Arnold Freiberger

Arnold Freiberger, painted by Michael Willmann around 1672

Arnold Freiberger (* 1589 in Spandau , † 1672 in Leubus ) was an abbot of the Leubus Monastery .

Freiberger converted to Catholicism and was elected abbot of the oldest Silesian Cistercian abbey Leubus during the Thirty Years' War in 1636 . When the Swedes occupied the monastery two years later, Freiberger fled with the entire convent to Breslau , where he stayed in the Leubus house for ten years . From 1649 Freiberger managed to lead the monastery to a new bloom.

Freiberger, under whom the monastery experienced its most splendid time, is considered the most important abbot of Leubus. Even during the war he proved to be an extremely successful economic expert. Many of the destroyed monastery properties were rebuilt and the war debts were paid off. The abbey church received new bells, candlesticks and organs. The painter Michael Willmann (1630–1706), who also converted to Catholicism , made Leubus the focus of Silesian baroque painting from 1660 onwards . The abbot had the monastery school renewed, as well as creating artistic gardens and a water pipe. He also erected a stone Marian column on the monastery square.

In the midst of the surroundings, which were at times Protestant, the abbey asserted itself thanks to a clever policy by Freiberger. He maintained good relations with the Protestant nobility and was liberal in dealing with people of other faiths. At the same time, he maintained excellent contacts with the House of Habsburg , which provided the monastery with financial help in rebuilding. In return, the monastery provided great support in the re-Catholicization of Silesia by the Austrians.

Web links

• Biography (saekularisation-in-schlesien.de)