Tomb of Count Gottfried IV of Arnsberg
The tomb of Count Gottfried IV von Arnsberg is one of only two tombs of secular rulers in Cologne Cathedral .
background
The childless Gottfried IV sold the county of Arnsberg to the Archbishopric of Cologne . This made it possible to round off the Cologne territory in Westphalia to form the closed area of the Duchy of Westphalia . After the county was sold in 1368, he lived at Brühl Castle until his death in 1371 . He was buried in the cathedral in gratitude for the county.
description
The grave of the count made of sandstone is located near the final grille of the Marienkapelle, which is directly connected to the seven chapels around the ambulatory, seen from the high altar on the left between the southern wall and the southern row of pillars of the choir. The walls of the stone sarcophagus are decorated with mourning figures, coats of arms and helmets. The tempera painting and the figures are badly damaged. On the sarcophagus lies an image of the count. He is shown in full armor in leather armor, chain mail and helmet. The coat of arms of the county can be seen on the chest. The sword and dagger are no longer there. The count's feet rest on two dogs.
history
The tomb is from the time immediately after the Count's death. The figure was protected with a grid early on, allegedly because disappointed heirs or former subjects had damaged it on various occasions.
Every year, the tomb is the destination of a delegation of citizens from the Neheim district of Arnsberg , who lay a wreath in thanks for the forest bequeathed to the then city by Count Gottfried.
Copy
A copy of the tomb is in the Catholic parish church of St. Johannes Baptist in Neheim.
Individual evidence
literature
- Karl Féaux de Lacroix : History of Arnsberg. HR Stein-Verlag, Arnsberg 1895, p. 62 (reprint: Stein, Werl 1983, ISBN 3-920980-05-0 ).
- Fritz Schumacher: The end of the county of Arnsberg. A grave in Cologne Cathedral. In: De Suerlänner. 1969, ZDB -ID 202447-0 , pp. 22-24.