Niedermünster, Regensburg
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The Niedermünster or Niedermünster Abbey (),
Regensburg Regensburg (historically known in English as Ratisbon) is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Naab and Regen (river), Regen, Danube's northernmost point. It is the capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the ...
, was a house of
canoness A canoness is a member of a religious community of women, historically a stable community dedicated to the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours in a particular church. The name corresponds to a canon, the male equivalent, and both roles share a ...
es (
Frauenstift The term (; ) is derived from the verb (to donate) and originally meant 'a donation'. Such donations usually comprised earning assets, originally landed estates with serfs defraying dues (originally often in kind) or with vassal tenants of noble ...
) in Regensburg,
Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...
,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
. At the height of its power it was one of the wealthiest and most influential in Bavaria. The church is still in use as the parish church of Regensburg Cathedral.


History

100px, left This women's religious community, dedicated to Saint Erhard of Regensburg at its founding and later to the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it on 1 November 1950 in his apostolic constitution as follows: It leaves open the question of whether Mary died or whether she was ra ...
as well, was recorded for the first time in about 889. However, the first church, if the traditional foundation by the seventh-century Saint Erhard is credited, would have already existed by about 700, and a religious community had been founded by 788 by
Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria Tassilo – also spelled Thassilo – is a male name of West Germanic origin. It is the diminutive form of the name Tasso/Tazzo. Tasso/Tazzo itself is the diminutive form of Taginbert, which is of West Germanic origin and means "glittering as the ...
. The foundation tradition also credits Saint Erhard with the foundation of a nunnery here. It is not clear in fact whether at first the community was for men or for women, but it soon developed into one of the most important women's religious houses in Germany. The church was entirely rebuilt on a grand scale by
Henry I, Duke of Bavaria Henry I (919/921 – 1 November 955), a member of the German royal Ottonian dynasty, was Duke of Bavaria from 948 until his death. Life He was the second son of the German king Henry the Fowler and his wife Matilda of Ringelheim. After the dea ...
, in about 950. Henry was buried here and his widow
Judith The Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical book included in the Septuagint and the Catholic Church, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Christian Old Testament of the Bible but Development of the Hebrew Bible canon, excluded from the ...
, who by virtue of her and her husband's generous endowment of the community, is counted as the founder, took the veil here, became abbess and was herself buried here in 990. This close connection with the ruling and Imperial Ottonian house made Niedermünster powerful and wealthy. The treasures of Niedermünster include the Rule of about 990 and the
Uta Codex The Uta Codex (Clm. 13601, Bavarian State Library, Munich) is a "gospel lectionary" or evangeliary. It contains those portions of the gospels which are read during church services. "Unlike most Gospel lectionaries, the individual readings in the ...
or Evangeliary of about 1025 with its casket of chased gold,Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München clm 13601 commissioned by an abbess of Niedermünster and containing an illumination showing Saint Erhard presiding at Mass. There is also the magnificent cross given by Queen Gisela, daughter of
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria Henry II (951 – 28 August 995), called the Wrangler or the Quarrelsome (), a member of the German royal Ottonian dynasty, was Duke of Bavaria from 955 to 976 and again from 985 to 995, as well as Duke of Carinthia from 989 to 995. Life He ...
, and wife of King
Stephen I of Hungary Stephen I, also known as King Saint Stephen ( ; ; ; 975 – 15 August 1038), was the last grand prince of the Hungarians between 997 and 1000 or 1001, and the first king of Hungary from 1000 or 1001 until his death in 1038. The year of his bi ...
, for the tomb of her mother, Duchess Gisela of Bavaria, who was buried here in 1006. In 1002
Emperor Henry II Henry II (; ; ; 6 May 973 – 13 July 1024 AD), also known as Saint Henry, Obl. S. B., was Holy Roman Emperor ("Romanorum Imperator") from 1014. He died without an heir in 1024, and was the last ruler of the Ottonian line. As Duke of Bavaria, ...
, son of Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, granted the community ''
Reichsfreiheit In the Holy Roman Empire, imperial immediacy ( or ) was the status of an individual or a territory which was defined as 'immediate' () to Emperor and Empire () and not to any other intermediate authorities, while one that did not possess that stat ...
'' (territorial and judicial independence of all save the Emperor) and it became an Imperial abbey, or ''Reichsstift''. Emperor Henry II later favoured his own foundation of
Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Cathedral (, official name Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg) is a church in Bamberg, Germany, completed in the 13th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Archdiocese of Bamberg and is the seat of Archbishop of ...
over Niedermünster, which accordingly lost prominence and influence. The present Romanesque church was constructed after a fire in 1152 destroyed the previous one. The crypt of Saint Erhard remains from earlier buildings, however. In the 17th and 18th centuries the church was modernised, although very modestly, and fitted out with some important works of art, including a monumental bronze crucifix and a sorrowing
Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cr ...
by Georg Petel. The silver shrine of the relics of Saint Erhard dates from the 19th century. The community was dissolved in 1803 during the secularisation of Bavaria. From 1820 the premises were partly rented out. In 1821 the
Bishop of Regensburg The Bishops of Regensburg (; or ) are bishops of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany.
was given rooms here for his residence, and the episcopal offices were also transferred here. Also in 1821 the former canonry church took over from St. Ulrich's the role of cathedral parish church. During excavations the foundations of
Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
military buildings and predecessors of the church were uncovered. These may be seen only on guided tours, but it is planned to make these unique and well-preserved discoveries more accessible to the public. Burials in Niedermünster include: * Saint Erhard * Blessed Albert of Cashel *
Henry I, Duke of Bavaria Henry I (919/921 – 1 November 955), a member of the German royal Ottonian dynasty, was Duke of Bavaria from 948 until his death. Life He was the second son of the German king Henry the Fowler and his wife Matilda of Ringelheim. After the dea ...
, his wife
Judith, Duchess of Bavaria Judith of Bavaria (925 – 29 June after 985), a member of the Luitpolding dynasty, was Duchess consort of Bavaria from 947 to 955, by her marriage with Duke Henry I. After her husband's death, she acted as regent of Bavaria during the m ...
and their daughter-in-law
Gisela of Burgundy Gisela of Burgundy (c.  955 – 21 July 1007), a member of the royal Elder House of Welf, was List of Bavarian consorts, Duchess of Bavaria from about 972 to 976 and again from 985 to 995, by her marriage with Duke Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, Hen ...
, wife of
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria Henry II (951 – 28 August 995), called the Wrangler or the Quarrelsome (), a member of the German royal Ottonian dynasty, was Duke of Bavaria from 955 to 976 and again from 985 to 995, as well as Duke of Carinthia from 989 to 995. Life He ...


Abbesses of Niedermünster

* Wildrade von Lernberg 900-928 * Tutta I von Reidenburg 928-942 * Himetrade von Hohenburg 942 – before 974 *
Judith, Duchess of Bavaria Judith of Bavaria (925 – 29 June after 985), a member of the Luitpolding dynasty, was Duchess consort of Bavaria from 947 to 955, by her marriage with Duke Henry I. After her husband's death, she acted as regent of Bavaria during the m ...
974-990 * Richenza I von Limburg 990-994 * Kunigunde I von Kirchberg 994-1002 * Uda I von Kirchberg 1002-1025 * Heilka I von Rothenburg 1025-1052 * Gertrud I von Hals 1052-1065 * Mathilde I von Luppurg 1065-1070 * Heilka II von Franken 1070-1089 * Uda II von Marburg 1089-1103 * Richenza II von Zolling 1103-1109 * Mathilde II von Kirchberg 1109-1116 * Richenza III von Abensberg 1116-1126 * Richenza IV von Dornburg 1126-1130 * Heilka III von Kirchberg 1130-1136 * Kunigunde II von Kirchberg 1136-1177 * Tutta II von Falkenstein 1177-1180 * Adelheid I von Wolffershausen 1180-1190 * Bertha von Frontenhausen 1190-1197 * Heilka IV von Rotheneck 1197-1218 * Heilka V von Wittelsbach 1218-1224 * Frideruna von Falkenstein 1224-1229 * Mathilde III von Henffenfeld 1229-1239 * Tutta III von Dalmässing 1239-1242 * Irmgard I von Scheyern 1242-1245 * Hildegard von Kirchberg 1245-1249 * Kunigunde III von Stein 1249-1257 * Kühnheit Pinzingerin 1257-1259 ? * Wilburg von Lobsingen 1259 ?-1261 * Tutta IV von Putingen 1261-1264 * Gertrud II. von Stein 1264-1271 * Wilburg von Lobsingen 1271-1273 (again) * Elisabeth I Stauffin von Stauffenburg 1273-1276 * Hedwig Kropflin 1276-1285 * Kunigunde IV Hainkhoverin 1285-1300 * Adelheid II von Treidenberg 1300-1304 * Irmgard II von Köfering 1304-1314 * Euphemia von Winzer 1314-1333 * Elisabeth II von Eschen 1333-1340 * Petrissa von Weidenberg 1340-1353 * Margarethe I Gösslin von Altenburg 1353-1361 * Margarethe II Pinzingerin 1361-1365 * Elisabeth III von Rhein 1365-1391 * Sophia von Daching 1391-1410 * Katharina I von Egloffstein 1410-1413 * Barbara I Höfferin 1413-1417 * Herzenleid von Wildenwarth 1417-1422 * Anna I von Streitberg 1422-1427 * Beatrix von Rotheneck 1427 * Osanna von Streitberg 1427-1444 * Ursula von Tauffkirchen-Hohenrain und Höchlenbach 1444-1448 * Ottilia von Abensberg 1448-1475 mit * Margarethe III von Paulstorff 1469-1475 * Agnes von Rothafft 1475-1520 * Barbara II von Aham 1520-1569 * Anna II von Kirmbreith 1569-1598 * Katharina II Scheifflin 1598-1605 * Eva von Uhrhausen 1605-1616 * Anna Maria von Salis 1616-1652 * Maria Margarethe von Sigertshofen 1652-1675 * Maria Theresia von Muggenthal 1675-1693 * Regina Recordin von Rein und Hamberg 1693-1697 * Johanna Franziska Sibylla von Muggenthal 1697-1723 * Maria Katharina Helena von Aham-Neuhaus 1723-1757 * Anna Katharina von Dücker-Hasslen-Urstein-Winkel 1757-1768 * Anna Febronia Elisabeth von Speth-Zwyfalten 1769-1789 * Maria Franziska Xaveria von Königfeld 1789-1793 * Maria Violanta von Lerchenfeld-Premberg 1793-1801 * Maria Helena von Freien-Seiboltsdorf 1801-1803


See also

*
Obermünster, Regensburg The Obermünster, or Obermünster Abbey, Regensburg, was a collegiate house of canonesses (Frauenstift) in Regensburg, Bavaria, second only to Niedermünster in wealth and power. History The Obermünster ("higher monastery", named in relation t ...


Notes


Sources

*
Klöster in Bayern: Niedermünster, Regensburg
*
Episcopal Offices, Regensburg
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niedermunster, Regensburg Monasteries in Bavaria Roman Catholic churches in Regensburg Christian monasteries established in the 8th century Bavarian Circle Imperial abbeys disestablished in 1802–03 Burial sites of the Ottonian dynasty