List of Abbots of Salem
From 1137 to the dissolution of the monastery in 1804, 40 abbots headed the imperial abbey of Salem .
Choice and duties
As is customary with the Cistercians , the abbot of the Salem monastery was elected for life by the convent (assembly of the monks of the monastery). In some abbot elections in Salem the entire convention was probably not involved, because the electoral lists only show the prior and subprior as well as some convention members. (The reason for this is not given.) The election was chaired by the abbot from Salem's mother monastery Lützel ( Upper Alsace ) or an election commissioner appointed by him; in Salem these were mostly the abbots of neighboring monasteries such as Weingarten , Weißenau or Ottobeuren . Each election had to be confirmed by the Pope in order to be valid.
The abbot could make most of the decisions himself; the convention only had to approve the sale of goods. In his absence he was represented by the prior, who continued to run the monastery until the new election after the abbot's death. With a few exceptions, the Salem abbots were buried in the Salem Minster . There is also a memorial from the end of the 18th century that lists the abbots with their dates of death.
insignia
The Abbots of Salem received from Pope Urban VI in 1384 . the right to bear the episcopal pontificals ( miter , pectoral cross , papal ring ) in the coat of arms. The Salem abbot's staff , insignium of the Salem abbots, resembled a bishop's staff with the letter "S" wrapped around its shaft.
Social background
The Salem abbots came partly from the high nobility and the wealthy bourgeoisie . However, a significant proportion was also recruited from farming families in the surrounding villages. About a third of the abbots since the turn of the 16th century, for example, came from the monastery's subjects. This great social mobility was quite unusual compared to the rigid social structure of the time: A man from the common population like Abbot Johannes II. Scharpfer (1494–1510) was even able to become a member of the imperial regiment.
| Dept | Term of office | Significant events in the history of the monastery |
| Frowinus | 1138-1165 | Founding of the Salem Monastery; Elevation to imperial abbey ; Establishing Raitenhaslach (1147) |
| Godefridus | 1166-1168 | |
| Erimbertus | 1168-1175 | |
| Christianus | 1175-1191 | Exemption from paying tithing |
| Eberhard I. von Rohrdorf | 1191-1240 | Ownership extensions; Founding of Wettingen Monastery (1227); Assignment to the Archdiocese of Salzburg ; Admission of women's monasteries |
| Berthold I. | 1240-1241 | |
| Eberhard II of Wollmatingen | 1241–1276 (resignation) | |
| Ulrich I. Gräter | 1276-1282 | |
| Ulrich II of Seelfingen | 1282-1311 | Start of construction of the cathedral; Founding of the Königsbronn monastery (1302) |
| Konrad von Enslingen | 1311–1337 (resignation) | |
| Ulrich III. from Werdenberg-Sargans | 1337-1358 | Salem receives lower jurisdiction for its territories |
| Berthold II. Tutz | 1358–1373 (resignation) | |
| Wilhelm Schrailk | 1373-1395 | Incorporation of Altbirnau |
| Jodok I. Senner | 1395–1417 (resignation) | |
| Petrus I. Oxner | 1417-1441 | Completion of the cathedral building |
| Georg I. Münch | 1441–1458 (resignation) | |
| Ludwig Oschwalt | 1458–1471 (resignation) | |
| Johannes I. Stantenat | 1471-1494 | Salem receives the right to tax his subjects; Construction of the Johanneskapelle Mimmenhausen and many farm buildings; the Ulm sculptor Michel Erhart works for the monastery |
| John II. Scharpfer (prospector) | 1494-1510 | Construction of the Liebfrauenkapelle, the infirmary and the library ( portrait ) |
| Jodok II Necker | 1510-1529 | Salem is sacked in the Peasant Wars |
| Amandus Schäffer | 1529-1534 | |
| John III Fisherman | 1534-1543 | |
| John IV Precht | 1543-1553 | |
| John V. Michel | 1553-1558 | |
| Georg II. Kaisersberger | 1558-1575 | |
| Matthew Rot | 1575-1583 | Document collection; Basis for the Summa Salemitana |
| Vitus Nekher | 1583-1587 | |
| John VI Bücheler | 1587-1588 | |
| Christian II prince | 1588–1593 (resignation) | |
| Petrus II. Miller (also Müller ) | 1593-1614 | |
| Thomas I. Wunn | 1615-1647 | Foundation of the Upper German Cistercian Congregation ; Numerous new buildings; Thirty Years' War puts heavy strain on the monastery |
| Thomas II. Schwab | 1647-1664 | |
| Anselm I. Muotelsee | 1664-1680 | |
| Emanuel Sulger | 1680-1698 | Fire disaster destroys the monastery; New building is decided |
| Stephan I. Jung | 1698-1725 | New construction of the monastery under Franz Beer ; Apiarium Salemitanum (1708) |
| Konstantin Miller | 1725-1745 | Conversions and extensions; Salem becomes the center of the Rococo |
| Stephan II. Enroth | 1745-1746 | Decision to build a new pilgrimage church in Birnau |
| Anselm II. Schwab | 1746-1778 | New construction of the Birnau; Construction of the cathedral tower; Establishment of a savings bank |
| Robert Bad | 1778-1802 | Official settlement of the conflicts with Konstanz , Überlingen , Pfullendorf ; Classicist cathedral furnishings; Foundation of a poor house in Wespach |
| Kaspar Oexle | 1802–1804 (dismissal) | Secularization ; Closure of the monastery |
literature
- Alberich Siewek (ed.): The Cistercian Abbey Salem. The order, the monastery, its abbots. Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1984
- List of coats of arms of the abbots of Salem, manuscript in family ownership, Salem 1826 ( digitized from Heidelberg University Library )