Heinrich II of Laach

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Tomb of Count Palatine Heinrich II. Von Laach in the Abbey of Maria Laach

Heinrich II. Von Laach (* around 1050; † 23 October 1095 at Laach Castle ), from the Gleiberg family - Luxembourg , was the first Count Palatine of the Rhine from 1085 or at the latest from 1087 until his death . He was married to Adelheid von Weimar-Orlamünde (* around 1055, † March 28, 1100).

ancestry

The exact origin of Heinrich is not clear. It is very likely that he belonged to the family of the elder Counts of Luxembourg. Heinrich was perhaps a grandson of Count Friedrich im Moselgau and a great-nephew of Empress Kunigunde . Heinrich's father Dietrich is said to have been the fifth of six sons and, in contrast to his much better known older brothers, is only attested in 1012 and 1057. It is possible that Heinrich inherited the southern area on Lake Laach from him, on the eastern bank of which he had his Laach Castle built, after which he was the only one to call himself "von Laach". Hermann I von Gleiberg is also mentioned in the literature as the father Heinrich von Laach .

Heinrich was Count in Mayengau and Engersgau . He stood (like other Luxembourgers besides the anti-king Hermann von Salm ) on the side of King Heinrich IV. In his disputes with the rebellious princes over the anti-king Rudolf von Rheinfelden and fought on the side of Heinrich IV. In the decisive battle near Hohenmölsen in 1080 He also supported the emperor against the new anti -king Hermann von Salm.

Count Palatine

After the death of the last Ezzone , Count Palatine Hermann II of Lorraine , in 1085, Heinrich married his widow Adelheid († 1100), who brought him the Palatinate as a dowry and who was confirmed by Emperor Heinrich IV as a reward for his loyalty . This started the shift of the Palatinate to the south, and it was Heinrich who was the first to call himself "Palatine count near the Rhine". In 1090 he officiated as imperial administrator for the emperor staying in Italy .

successor

Adelheid's first marriage was to the Ascan Adalbert II (Ballenstedt) . Heinrich adopted their son from this marriage, Siegfried von Ballenstedt , who became his successor as Count Palatine of the Rhine after Heinrich's death in 1099.

Laach Monastery Foundation

In 1093 founded Heinrich and Adelheid on the southwestern shore of Lake Laach in the Eifel towards his castle Laach the "Abbey Laach" which until 1863 by a "Abbatia ad Lacum" ( "Abbey on the Lake") Jesuits in Maria Laach has been renamed. In some sources from earlier centuries the name “St. Maria ad Lacum ”. Heinrich vowed:

“In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity. I, Heinrich, by the grace of God Count Palatine of the Rhine and Herr von Laach, for the sure pacification of the humble in spirit, we make it known to all Christ and faithful, future and present: Since I am childless, I have with the consent and cooperation of my wife Adelheid For the salvation of my soul and to achieve eternal life on my paternal inheritance, namely in Laach, a monastery was founded in honor of the Holy Mother of God Maria and St. Nicholas as a residence for those who obey the monastic rule. In the presence and under the testimony of Mr. Heilbert, the venerable Archbishop of Trier, I prepared a dowry from my own property [...] "

This gave the future monastery double patronage . The first monks and builders came from the St. Maximin Monastery near Trier at the instigation of Archbishop Engelbert von Rothenburg of Trier , who was present at the laying of the foundation stone and benevolently supported the project. His name is recorded in the deed of foundation.

The construction work was probably continued by his widow Adelheid after Heinrich's death in 1095 and was not interrupted until after her death in Echternach in 1100. The foundations for the crypt , nave , crossing tower and east structure had been laid, the masonry was sometimes more than three meters. It was not until 1112 that Heinrich's stepson and heir, Count Palatine Siegfried , renewed the foundation and had construction work resumed. In 1127 Giselbert von Affligem was called from Affligem Abbey in Brabant as prior to Laach, which was initially dependent on Affligem priory. In 1138 he became the first abbot of the then independent Laach Abbey († 1152 in Laach and buried there).

swell

  1. ↑ . Landeshauptarchiv Koblenz, Best 128 No. 1279, Liber monasterii B. Mariae Virginis, p 138V. X. kal (endas) novembris, Dominus henricus comes palatinus fundator huius loci ... .
    J. Wegeler (editor): Kalendarium defunctorum monasterii beatae Mariae in Lacu . In: Annals of the historical association for the Lower Rhine in particular the old archdiocese of Cologne . Volume 26/27, 1874, p. 299.
  2. ^ P. Basilius Sandner OSB and Karl-Heinz Schumacher: The monastery church Maria Laach . Sutton-Verlag Erfurt, 2007

literature

predecessor Office successor
- Palatine count near the Rhine
1085 / 1087-1095 		Siegfried von Ballenstedt
personal data
SURNAME Heinrich II of Laach
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Henry II of Gleiberg-Luxemburg; Heinrich II of Luxemburg-Salm
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Count Palatine near the Rhine
DATE OF BIRTH around 1050
DATE OF DEATH October 23, 1095
Place of death Laach Castle