Obermünster, Regensburg
Encyclopedia
The Obermünster, or Obermünster Abbey, Regensburg
, was a collegiate house of canonesses (Frauenstift) in Regensburg
, Bavaria
, second only to Niedermünster in wealth and power.
, was founded in the early 9th century by the ruling house of the Carolingians as a Benedictine nunnery to complement the adjacent St. Emmeram's Abbey
. It passed almost immediately into the possession of the bishops of Regensburg
, at that date also abbots of St. Emmeram's, but King Louis the German
recovered it by exchanging Mondsee Abbey
for it in 833. His widow, Hemma
, became abbess of Obermünster, although she was buried in St. Emmeram's. In the early 10th century it was a private monastery of the family of the Dukes of Bavaria. The nunnery and its church were destroyed by fire in 1002, and was rebuilt and revitalised by Emperor Henry II
, who is traditionally considered its founder, and who made it an Imperial abbey — judicially independent, but in this case without territorial sovereignty.
In 1219 it was put under Papal protection and in 1315 Emperor Louis the Bavarian elevated the abbesses to the Reichsfürstentum, or Imperial principality, after which they were known as Princess-abbesses ("Fürstäbtissinnen").
Repeated attempts to reform the rule of life and to return the house to its original Benedictine practice failed and in 1484 Obermünster formally became a collegiate house for noblewomen (adlige Frauenstift), which is what it had in any case been in practice for many years.
During the 17th and 18th centuries the buildings and church were refurbished in the Baroque
style.
It was dissolved in 1810 during the secularisation of Bavaria
. The last canonesses remained there in retirement until 1822, after which it became a seminary
. In 1862 the episcopal boys' seminary was also established there.
In 1944 bombs destroyed the church and part of the claustral buildings. After the war the central episcopal archive, the library, part of the diocesan museum and other diocesan service functions were accommodated in the buildings that remained.
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, was a collegiate house of canonesses (Frauenstift) in Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, 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...
, second only to Niedermünster in wealth and power.
History
The Obermünster ("higher monastery", named in relation to the older Niedermünster, or "lower monastery"), dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin MaryAssumption of the Virgin Mary
Many significant works of art depict the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. They include:* Assumption of the Virgin by Francesco Botticini* Assumption of the Virgin by Titian* Assumption of the Virgin by Antonio da Correggio...
, was founded in the early 9th century by the ruling house of the Carolingians as a Benedictine nunnery to complement the adjacent St. Emmeram's Abbey
St. Emmeram's Abbey
St. Emmeram's Abbey , now known as Schloss Thurn und Taxis, Schloss St. Emmeram, and St...
. It passed almost immediately into the possession of the bishops of Regensburg
Bishops of Regensburg
The Bishops of Regensburg are bishops of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. The seat of the bishops is Regensburg Cathedral.-History:...
, at that date also abbots of St. Emmeram's, but King Louis the German
Louis the German
Louis the German , also known as Louis II or Louis the Bavarian, was a grandson of Charlemagne and the third son of the succeeding Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye.He received the appellation 'Germanicus' shortly after his death in recognition of the fact...
recovered it by exchanging Mondsee Abbey
Mondsee Abbey
Mondsee Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Mondsee in Upper Austria.-History:The region of the Mondseeland, in which Mondsee is located, was formerly part of Bavaria. In 748 Mondsee Abbey was founded by Odilo, Duke of Bavaria. The abbey tradition was that the first monks came from Monte Cassino...
for it in 833. His widow, Hemma
Hemma
Emma of Altdorf, also known as Hemma was the wife of Louis the German, and Queen consort of Eastern Francia.Her father was Welf, Count of Altorf; her mother was Heilwig of Saxony , the daughter of Count Isanbart...
, became abbess of Obermünster, although she was buried in St. Emmeram's. In the early 10th century it was a private monastery of the family of the Dukes of Bavaria. The nunnery and its church were destroyed by fire in 1002, and was rebuilt and revitalised by Emperor Henry II
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
, who is traditionally considered its founder, and who made it an Imperial abbey — judicially independent, but in this case without territorial sovereignty.
In 1219 it was put under Papal protection and in 1315 Emperor Louis the Bavarian elevated the abbesses to the Reichsfürstentum, or Imperial principality, after which they were known as Princess-abbesses ("Fürstäbtissinnen").
Repeated attempts to reform the rule of life and to return the house to its original Benedictine practice failed and in 1484 Obermünster formally became a collegiate house for noblewomen (adlige Frauenstift), which is what it had in any case been in practice for many years.
During the 17th and 18th centuries the buildings and church were refurbished 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.
It was dissolved in 1810 during the secularisation of Bavaria
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
. The last canonesses remained there in retirement until 1822, after which it became a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. In 1862 the episcopal boys' seminary was also established there.
In 1944 bombs destroyed the church and part of the claustral buildings. After the war the central episcopal archive, the library, part of the diocesan museum and other diocesan service functions were accommodated in the buildings that remained.
Abbesses of Obermünster
- HemmaHemmaEmma of Altdorf, also known as Hemma was the wife of Louis the German, and Queen consort of Eastern Francia.Her father was Welf, Count of Altorf; her mother was Heilwig of Saxony , the daughter of Count Isanbart...
?–876 - Mathilde c. 900/945
- Irmgard
- Salome
- Wikpurg 1020–29
- Willa 1052–89
- Hazecha 1089–?
- Hadamuda 1117
- Hadwiga 1142–77
- Euphemia von Helffenstein 1193
- Gertrud I 1216
- Jutta 1259
- Gertrud II 1265
- Wilburg von Leuchtenberg 1272
- Ryssa I von Leuchtenberg 1286–92
- Ryssa II von Dornberg 1299
- Bertha Walterin ?–1325
- Adelheid von Arenbach
- Katharina von Murach
- Agnes I von Wunebach ?–1374
- Elisabeth I von Parsberg 1374–1400
- Elisabeth II von Murach 1400–02
- Margarethe I Sattelbogerin ?–1435
- Barbara von Absberg 1435–56
- Kunigunde von Egloffstein 1456–79
- Sibylla von Paulsdorff 1479–1500
- Agnes II von Paulsdorff 1500–?
- Katharina II von Redwitz 1533–36, died 1560
- Wandula von Schaumberg 1536–42
- Barbara II von Sandizell ?–1564
- Barbara III Ratzin 1564–79
- Magdalena von Gleissenthal 1579–94
- Margarethe II Mufflin 1594–1608
- Katharina Praxedis von Perckhausen 1608–49
- Maria Elisabeth von Salis 1649–83
- Maria Theresia von Sandizell 1683–1719
- Anna Magdalena Franziska von Dondorff 1719–65
- Maria Franziska von Freudenberg 1765–75
- Maria Josepha von Neuenstein-Hubacker 1775–1803