Rupert von Neuenstein

Portrait of Rupert von Neuenstein attributed to Johann Michael Koneberg

Grave of Rupert II von Neuenstein in the crypt of St. Lorenz

Rupert of Neuenstein (* 16th May 1736 in Meßkirch , † 8. August 1793 in Marktoberdorf ) was from 1785 to 1793 abbot of Prince pen Kempten .

Origin and life

Rupert von Neuenstein came from a noble family from Baden - Alsace , which originally had its ancestral seat at Alt-Neuenstein Castle near Lautenbach .

He was appointed professor of the 1760 philosophy appointed was from 1765 Councilor , four years later vice dean and from 1775 Great Dean before 27 December 1785 at the age of 50 years, as the successor to Prince Abbot of Dreadstone Honorius Roth was elected.

Neuenstein died of a stroke in August 1793 . He was buried with his predecessors in the crypt of the collegiate church of St. Lorenz .

Act

Neuenstein tried to reform the general school system in the monastery area and was seen as a promoter of popular education.

When he took office, the spirit of the Enlightenment found its way into the monastery. But the enlightenment goals and ideas of the newly elected prince led to tensions within the convention, which now split into two camps, a conservative one around the majority of the monastery chapter and a reformist enlightenment one around Rupert von Neuenstein. When the disputes within the monastery threatened to escalate, Neuenstein sued the chapter with Pope Pius VI. while the leadership of the conservative wing wanted to get a papal commission under the leadership of Martin Gerbert , the prince abbot of St. Blasien . However, the deaths of Gerbert and Neuenstein in 1793 prevented attempts by the Pope to mediate.

The Enlightenment theologian and Freemason Dominikus von Brentano , who was appointed court chaplain under Prince Abbot Honorius Roth von Schreckenstein as early as 1770, found an enthusiastic supporter and patron in Neuenstein. At Neuenstein's instigation, from 1789 onwards, Brentano carried out a historical-critical translation of the Bible based on the original text and provided it with comments.

Construction activity

During Neuenstein's reign, a monastery brewery was established in the prince monastery in 1788 . He expanded the gardens of Wagegg Castle, which had already been converted into a palace under Rupert von Bodman, and equipped it with water features and artificial ponds. He also had a new church dedicated to St. Magnus built in Buchenberg between 1791 and 1793 and lavishly furnished in the Louis Seize style .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Wolfgang Petz: Twice Kempten. History of a Twin City (1694–1836) ( Writings of the Philosophical Faculties of the University of Augsburg. Historical-Social Science Series No. 54). Ernst Vögel Verlag, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-89650-027-9 , p. 421.
2. ^ Wolfgang Petz: Twice Kempten. History of a Twin City (1694–1836) ( Writings of the Philosophical Faculties of the University of Augsburg. Historical-Social Science Series No. 54). Ernst Vögel Verlag, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-89650-027-9 , pp. 438-441.
3. ^ Walter Brandmüller : Enlightenment in the prince monastery Kempten . In: Journal for Bavarian State History 54 (1991), pp. 241–245.

predecessor	Office	successor
Honorius Roth von Schreckenstein	Prince Abbot of Kempten 1785–1793	Castolus Reichlin from Meldegg