Beatrix von Holte
Beatrix von Holte (* around 1250; † December 4, 1327 in Essen ) was abbess of the Essen monastery from 1292 until her death .
She completed the new construction of the Essen Minster , which her predecessor Berta von Arnsberg had started after the devastating fire of 1275 . She donated a large arm reliquary for the Essen Cathedral Treasury . Beatrix, who did not get into her office without controversy, secured the threatened economic existence of the monastery by bringing the upper courts, which were threatened by Ministeriale alienation , back under control of the monastery by means of settlements or repurchase.
On the person and sources
Some of the files of the Essen Monastery on Beatrix's tenure have been preserved. However, these relate almost exclusively to processes from their election, so that very little is known about Beatrix's life before taking up the abbess's office. The fact that they in 1273 in Vreden pen Provost was, it is concluded that she was already a mature woman at this time. A date of birth around 1250, possibly earlier, is therefore likely (the office of abbess overriding the provostess required a minimum age of 25 years). It is possible that Beatrix learned her training in a pen, as was customary for young women from noble families, but ultimately not proven. The von Holtes dynasty was of rather lower nobility. Originally from the area around Osnabrück, the members of the family had withdrawn to the Lower Rhine due to difficulties with the bishops of Münster, who had led to the destruction of the family residence in 1147 , where they were among the followers of the Counts of Berg. At Beatrix's time, these difficulties with the Bishop of Munster were overcome, and members of the family sat in the cathedral chapter there. She was the daughter of Wikbold von Holte and his wife Wolderadis Dreigvörden. Her brother Wigbold († 1304) was Archbishop of Cologne .
The situation in Essen Abbey in 1292
The election of Beatrix von Holte is related to the situation in Essen monastery in the 13th century. Although the monastery was directly imperial, it had lost the closeness to the rulers it had in the Ottonian and Salic times. Geographically, the monastery and its possessions were located along the Hellweg , this location was strategically important. Without the direct proximity to the king, the sovereignty of the abbesses was threatened by the bailiffs . Beatrix's predecessor had achieved through politically clever tactics that the bailiwick was transformed from a master bailiwick to a mere umbrella bailiwick: The bailiff was no longer allowed to levy taxes on monastery subjects, the responsibility for the military protection of immunity fell to the abbesses' servants, including among them the chief judge came. The influence over the bailiwick was limited. The powerful neighbors interested in exerting influence, the Archdiocese of Cologne on the one hand and the Counts of the Mark on the other, therefore shifted their efforts to the election of politically inclined abbesses. The Archbishop of Cologne Siegfried von Westerburg , after the Pope had released him from the oaths taken after the Battle of Worringen , tried to impeach Berta von Arnsberg from her office by calling her to his court for the most serious crimes, such as simony , disregard of her dated Cologne officially banned church , let in with fraudsters like Tile Kolup and the squandering of church property. Berta had stayed away from this trial, to which she had been summoned to Cologne, whereupon the archbishop had declared her deposed. With the support of the Essen priestess Mechthild von Rennenberg, he declared his niece Irmgard von Wittgenstein to be the Essen abbess, whom he had already installed as abbess in Herford a little earlier . Since Berta von Arnsberg had already confirmed the exemption of the monastery by Pope Innocent IV in 1245 and this was confirmed again from Rome after the trial, she was not under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Cologne and remained until her death on January 8, 1292 rightful abbess. Half a year before her the chief bailiff of the monastery, King Rudolf von Habsburg , who had been represented as bailiff by Eberhard I von der Mark as subordinate for life, had died.
The choice of Beatrix von Holte
The Archbishop of Cologne was able to obtain the bailiwick of Essen in two ways: on the one hand, by having Irmgard von Wittgenstein enforce and appoint him, on the other hand, he was able to have the bailiwick promised by the newly elected king in return for the electoral vote . For Eberhard von der Mark as the previous subordinate bailiff and the monastery, it was important to anticipate the Cologne plans, which was also achieved with the election of Beatrix von Holte. Beatrix came from a Westphalian family originally resident near Osnabrück, who had relocated to their properties on the Lower Rhine due to disputes with the Bishop of Münster and were among the followers of the Counts of the Mark. Eberhard von der Mark also had a major influence on the election. Just ten days after Berta von Arnsberg's death, he appeared in Essen, accompanied by his wife Irmgard and his brother-in-law Adolf von Berg , and was appointed by the dean and the chapter of the monastery as the new bailiff. The aim of this haste was to keep the position as bailiff separate from the expected disputes after the election of a new abbess. Subsequently, the new abbess was elected, and the document established for this purpose is the first of its kind to have been preserved for the Essen monastery. Twenty-six canons and sixteen canons voted, and not even all those eligible to vote were present: both the provost Mechthild von Renneberg and the Cologne candidate Irmgard von Wittgenstein were absent from the voters, possibly they were in Cologne for political discussions and were quick to act the Brandenburg side was surprised. Beatrix von Holte did not vote either, but received all the votes cast. It is not known whether this election result was influenced by the presence of the armed gentlemen von der Mark and Berg and their retinue in Essen, who were certainly also armed, but it cannot be ruled out either. With Beatrix von Holte, who had been provost at Vreden Abbey since 1273 , a more mature woman who had previously been remote from the Essen Abbey was elected, who also had no influential family. The goal of the election was certainly not to deepen the conflict between Essen and the diocese of Cologne. In fact, Beatrix succeeded in persuading the Cologne-friendly priestess to give up the resistance. The reconciliation was also conducive to the fact that in 1297 Beatrix's brother Wigbold von Holte was elected Archbishop of Cologne with the support of the Counts of the Mark. The counter-abbess Irmgard von Wittgenstein solemnly renounced her claims to the Essen Abbey to Wigbold in June 1298.
Nevertheless, there were further tensions, because the papal confirmation for Beatrix, which had already been requested on the day of the election, was still pending when Wigbold died in 1304. A rumor circulating at the time that Wigbold had been poisoned by his personal cook, who had previously been in Beatrix's service, indicates ongoing tensions between the Diocese of Cologne and Essen Abbey, which were not overcome by family ties. It was not until April 1309, seventeen years after the election and eleven years after the resignation of the counter-abbess, that Beatrix was installed in her office by the Bishop of Minden on behalf of the Pope. A little later the secular confirmation by the king followed.
Beatrix's reign
Despite the circumstances during and after her election, which is considered the first Essen abbess dispute, Beatrix von Holte was a clever and energetic abbess. Under her the new construction of the Essen Minster, which burned down in 1275, was completed. Indulgence privileges, which were granted to the monastery in 1311 and 1325, served to increase the funds exhausted by the construction. The details of the building design show that the political situation had an impact on the building design: in 1297, when her brother Wigbold became bishop in Cologne, the southern nave wall was built in Essen, the individual forms of which are similar to those on the side wall of the Cologne cathedral choir. Around 1304, after the renewed change of bishop in Cologne, simple round pillars were erected again instead of bundle pillars. In doing so, Beatrix accepted the conflict with her builder, who in 1305 undertook to stay away from the construction site. The hall choir of the collegiate church was completed in 1305, Beatrix's solemn appointment as abbess took place there in 1309. As the last construction phase of the new building, the nave was completed in 1315, this year Beatrix donated an altar for Saint Maria Magdalena , which stood in the nave. The completed church was consecrated on July 8th, probably in 1316, when Beatrix set up a memorial foundation for King Rudolf von Habsburg. The arm reliquary of Saints Cosmas and Damian , which is still in the cathedral treasury today, can possibly be associated with the consecration of the new church .
Beatrix was the first abbess from Essen to use the Borbeck residence, which had been expanded since 1227, as the center of power. From there she also took care of the economic interests of the monastery. These had been threatened because the ministerials had begun to claim offices conferred on them, such as those of the mayors of the upper courts, as hereditary. The loss of the right to reassign offices that become vacant through death would have meant a significant loss of influence for the abbesses in their principality, and there was also a threat of alienation from the foundation's assets due to a lack of control over the office holders. By making comparisons or buying back rights, Beatrix succeeded in integrating the ministerials into the business and administration of the monastery, but at the same time putting them in their place. In 1307 she was able to improve the preambles of the sanctimonials and canons, in the same document she regulated "similar to the will of Theophanu ", how her soul should be remembered in the year after her death.
Another focus of Beatrix was the promotion of the Beguines in Essen. As early as 1293 she confirmed the statutes of the Essen Beginning Convention "Am Turm". She also initiated the establishment of the “Im alten Hagen” convent, whose statutes she confirmed in 1299. In 1314 Beatrix transferred beguines from the Essen convent “Im Zwölfling” to the new convent “Am Dunkhaus” and left them a court with the obligation to pray for the salvation of the abbess and the chapter. Beatrix also arranged that the beguines of this convent should, if possible, make their confession in front of a Franciscan Minorite, in 1317 Beatrix supported the canonesses Agnes and Mabila von Aldenhoven in the construction of a house in the monastery immunity, which was to serve as accommodation for friars from abroad. What is remarkable about Beatrix's promotion of Beginism is that it took place against the decision of the Council of Vienne in 1311. The foundations of the Martin Altar in 1311 and the Maria Magdalenen Altar in 1315 in the Essen Minster Church also show that the construction of the Minster in Essen was accompanied by a phase of religious upswing. The collection of the relics of St. Altfrid , the founder of the Essen monastery, is related to this . The shrine, in which Altfrid's relics still rest today, is based on the reliquary of Saints Gero, Irmgardis and Engelbert I von Berg in Cologne Cathedral, which was built around 1265. During Beatrix Abbatiat, the necrology , in which the memorial obligations of the monastery were laid down, was also rewritten.
Beatrix von Holte died on December 4, 1327 after 35 years in office as abbess and was buried in front of the Maria Magdalenen altar that she donated in the collegiate church. In her afterlife provision, Beatrix was clearly based on the so-called testament of her predecessor Theophanu, which underlined Beatrix's claim as abbess and imperial duchess: It is detailed that in the first month after death a mass is read daily by two canons in the first month and then on every thirtieth day in the first year should also be a daily soul mass for one year for them and all souls.
The arm reliquary
The arm reliquary that Beatrix added to the treasury is in Gothic form. At 72 cm from the base to the top of the crowning turret, it is one of the largest arm reliquaries of the Middle Ages. The reliquary is made of silver over a wooden core, decorations are made of filigree , precious stones and pearls . The hand is driven from sheet silver without a wooden core. As a so-called “speaking” reliquary, its shape allows conclusions to be drawn about the relic it contains, in this case an arm bone of Saint Cosmas , one of the cartridges of the Essen pen. The reliquary stands on a leaf-shaped base plate, which is supported by four four-clawed feet. Upper and lower garments are indicated on the arm, the hems of the individual garments are emphasized by braids made of gold filigree and precious stones. On the front of the arm is a flap which is accompanied by pearls, on this flap is the in niello executed Founder picture attached. The picture of the donor shows Beatrix as a Sanctimoniale, dressed with a veil, a robe with wide sleeves and a cloak, with hands clasped in prayer in the tradition of contemporary saints. The inscription on the picture of the donor surrounding the figure reads BEATIX ABBA ASNIDN DE HOLTHE FIERI FECIT ( Beatrix, Abbot of Essen, von Holte ordered me to manufacture. ). The arm reliquary is crowned by a hexagonal turret designed as Gothic architecture, which is gold-plated and contains relics of St. Barbara . The hood of the turret can be opened.
A reliquary comparable to art history is the arm reliquary of Saint Felicitas , which comes from the St. Felicitas Abbey in Vreden and is now kept in the cathedral chamber of Münster . This reliquary is dated to around 1250 and was therefore known to Beatrix von Holte, who was provost there before she was elected abbess of Essen. The place of manufacture of the Essen reliquary is not known. Humann accepted Cologne as the place of manufacture, which is questionable due to the tension between the monastery and the local archbishops, but production in the Rhineland is considered certain. Since Beatrix's predecessor Berta von Arnsberg, the Essen Abbey had its own silver mines, so that production in Essen is possible.
The specific occasion on which the reliquary was donated is not known. Because of the unusual turret and also because Saint Cosmas is one of the patrons of the monastery and of the cathedral church completed under Beatrix, it is assumed that Beatrix donated the reliquary for the consecration of her completed church building. Relics of Saint Cosmas were already available in Essen, for example in the collective reliquary called Marsus Shrine. Possibly it was placed on the Magdalene altar that Beatrix had donated, and thus placed behind her grave, so that her image brought her to the sanctimonials and canons and thus secured her memoria.
Appreciation
Beatrix, like her predecessor Berta von Arnsberg, lacks the glamor of imperial parentage, which made Essen's most important abbesses Mathilde , Sophia and Theophanu the focus of interest. With the reconstruction of the collegiate church, the economic consolidation of the monastery and the defense against Cologne's desire for expansion, Beatrix steered the monastery out of an existence-threatening crisis and thus ensured its continued existence as an independent imperial principality.
literature
- Ute Küppers-Braun: Power in women's hands - 1000 years of rule by noble women in Essen . Klartext Verlag, Essen 2002, ISBN 3-89861-106-X .
- Georg Humann : The works of art of the cathedral church to eat . Schwann, Düsseldorf 1904, pp. 306-310.
- Klaus Lange: The new Gothic building of the Essen collegiate church. In: Thomas Schilp (Ed.): Reform - Reformation - Secularization. Women's pens in times of crisis . Klartext Verlag, Essen 2004, ISBN 3-89861-373-9 , pp. 89–113.
- Melanie Prange: The arm reliquary donated by Beatrix von Holte in the Essen Cathedral Treasury. In: Birgitta Falk , Thomas Schilp, Michael Schlagheck (eds.): ... how the gold shines in the eyes. Treasures from the Essen women's monastery. Klartext Verlag, Essen 2007, ISBN 978-3-89861-786-4 , pp. 189-213.
- Thomas Schilp : January 18, 1292: The Essen canonice et canonici elect Beatrix von Holte as abbess. An approximation of the first surviving election document of an abbess in Essen. In: The Minster on Hellweg. 56, 2003, pp. 143-148.
- Thomas Schilp: Sorores et fratres capituli secularis ecclesie Assindendes - internal structures of the women's monastery in Essen in the 13th century. In: Thomas Schilp (Ed.): Reform - Reformation - Secularization. Women's pens in times of crisis . Klartext Verlag, Essen 2004, ISBN 3-89861-373-9 , pp. 37-65.
- Thomas Schilp: Foundations to commemorate the dead - donations for the treasure. In: Brigitta Falk, Thomas Schilp, Michael Schlagheck (eds.): ... how gold shines in the eyes. Treasures from the Essen women's monastery. Klartext Verlag, Essen 2007, ISBN 978-3-89861-786-4 , pp. 39–51.
Evidence
- ↑ Main and State Archives Düsseldorf, Essen Abbey 133 and 135 (2 copies).
- ↑ Copy of the election announcement, Main and State Archives Düsseldorf, Essen Abbey 134.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Beatrix von Holte |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Abbess of the Essen monastery |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1250 |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 4, 1327 |
| Place of death | eat |