 1038 until his death, succeeding his brother, Herman I. His line was descended from Eckard I...
, founded a small parish church in the western part of the area around the castle. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was first mentioned in surviving texts in the Merseburg
Merseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
Bishopric's Chronicle in 1021. In 1028, after some encouragement from the brothers they won approval from the King Conrad II
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
Conrad II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 until his death.The son of a mid-level nobleman in Franconia, Count Henry of Speyer and Adelaide of Alsace, he inherited the titles of count of Speyer and of Worms as an infant when Henry died at age twenty...
and Pope John XIX
Pope John XIX
Pope John XIX , born Romanus, was Pope from 1024 to 1032.He succeeded his brother, Pope Benedict VIII , both being members of the powerful house of Tusculum...
to move the Episcopal See from Zeitz
Zeitz
Zeitz is a town in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, in the middle of the triangle of the federal states Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony.-History:...
to Naumburg on the grounds that the castle would provide more protection for the See than it could get in Zeitz.
The Early-Romanesque Stage
Soon after the approval of the relocation of the Episcopal See, in the Spring of 1029, just to the east of the existing parish church the early-Romanesque Cathedral was begun. In 1044, during the reign of Bishop Hunold the church was consecrated and the patron saints of Peter and Paul were designated.External links
- http://www.holycross.edu/departments/visarts/vraguin/nambrg.htm Images of some important art in the cathedral
- http://www.planetware.com/map/naumburg/naumburg-cathedral/naumburg-cathedral-map-d-naumcat.htm a small layout of the cathedral