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| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Lorch was founded in 1102 by Duke ] and |
Lorch was founded in 1102 by Duke ]; his wife, ]; and their sons, the future Duke ] and King ].<ref name=MG>Leslie Anne Hamel, "Lorch", in John Jeep (ed.), ''Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia'' (Garland, 2001), p. 466.</ref><ref name=JBF>John Freed, ''Frederick Barbarossa: The Prince and the Myth'' (Yale University Press, 2016), pp. 3–5.</ref> Its original buildings were completed by 1108 atop the ''Liebfrauenberg'' (Mountain of the Virgin).<ref name=MG/> It lay on ]ial property a few miles north of ] on the other side of the river ].<ref name=JBF/> It at first served as a ] of the Staufer dynasty.<ref name=MG/> In 1136, it was donated to papacy and accepted by ].<ref name=JBF/> | ||
| In 1139, Duke Frederick II was elected '']'' by the monks. He was then appointed by his brother, King Conrad III, who ruled that the head of the dynasty would thenceforth always be elected ''advocatus''. In 1154, Frederick II's son, Emperor ], clarified that it was the eldest descendant of Frederick II and Conrad III who would always be ''advocatus''.<ref name=JBF/> It was probably around 1139 that Conrad III moved Frederick I's remains to the abbey for reburial.<ref name=JBF/> Many members of the Staufer family were buried at Lorch after 1140. The exact number and identity of burials is unknown.<ref name=MG/> Conrad III desired to be buried there but was not.<ref name=JBF/> | |||
| ⚫ | After the death of ] in 1268, Lorch was acquired by the ]. |
||
| ⚫ | After the death of ] in 1268, Lorch was acquired by the ].<ref name=MG/> From the 13th century, the lords of {{ill|Woellwarth|de}} endowed a chapel olding a purported relic of the skull of ].<ref name=SSG/> As a result, in the 15th and 16th centuries, they had the right to be buried in the chapel.<ref name=MG/><ref name=SSG/> In 1475, Abbot ] opened the Staufer tombs and gathered the bones into a single new richly carved sarcophagus and placed it in the nave.<ref name=SSG>, Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten, Baden-Württemberg. Retrieved (along with subpages) on 30 November 2024.</ref> The complex was damaged in 1525 during the ].<ref name=MG/> The monastery was closed during the ] in 1556. Plans to demolish the remains of the monastery were halted in the late 19th century, when it came to be seen as a monument to the Staufer. Today, it is operated by ]'s {{ill|lt=State Palaces and Gardens|State Palaces and Gardens Baden-Württemberg|de|Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg}} and is open to visitors.<ref name=SSG/> | ||
| ==Buildings== | ==Buildings== | ||
| Lorch was a ], surrounded by a rampart and stone wall with round towers. The wall as it still stands was built in the 13th century to expand the area of the monastery. It was renovated in the early 16th century. The eastern gate once had a tower, gatehouses and a moat with a drawbridge.<ref name=SSG/> The buildings were originally built in the ] style.<ref name=MG/> | Lorch was a ], surrounded by a rampart and stone wall with round towers. The wall as it still stands was built in the 13th century to expand the area of the monastery. It was renovated in the early 16th century. The eastern gate once had a tower, gatehouses and a moat with a drawbridge.<ref name=SSG/> The buildings were originally built in the ] style.<ref name=MG/> | ||
| The largest building was the cruciform church, which mostly still stands. Its altar was dedicated in 1139. It had two round towers on its west façade. Only the Marsilius tower remains.<ref name=SSG/> Originally Romanesque, the church received a ] renovation in 1469 under Abbot |
The largest building was the cruciform church, which mostly still stands.<ref name=SSG/> Its altar was dedicated to Saint Peter in 1139.<ref name=MG/><ref name=SSG/> It had two round towers on its west façade. Only the Marsilius tower remains.<ref name=SSG/> Originally Romanesque, the church received a ] renovation in 1469 under Abbot Nikolaus Schenk von Arberg.<ref name=MG/><ref name=SSG/> Around 1500, the church had twelve altars. Once richly decorated, its decor has now been totally removed.<ref name=SSG/> This includes once sizeable relic collection. The eight piers of the nave are decorated with paintings of the Staufer kings from around 1500.<ref name=MG/> The last of the church's furnishings, such as choir stalls, were taken out in 1833–1838, leaving an empty interior.<ref name=SSG/> | ||
| The monks' residence, the ], was attached to the church. Only its north wing survives, the rest a victim of the Peasants' War. It is now known as the "prelature" and includes the former dormitory, chapter house and refectory. There are murals of the ] from about 1530 in the refectory. A modern mural depicting the sweep of Staufer history was added by ] to the chapter house. The ] abbot's house, a separate building which also served as a guesthouse, still stands. The bailiwick, the residence of the steward and later used by the dukes of Württemberg during hunting trips, has been torn down.<ref name=SSG/> | The monks' residence, the ], was attached to the church. Only its north wing survives, the rest a victim of the Peasants' War. It is now known as the "prelature" and includes the former dormitory, chapter house and refectory. There are murals of the ] from about 1530 in the refectory. A modern mural depicting the sweep of Staufer history was added by ] to the chapter house. The ] abbot's house, a separate building which also served as a guesthouse, still stands. The bailiwick, the residence of the steward and later used by the dukes of Württemberg during hunting trips, has been torn down.<ref name=SSG/> | ||
| The monastery's |
The monastery's outbuildings included a hospital, school, ] and ]s. The latter still stand, but the hospital and school are known only through archaeological excavations. A herb garden is still maintained at the site.<ref name=SSG/> | ||
| ==Burials== | |||
| Known or suspected Staufer burials at Lorch include: | |||
| *]<ref name=JBF/> | |||
| *], Conrad III's son and co-king<ref name=JBF/> | |||
| *], Barbarossa's mother<ref name=JBF/> | |||
| *Rainald and William, Barbarossa's sons who died in infancy<ref name=JBF/> | |||
| *], Barbarossa's daughter<ref name=JBF/> | |||
| *]<ref name=JBF/> | |||
| *], queen<ref name=MG/> | |||
| *], empress<ref name=MG/> | |||
| The Staufer were remembered annually by the monks on September 2.<ref name=SSG/> | |||
| In addition, the tombs of the abbots were also in the abbey. There are many surviving tomb slabs, some richly decorated. Some of the Woellwarth tomb slabs are also preserved.<ref name=SSG/> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 23:02, 30 November 2024
Not to be confused with Lorsch Abbey.
Lorch Abbey (German: Klosert Lorch) was a Benedictine monastery in Lorch from 1102 to 1556. It was the house monastery of the Staufer dynasty. Today, many of its buildings remain and are open to visitors.
History
Lorch was founded in 1102 by Duke Frederick I of Swabia; his wife, Agnes of Waiblingen; and their sons, the future Duke Frederick II and King Conrad III. Its original buildings were completed by 1108 atop the Liebfrauenberg (Mountain of the Virgin). It lay on allodial property a few miles north of Hohenstaufen Castle on the other side of the river Rems. It at first served as a private church of the Staufer dynasty. In 1136, it was donated to papacy and accepted by Pope Innocent II.
In 1139, Duke Frederick II was elected advocatus by the monks. He was then appointed by his brother, King Conrad III, who ruled that the head of the dynasty would thenceforth always be elected advocatus. In 1154, Frederick II's son, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, clarified that it was the eldest descendant of Frederick II and Conrad III who would always be advocatus. It was probably around 1139 that Conrad III moved Frederick I's remains to the abbey for reburial. Many members of the Staufer family were buried at Lorch after 1140. The exact number and identity of burials is unknown. Conrad III desired to be buried there but was not.
After the death of Conradin in 1268, Lorch was acquired by the County of Württemberg. From the 13th century, the lords of Woellwarth [de] endowed a chapel olding a purported relic of the skull of Saint Maurice. As a result, in the 15th and 16th centuries, they had the right to be buried in the chapel. In 1475, Abbot Nikolaus Schenk von Arberg opened the Staufer tombs and gathered the bones into a single new richly carved sarcophagus and placed it in the nave. The complex was damaged in 1525 during the German Peasants' War. The monastery was closed during the Reformation in 1556. Plans to demolish the remains of the monastery were halted in the late 19th century, when it came to be seen as a monument to the Staufer. Today, it is operated by Baden-Württemberg's State Palaces and Gardens [de] and is open to visitors.
Buildings
Lorch was a fortified monastery, surrounded by a rampart and stone wall with round towers. The wall as it still stands was built in the 13th century to expand the area of the monastery. It was renovated in the early 16th century. The eastern gate once had a tower, gatehouses and a moat with a drawbridge. The buildings were originally built in the Romanesque style.
The largest building was the cruciform church, which mostly still stands. Its altar was dedicated to Saint Peter in 1139. It had two round towers on its west façade. Only the Marsilius tower remains. Originally Romanesque, the church received a Gothic renovation in 1469 under Abbot Nikolaus Schenk von Arberg. Around 1500, the church had twelve altars. Once richly decorated, its decor has now been totally removed. This includes once sizeable relic collection. The eight piers of the nave are decorated with paintings of the Staufer kings from around 1500. The last of the church's furnishings, such as choir stalls, were taken out in 1833–1838, leaving an empty interior.
The monks' residence, the cloister, was attached to the church. Only its north wing survives, the rest a victim of the Peasants' War. It is now known as the "prelature" and includes the former dormitory, chapter house and refectory. There are murals of the life of Christ from about 1530 in the refectory. A modern mural depicting the sweep of Staufer history was added by Hans Kloss to the chapter house. The half-timber abbot's house, a separate building which also served as a guesthouse, still stands. The bailiwick, the residence of the steward and later used by the dukes of Württemberg during hunting trips, has been torn down.
The monastery's outbuildings included a hospital, school, cavalier house and tithe barns. The latter still stand, but the hospital and school are known only through archaeological excavations. A herb garden is still maintained at the site.
Burials
Known or suspected Staufer burials at Lorch include:
- Frederick I, Duke of Swabia
- Henry (VI), Conrad III's son and co-king
- Judith of Bavaria, Barbarossa's mother
- Rainald and William, Barbarossa's sons who died in infancy
- Beatrice of Swabia, Barbarossa's daughter
- Conrad II, Duke of Swabia
- Irene Angelina, queen
- Beatrice of Swabia, empress
The Staufer were remembered annually by the monks on September 2.
In addition, the tombs of the abbots were also in the abbey. There are many surviving tomb slabs, some richly decorated. Some of the Woellwarth tomb slabs are also preserved.
References
- ^ Leslie Anne Hamel, "Lorch", in John Jeep (ed.), Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia (Garland, 2001), p. 466.
- ^ John Freed, Frederick Barbarossa: The Prince and the Myth (Yale University Press, 2016), pp. 3–5.
- ^ Burial Place of the House of Staufer with Many Events: Lorch Monastery, Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten, Baden-Württemberg. Retrieved (along with subpages) on 30 November 2024.