Megingoz of funds

Megingoz von Geldern (* around 920; † 997 in Geldern ) was a noble founder and father of the holy Adelheid von Vilich .

Life

Nothing is known about Megingoz's birth and youth, but he seems to come from Geldern on the Lower Rhine, where his family owned large estates - as well as near Bonn . Although he is sometimes referred to as “comes” ( count ) in documents , he apparently came from the lower nobility, as the royal diplomas only list him as “nobilis vir” ( nobleman ). He married Gerberga , who came from the highest family , daughter of the Lorraine Count Palatine Gottfried and granddaughter of King Karl III of West Franconia . (of the simple-minded). In addition, she was a niece of Archbishop Wichfried of Cologne .

There were five children from this marriage:

• Gottfried (* at the latest 960; † 976/977 in Bohemia)
• Irmintrud
• Alvera
• Bertrada († before 1002 in Cologne), abbess of the Cologne monastery St. Maria im Kapitol
• Adelheid (* after 965 and before 970 in Geldern; † probably 1015 in Cologne), abbess of the monastery in Vilich

As a vassal of Henry and opponent of German rule in Lotharingia, Megingoz took the side of Henry in the dispute against King Otto I in the second uprising in 941 and fought on his side. It is possible that he was already there at the first uprising in 939. After the crackdown, he had to flee to save himself from the death penalty, but lost all possessions. After Heinrich was accepted again in honor by his brother Otto, Megingoz also received his own property back from Otto I at Heinrich's request with a certificate dated July 18, 944.

In 976 or 977 Gottfried, the only son and heir, fell in the battle against the Bohemians. In his memory, Megingoz and his wife Gerberga founded a women 's monastery ( St. Adelheidis-Stift ) on their land in ( Bonn -) Vilich in 978 next to a small church that had been in place since the 8th or 9th century Cemetery chapel had been used. In 987 the monastery became an imperial monastery with special privileges. Since the daughter Bertrada was already abbess of the Cologne monastery Maria im Kapitol, the parents appointed their youngest daughter Adelheid to lead the monastery, which she later converted into a monastery and of which she became the first abbess.

After the founding of the monastery, Megingoz retired to Geldern for the rest of his life. When he died, his bones were transferred to the Vilich Monastery.

literature

• Severin Corsten : Megingoz and Gerberga. Founder of the Vilich Abbey. In: Bonner Geschichtsblätter. 30, 1978, pp. 7-25.
• Megingoz. In: Josef Niesen : Bonner Personenlexikon. 3rd, improved and enlarged edition. Bouvier, Bonn 2011, ISBN 978-3-416-03352-7 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Josef Niesen: Bonner Personenlexikon. 3rd, improved and enlarged edition. Bouvier, Bonn 2011, ISBN 978-3-416-03352-7 , p. 310.
2. ^ DO I, 59 .