Lorsch Abbey
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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![]() The 9th-century Torhalle (gatehouse) is a unique survival of the Carolingian era. It curiously combines some elements of the Roman triumphal arch (arch-shaped passageways, half-columns) with the vernacular Teutonic heritage (baseless triangles of the blind arcade, polychromatic masonry). | |
Location | Lorsch, Bergstraße, Hesse, Germany |
Part of | Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch |
Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
Reference | 515bis-001 |
Inscription | 1991 (15th Session) |
Area | 3.11 ha (7.7 acres) |
Buffer zone | 14.825 ha (36.63 acres) |
Website | www |
Coordinates | 49°39′13″N 8°34′11″E / 49.65361°N 8.56972°E |
Lorsch Abbey, otherwise the Imperial Abbey of Lorsch (
Its chronicle, entered in the Lorscher Codex compiled in the 1170s (now in the state archive at Würzburg), is a fundamental document for early medieval German history. Another famous document from the monastic library is the Codex Aureus of Lorsch.
In 1991 the ruined abbey was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its architectural and historical importance.[1] The significant remains visible today are the 9th-century Torhalle (gatehouse), part of the abbey church, some of the wall around the abbey, and other walls and parts of buildings adapted to modern use.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Abtei_und_Altenmuenster_14.jpg/220px-Abtei_und_Altenmuenster_14.jpg)
Founding
The abbey was founded in 764 by the Frankish Count
The pious founders enriched the new abbey with further donations. To make the abbey popular as a shrine and a place of pilgrimage, Chrodegang obtained from
On 11 July 765, the sacred relics arrived and with great solemnity were deposited in the basilica of the monastery. In 766 Chrodegang resigned from the office of abbot, in favour of his other duties as Archbishop of Metz. He then sent his brother Gundeland to Lorsch as his successor, with fourteen
That same year, there was a dispute about property rights between Gundeland and Cancor's son, and the abbey was moved to an Ice Age dune, a few hundred metres from its original location on a small island in the Weschnitz. In 772, Gundeland applied to the highest authority, Charlemagne, who found in his favour. Gundeland gave the abbey with all his properties to the king, turning it into a Royal abbey.[2]
The abbey and basilica were then renamed in honour of Saint Nazarius: the main church of Saints Peter, Paul, and Nazarius was consecrated by the
Influence
Many miracles were said to be wrought through the intercession of Saint Nazarius at Lorsch, and from all parts of Europe pilgrims in large numbers came to visit the shrine. In the course of the 9th century the
Few Carolingian manuscripts are better known than the Lorsch gospels, the
In 876, shortly after the death of Ludwig der Deutsche (Louis the German), the abbey became the burial place for the first "German" king. His son, Ludwig der Jüngere (Louis the Younger, died 882), and his grandson Hugo (died 879) were also buried at Lorsch.[2] The burial chapel (ecclesia varia) later continued to serve as a Royal burial ground, e.g. for Kunigunde (died after 915), wife of the first non-Carolingian king, Konrad I (Conrad I).[2]
From 895–956, the abbey was not allowed to elect its own abbots: they were appointed by the king. Emperor
Throughout the 11th century, the abbey flourished. Popes and emperors repeatedly favoured the abbey with privileges and estates ranging from the
The abbey, enjoying sovereign territorial rights, became implicated in several local feuds and in a number of wars. After 46
Later history
In 1248,
He removed the contents of the library to
As of 2015, the Vatican holds over a third of the surviving Lorsch manuscripts, while the rest are spread out over seventy two institutions in twelve countries.
In 2014, the
Destruction of the abbey
During the
The most depressed period for Lorsch was during the
Historic names
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/MKr13673_Klostermauer_%28Lorsch%29.jpg/220px-MKr13673_Klostermauer_%28Lorsch%29.jpg)
The following historical names have been recorded:
- In the 8th century: Laurisham[10]
- In the 9th century: Lorishaim
- 9th and 11th centuries: Loresham
- 9th–10th centuries: Laurishaim
- 10th century: Laresham
- 10th–12th centuries: Lareshaeim and Lauresheim
- 11th–12th centuries: Lauresham
- 11th century: Larsem, Loraszam, Lorozam, Lorisham
- 12th century: Laurisca, Laurisham, Laureshan, Loressam, Lorisheym, Lorscheim, Lors
List of abbots
In 468 years, the monastery had 47 abbots..[11]
Name | start | end |
---|---|---|
Chrodegang | 764 | 765 |
Gundeland | 765 | 778 |
Helmerich | 778 | 784 |
Richbod | 784 | 804 |
Adalung | 804 | 837 |
Samuel | 837/838 | 857 |
Eigilbert | 857 | 864/865 |
Thiothroch | 864/865 | 876 |
Babo | 876 | 881 |
Walther | 881 | 882 |
Gerhard | 883 | 893 |
Adalbero | 895 | 897 |
Liuther | 897 | 900 |
Adalbero | 900 | 901 |
Hatto I | 901 | 913 |
Liuther | 914 | 931 |
Evergis | 931 | 948? |
Brun | 948? | 951 |
Gerbod | 951 | 972 |
Salmann | 972 | 999 |
Werner I | 999 | 1001 |
Werner II | 1001 | 1002 |
Gerold I | 1002 | 1005 |
Poppo
|
1006 | 1018 |
Reginbald | 1018 | 1032 |
Humbert | 1032 | 1037 |
Bruning | 1037 | 1043 |
Hugo I | 1043 | 1052 |
Arnold | 1052 | 1055 |
Udalrich | 1056 | 1075 |
Adalbert | 1075 | 1077 |
Winther | 1077 | 1088 |
Anselm | 1088 | 1101 |
Gerold II | 1101 | 1105 |
Hugo II | 1105 | — |
Gebhard | 1105 | 1107 |
Erminold | 1107 | 1111? |
Benno | 1111? | 1119 |
Heidolf | 1119 | — |
Hermann | 1124 | 1125 |
Diemo | 1125 | 1139 |
Baldemar | 1140 | 1141 |
Folknand | 1141 | 1148 |
Hildebert | 1148 | — |
Marquard | 1148 | 1149 |
Heinrich | 1151 | 1167 |
Sigehard | 1167 | 1199/1200 |
Leopold | 1199/1200 | 1214 |
Konrad | 1214 | 1229 |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c "Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 18 Jun 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Schefers, Hermann. "History & Relevance of Lorsch Abbey". Kloster Lorsch. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ a b c Roth, Leander. "Lorsch Abbey." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 5 February 2023
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ ICOMOS Advisory Report: Lorsch, former Benedictine Abbey (Report). ICOMOS. 28 Dec 1988. Retrieved 18 Jun 2022.
- ^ James W. Thompson, The Medieval Library (New York) 1957, pp. 80–82; Chauncey E. Finch, "Catalogues and Other Manuscripts from Lorsch" Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 99 (1968) pp. 165–79.
- ^ Margaret H. Longhurst and Charles Rufus Morey, "The Covers of the Lorsch Gospels", Speculum 3.1 (January 1928:64–74); Charles Rufus Morey, " The Covers of the Lorsch Gospels", Speculum 4.4 (October 1929): 411–29).
- ^ Thompson 1957; Finch 1968:165.
- .
- ^ Schefers, Hermann. "Gate Hall or Königshalle (King's Hall)". Kloster Lorsch. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Baron Sloet, L. A. J. W. (1872). Oorkondenboek der Graafschappen Gelre en Zutfen tot op den Slag van Woeringen, 5 Juni 1288. s'Gravenhage: Martinus Nijhoff. pp. 10 (no. 9).
- ^ Germania Benedictina, Vol. 7: Die benediktinischen Mönchs- und Nonnenklöster in Hessen. (St. Ottilien, 2004), pp. 768–853.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Lorsch Abbey". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch: UNESCO Official Website
- Lorsch Abbey: official website (in English)
- Codex Laureshamensis, volume 1–3 Charters of Lorsch Abbey in Latin at Austrian Literature Online edited by Karl Glöckner, Darmstadt, 1929–1936.
- Interactive map of the property of Lorsch Abbey at Regnum Francorum Online
- Bibliotheca Laureshamensis – digital: virtualization of the monastic library of Lorsch Abbey
- Lauresham Open-Air Laboratory, centre for experimental early medieval farming, Lorsch Abbey