Seal of the abbots of the Imperial Abbey of Fulda

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The seals of the abbots of the Imperial Abbey of Fulda are the personal main seals (large seals) and the secret seals of the abbots of the Imperial Abbey of Fulda , which have been used independently or alongside the seal of the convent of the Imperial Abbey of Fulda since the beginning of the 11th century, primarily for the authentication of documents and legal contracts that concerned the Abbey of Fulda were used. Until the middle of the 16th century, the abbots always kept their own personal and differently designed seal.

Replica of the seal of Abbot Egbert von Fulda (1047-1058)

history

The higher clergy , mainly bishops , began in the 10th century to use the royal charter as a model to give credibility to their charter by pressing seals. Following this custom, monasteries began to certify their documents with seals. The imperial abbey of Fulda belonged to one of the first monasteries to seal documents. With the emergence of the seal as a credible, legally relevant and for everyone understandable means of authentication for documents in an almost written-free time and culture, the culinary document system began to flourish and develop again. A completely new phase of development followed, because it was no longer the handwriting of the abbot's private notaries that made the documents authentic and legally binding, but the stamped or attached seal.

During the term of office of Abbot Richard (1018-1039), the seal certificate was adopted as a further development of the documents of the Fulda Abbey, which had previously been authenticated by the abbot's notary. A few decades after the abbot acquired a personal seal, the convent of the Fulda monastery also procured its own seal. This became necessary because the monastery property was shared between the abbot and the convent and the convent consequently developed its own administration . The right of purchase granted to the convent, the many donations to the monastery and the introduction of private property by the monks made it necessary to have a separate convent seal to certify the legal transactions that affected all of the monks. Compared to other Benedictine monasteries , where the abbot and the convent initiated the use of seals, this cannot be said for Fulda. Hence, from the beginning of the use of the seal, there was a separate seal management by the abbot and the convent.

However, until the 13th century, the abbot's seal had a higher evidential value and authority than the convent seal. In the 12th century z. B. almost exclusively the abbot. At the beginning of the 13th century the custom emerged to authenticate a document of the abbey with both seals. Only now did the convent seal gain evidential value and authority and became an indispensable part of a deed that wanted to be legally binding. This double seal goes back to the influence of papal legislation. The reform statutes of Pope Gregory IX. from the year 1235 demanded the sealing by the convent in addition to the sealing for the validity of legal transactions. In Fulda, the double seal by the convent and the abbot had already existed shortly before the legal anchoring by Pope Gregory IX. enforced. During the tenure of Konrad III. von Malkos (1222–1249) was the first to have a double seal on a technical deed. Thus in the following period there was a constant increase in the number of documents with the seal of the abbot and with the seal of the convent. This double seal remained in place throughout the 13th century. It was not until the 14th century that the abbot was sealed again.

Development of the seal

Seal image

For the seal image of the seals of the abbots of Fulda, three different types of seal images can be distinguished. First the image of the seal leader ( portrait seal ), second the image of the patron saint ( holy seal ) and third the image of the coat of arms ( coat of arms seal ).

The seal management of the abbots of Fulda began with the representation of the portrait seal under the abbot Richard (1018-1039). Until Abbot Erlolf (1114–1122), the abbots were represented by a bust on their seals. Since Erlolf, a full- length picture of the abbot sitting on a throne chair ( throne seal ) has been used instead of the bust . This simple form of the throne seal was then more elaborately and richly decorated at the beginning of the 14th century. B. with decorated throne chairs, canopies , coats of arms etc. Under Abbot Hermann II. Von Buchenau (1440–1449) this design of the portrait seal reached its climax. The portrait seal was then completely withdrawn from the middle of the 16th century in favor of the coat of arms seal.

The high clergy, including abbots, usually carried portrait seals and seals of saints were usually only carried by church institutions such as monasteries, convents, but also often by donors, cities, etc. This is why the portrait of the abbot is shown on almost all of Fulda 's abbey seals up to the middle of the 16th century . There are only two exceptions: Abbot Konrad IV. Von Hanau (1372–1383) and Abbot Johann III. von Henneberg (1529–1541) had seals depicting the patron saint, St. Boniface .

Since the beginning of the 14th century, the abbots included the coat of arms of the abbey and the personal coat of arms of their families in their seal image in addition to their portrait . Abbot Heinrich VI. (1315–1353) is the first Fulda abbot to have both heraldic shields next to his portrait in his seal. Under Abbot Conrad IV (1372-1383) the number of coats of arms increased from two to four. For the first time a shield with the three lily stems , the attributes of St. Simplicius , appeared here. The cross shield previously shown to the right of the abbot was then completely replaced by the coat of arms with the three lily stems under Abbot Johann II (1472–1513). The inclusion of the eagle in the Fulda coat of arms at this time was intended to heraldically symbolize the imperial immediacy of the abbey . In the middle of the 16th century the seals of the abbots of Fulda became pure heraldic seals. In the quartered shield, fields one and four then represented the Fulda cross and fields two and three the family crests of the abbots.

Sealing material

The Imperial Abbey of Fulda was no exception to the common medieval practice of using sealants. As the sole sealing material used wax (wax was the most common in the Middle Ages seal material). In the first centuries only undyed beeswax was used. This was provided with additions of white pitch or other resin . During the reign of Abbot Konrad III. (1222–1249), in addition to the uncolored wax, red colored wax was also used. However, the red colored wax could not prevail and none of the successors of Conrad III. again used red wax for his seals. Rather, combining colors became more common. Since the middle of the 17th century, the use of sealing wax replaced wax as a sealing material.

The practice common in the 12th to 14th centuries of protecting sensitive wax seals with covers made of parchment or fabric was not very common in Fulda. Rather, it was common practice in Fulda to embed the embossed seal image in a solid cast wax bowl in order to stabilize and protect it. The protection of the seal by enclosing it in a wooden capsule was not used in Fulda before 1600.

Affixing the seal

From the beginning of the seal leadership under Abbot Richard (1018-1039) until the reign of Abbot Conrad III. (1222–1249) the seals on the document were pushed through. Either this was done on the right side or in the middle of the document. The heated sealing wax was pressed through the parchment of the certificate by means of a star or cross cut. The seal stamp was then pressed into the wax protruding from the front of the certificate. During the reign of Conrad III. Then the transition from the pressed seal to the attached seal took place. From the 13th to the 15th century, the attachment of the seal was even the exclusive method of attaching the seal to the documents in Fulda. The lower edge of the parchment certificate, which was bent over to protect it against tearing, was provided with incisions. Threads, cords or strips of parchment were then pulled through these incisions, to which the seal was attached. Conrad III. almost exclusively used silk cords with two colors (mostly red-yellow or red-green) for his attached seals . In the time after Konrad III. the parchment strip became the sole means of fastening the seals and it was not until the second half of the 17th century that the use of solid cords was reverted to. The use of hanging and hanging seals cannot be determined for Fulda.

Size and shape of the seals

From the beginning of the seal tour under Abbot Richard until the beginning of the 13th century, only round seals were used in Fulda. This applies to the personal seal as well as to the convent seal. Under Abbot Conrad III. (1222–1249) one went over to the oval and finally to the pointed oval shape. The of Konrad III. The oval shape that was introduced then remained the common seal form of the seals of the abbots of Fulda for more than two centuries (the convent, the cities of Fulda and some convents of the Fulda provosts continued to use round seals). It was not until Abbot Johann II von Henneberg (1472–1513) that they returned to their round shape. The under Henry VI. Secret seals introduced by Hohenberg (1315-1353) were round from the beginning and remained so.

In general, it can be said for Fulda that there was a tendency to steadily enlarge the seal into the 13th and 14th centuries. The round seals of the abbots of Fulda had grown to a diameter of up to 80 mm before they took over the pointed oval shape. The introduction of the secretion seal under Heinrich VI. may also be related to the increased main seals of the abbots, since these large main seals were not really suitable for sealing the parchments, which barely exceeded the size of a note.

Seal types and seal stamps, use of multiple seals

The abbots of Fulda, like most seal leaders in the Middle Ages, initially had only one seal stamp . However, since there was a sharp increase in written form in the 13th and 14th centuries , the abbots introduced a smaller additional seal. This circumstance and the steadily growing size of the main seal over time, as well as the fact that every simple legal transaction had to acquire the well-controlled and locked main seal for every simple legal transaction through a lot of time, then led under Heinrich VI. (1315–1353) to purchase a smaller seal, the so-called secretion seal. This secretion seal was then used more and more frequently over time and the laborious and time-consuming sealing with the main seal was dispensed with. Henry VI. It was also who used the secretion seal independently for the first time when he sealed an agreement between the abbots of Fulda and Hersfeld , the Count of Henneberg and the Landgrave of Thuringia . The secretion seal was only used as a return seal in Fulda for a short time. The secret seal, which was fundamentally changed under Abbot Johann II von Henneberg (1472–1513) (new seal image) gradually developed into the abbot's sole seal in this new design.

Seal inscriptions

In the oldest abbeys of Fulda, only the seal leader is mentioned in the inscription, the place name is omitted. For example B. the legend of the seal of Abbot Richard (1018-1039): RIIHARDVS D (EI) GRA (TIA) ABBAS . Apparently they trusted that the naming of the seal guide and his office was sufficient to identify the seal as that of the abbot of Fulda. In the 13th century the seal inscriptions became more complete and detailed. In addition to the location (from the 12th century on all seals), other additions were written in the romanization, e.g. B. the word SIGILLUM . The name of the abbot then followed in the genitive and no longer in the nominative , as was customary before. The final inclusion of the word SIGILLUM (abbreviated = S) and consequently the genitive form of the abbot's name did not take place until the beginning of the 14th century. The height of the completion of the romanization was reached in the 16th century. The inscription of the seal of Johann III. von Henneberg (1529-1541) z. In addition to the information that has been customary up to now, B. also names all the titles that the Abbots of Fulda had been given over time. It also states the year the seal was struck.

The legend of the abbey seal usually begins with a cross in the middle . Later this can also be an asterisk or a rosette . Ornaments and dots are used to separate words . In the case of longer texts, there is a second edge of the writing. With the older seals (up to Abbot Burchard (1168–1176)) the inscriptions are without separation in the seal field. In the course of time, the inscription is first separated from the seal area by a thin line, then by a bead and finally by a thick line. On the secretion seal of Abbot Johann II von Henneberg (1472–1513) the inscription can be seen for the first time on a tape.

The inscriptions and inscriptions on the Fulda seals are always written in Latin . The development of writing on the Abtsiegel follows the development of medieval writing. Starting with the Carolingian minuscule (800–1200), through the Gothic minuscule to the Renaissance minuscule of the 15th century. Then Antiqua and Fraktur established themselves as fonts. At the end of the 14th century, lower case letters of the Gothic minuscule appear for the first time on the abbots' seal inscriptions. Before that, it was only capital letters. The legend appears entirely in lower case for the first time on the seals of Abbot Johann I von Merlau (1395–1440). Under Abbot Johann III. Henneberg (1529-1541), it comes back again to the use of majuscule .

Chronological description of the abbeys

For the 11th and 12th centuries, some gaps in the chronological seal management of the abbots of Fulda cannot be ruled out. This fact can probably be explained in large part by the short term of office of these abbots. From the 13th century, however, an uninterrupted chronological listing of the seals of the abbots of Fulda is possible.

If not specifically mentioned and marked, the seals listed represent the abbots' personal main seals (large seals). The secretion seals are marked as such ( bold ).

Main seal and secret seal of the abbots from 1018 to 1541

Replica of the seal of the abbot Widerad von Fulda (1060-1075)

Seal Richards (1018-1039)

The pressed seal is round and has a diameter of 58 mm. The seal depicts a bust of the bareheaded abbot who holds the abbot's staff turned outwards and inclined in his right hand. In his left hand he is holding a closed book pressed to his chest. The inscription reads: (+) RIIHA (RDVS DEI GRATIA ABBAS) .

Seal Egberts (1047-1058)

The pressed through and round seal has a diameter of 68 mm. The seal shows a half-length portrait of the bareheaded abbot, who holds in his right hand the sloping abbot's staff turned outwards and in his left a closed book pressed to his chest. The inscription reads: + EGBERHTVS D (E) I GRA (TIA) FVLDENSIS ABBAS .

Seal of Widerads (1060-1075)

The round, pressed-through seal, which has a diameter of 64 mm, shows the bust of the bareheaded abbot , who holds the inclined and outward-facing abbot in his right hand and a closed book pressed to his chest in his left. The inscription is: + VVIDERADV (S) D (E) I GRA (TIA) ABBAS .

Seal of Ruthard (1075-1096)

Abbot Ruthard's seal is lost. Only the remainder of a fragment has been handed down on a document.

Erlolf's seal (1114–1122)

The round seal shows the bareheaded abbot sitting on a chair decorated with dog heads. In his right hand he holds the inward-facing abbot and in his left hand an open book. The inscription reads: + ERLOL (FVS DEI G) RA (TIA) FVLD (ENSIS) ABB '(AS) .

Seal of Conrad I (1134–1140)

The diameter of the round and pushed-through seal is 80 mm. It depicts the bare-headed abbot sitting on a faldistorium (the abbots' folding chair) adorned with dog heads . In his right hand the abbot holds the inwardly turned abbot's staff and in his left the open book. The inscription is: + CVNRADVS GRA (TIA) D (E) I FVLDENSIS ABBAS .

Seal of Markwards I (1150–1165)

The pressed through and round, 80 mm diameter seal shows the abbot with a wreath of curls around his head, sitting on a faldistorium decorated with dogs' heads. In his right hand the abbot holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and in his left hand the open book. The inscription reads: + MARCVVARDV (S) D (E) I GRATIA FVLDENSIS ABBAS .

Seal of Burchard (1168–1176)

  1. The round and pressed-through seal has a diameter of 80 mm. It shows the abbot with a wide wreath of hair around his head, sitting on a faldistory decorated with dogs' heads. The abbot's right hand holds the abbot's staff at an angle, the left the open book. The seal image is separated from the legend by the pearl rod and lines. The inscription reads: + BVRCHARDVS DEI GRA (TIA) (FVLDENSIS ABBAS) .
  2. The oval seal is 82 mm long and 55 mm wide. It shows the bareheaded, standing abbot, who holds the abbot's staff turned inwards in his right hand and the open book in his left. The inscription reads: + (BVR) SHARDVS D (E) I GRA (TIA) FVLDENSIS ABBA (S) .

Seal of Conrad II (1177–1192)

The seal shows the abbot sitting on a chair decorated with dog heads. He holds the abbot's staff in his right hand and the open book in his left.

Seal of Henry III. (1192-1216)

The pressed through and round seal has a size of 74 mm in diameter. The abbot is shown with a wide wreath of hair around his head. He is sitting on a faldistory adorned with dog heads, holding the inward-turned abbot in his right hand and the open book in his left. The seal field is separated from the legend by several lines. The inscription reads: + HEINRICVS DEI GR (ATIA FVLDENS) IS ABBAS .

Seal of Conrad III. of Malkos (1222–1249)

  1. The oval seal, attached with red and yellow strings, is 68 mm long and 56 mm wide. The abbot has a miter on his head and is shown seated on a faldistory decorated with dog heads. In his right hand he holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and in his left hand a closed book, which lies on his knee. The embroidery on the abbot's chasuble is similar to the pallium ( the Pope's official badge ). The inscription reads: + CVNRAD '(VS) DEI GRACIA FVLDENSIS ECCL' (ES) IE ABBAS .
  2. The second seal of Konrad III. is also oval, attached with red and yellow strings and has the same dimensions as the first. The seal image is identical, but the abbot is not holding a closed book in his left hand, but an open one. The inscription is: + CVNRADV (S) DEI GRACIA FVLDENSIS ECCL '(ES) IE ABBAS .
  3. The third seal of Conrad III. is pointed oval, attached to green cords and is 84 mm long and 62 mm wide. The abbot with miter is shown seated on a faldistory decorated with dog heads and dog feet. His right hand holds the inward-facing abbot and the left the open book in front of his chest. The abbot's chasuble worn over the alb is richly decorated with neck and central stripes. The inscription reads: + S '(IGILLUM) CONRADI D (E) I GRA (TIA) FVLDEN (SIS) ECC' (LES) IE ABBATIS .

Seal of Heinrich IV. Von Erthal (1249–1261)

  1. The oval seal is 72 mm long and 40 mm wide. The seal picture shows the abbot with the miter on his head, from which two ribbons fall onto the abbot's shoulders. The abbot sits on a faldistory decorated with dogs' heads and feet. Tongues that split into three at the tip of the tongue fall down from the mouths of the dog's heads. In his right hand the abbot holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and in his left the closed book. The inscription reads: + HENRI (CVS DEI GRATIA) FVLDENSIS EC (CLESIE) (AB) BAS .
  2. The second seal of Henry IV is also pointed oval and the seal image is designed identically. Only it is made longer and wider with a length of 80 mm and a width of 60 mm. The seal inscription is the same.

Seal of Berthos II. Von Leibolz (1261–1271)

The oval seal has a length of 67 mm and a width of 42 mm. The abbot with the miter on his head is shown seated on a faldistory decorated with dogs' heads. The abbot's right hand holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and the left a raised, closed book. The inscription reads: + BERTHOVS D (EI) GRA (TIA) FVLDENSIS ECCL '(ES) IE ABBAS .

Seal of Berthos III. von Mackenzell (1271–1274)

The oval seal is 68 mm long and 50 mm wide. It depicts the abbot with a miter, sitting on a faldistory decorated with dogs' heads. The abbot holds the inwardly turned abbot's staff in his right hand, and the closed and raised book in his left. The inscription reads: + BERTHOVS DEI GRA (TIA) FVLDEN (SIS) EC (C) L '(ESI) E ABBAS .

Seal of Berthos IV. Von Bimbach (1274–1286)

The oval-shaped seal, attached to red and yellow strings, is 64 mm long and 49 mm wide. The abbot with miter is shown seated on a faldistory decorated with dog heads. In his right hand he holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and in his left the raised, closed book. The inscription reads: + BERTHOVS DEI GRA (TIA) FVLDEN (SIS) E (CC) L '(ESI) E ABBAS .

Seal Markwards II. Bickenbach (1286-1288)

The oval seal has a length of 68 mm and a width of 45 mm. The abbot with miter is shown seated on a faldistory decorated with dog heads. In his right hand he holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and in his left the open book. The inscription reads: + MAR (CVVARDVS) DEI GRA (TIA) FVLDEN (SIS) ECCL '(ES) IE ABBAS .

Seal of Heinrich V von Weilnau (1288-1313)

The seal is pointed oval, 70 mm long and 48 mm wide. It shows the abbot with miter, who is sitting on an armchair decorated with dogs' heads. The abbot's right hand holds the abbot's staff turned inwards, the left the open book. The inscription reads: + HEINRICVS DEI GRA (TIA) (FV) LDEN (SIS) ECCL '(ES) IE ABBAS .

Seal of Eberhard von Rotenstein (1313-1315)

Only the lower half of this seal is present and documented, the upper half is missing. It is pointed oval and shows the abbot sitting on an armchair decorated with dog heads.

Seal of Henry VI. von Hohenberg (1315-1353)

Henry VI. introduced the secretion seal . Since his time, every abbot had a secretion seal in addition to his or her main personal seal.

  1. The seal has a pointed oval shape, is 80 mm long and 47 mm wide. The abbot is shown with a miter and sitting on an armchair decorated with lions' heads. He holds the abbot, which is turned outwards, in his right hand and in his left a closed book pressed to his chest. A small canopy is attached over the abbot. On his right is a coat of arms with the Fulda cross, on his left a coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Hohenberg (three diamonds placed side by side in the head of the shield). The seal field is latticed and provided with dots. The inscription reads: + HEINRICVS DEI GRA (TIA) FVLDENSIS ECC (LESI) E ABBAS .
  2. The second seal also has a pointed oval shape and measures 70 mm in length and 52 mm in width. The abbot is shown again with a miter and sitting on an armchair decorated with lions' heads. In his right hand he holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and in his left the closed, raised book. The coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Hohenberg can be seen under the footstool . The inscription reads: + S '(IGILLUM) HEINRICI DEI GRACIA ABBATIS ECC (LESI) E FVLDEN' (SIS) .
  3. The third seal is the secret seal of Henry VI. It is round and has a diameter of 33 mm. It shows the half-length of the standing abbot with miter. In his right hand he holds the abbot's staff turned inwards and in his left the raised, closed book. The inscription reads: + SECRET (UM) HE (I) NR (ICI) DEI GRA (TIA) FVLDEN (SIS) ABB '(AT) IS .

Seal of Henry VII of Craluck (1353–1372)

  1. The seal is pointed oval and has a length of 76 mm and a width of 46 mm. It depicts the abbot with miter turned slightly to the right, sitting on a faldistory decorated with dog heads. The right hand holds the abbot's staff, which is turned outwards. This protrudes into the inscription. The left hand holds the closed book pressed to the chest. On the right side of the abbot there is a coat of arms with the Fulda cross, as well as a coat of arms inclined to the right under the footstool with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Craluck (a striding crow). The inscription reads: + S '(IGILLUM) HEINRICI DEI GRACIA ABBATIS ECC (LESI) E FVLDENSIS .
  2. The second seal is the secretion seal of Henry VII. It has a round shape and a diameter of 33 mm. It shows the half-length of the standing abbot with miter. In his right hand he holds the abbot's staff turned outwards and in his left the closed book, which is pressed to his chest. The inscription reads: + SECRET (UM) HEINR (ICI) DEI GRA (TIA) ABB '(AT) IS FVLDEN (SIS) .

Seal of Conrad IV of Hanau (1372-1383)

  1. The seal is pointed oval and is 80 mm long and 52 mm wide. It shows St. Boniface , on whose behalf the Fulda Monastery was founded, with miter and halo sitting under a Gothic canopy. He has raised his right hand in blessing and in his left he holds the outward-facing, inclined bishop's staff. On Boniface's right is a heraldic shield with the Fulda cross, and on his left a heraldic shield with three lily stems ( Simplicius symbol ). The abbot with miter kneels under the enthroned Boniface. He has raised his right hand and in his left he holds the abbot's staff turned outwards. To the right of the abbot is a coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Counts of Hanau (three rafters standing one above the other) and to the left of the abbot a coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Hohenlohe . The inscription reads: + S '(IGILLUM) CONRADI ABBATIS ECCLESIE FVLDENSIS .
  2. The round seal with a diameter of 32 mm is the secretion seal of Konrad IV and shows a bust of the abbot with a miter. In his right hand the abbot holds the closed, raised book, in his left the abbot's staff turned outwards. A coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Counts of Hanau is shown under a Gothic arch below the bust of the abbot. The seal field is decorated with flowers. The inscription reads: + SECRET (UM) CONRADI ABBATIS FVLDEN (SIS) .

Seal of Frederick I of Romrode (1383–1395)

  1. The seal has a pointed oval shape and is 70 mm long and 10 mm wide. It depicts the abbot with miter turned slightly to the right, sitting on a faldistory decorated with dog heads. The abbot holds the abbot's staff in his right hand. This protrudes into the inscription. In his left hand he holds the closed book, which is pressed to his chest. To the right of the abbot is a heraldic shield, inclined slightly to the left, with the Fulda cross. Under the footstool there is a coat of arms inclined to the right with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Romrode (two towers). The inscription reads: + S '(IGILLUM) FRIDERICI DEI GRACIA ABBATIS ECCLESIE FVLDENSIS .
  2. The second seal is the secretion seal of Friedrich I. It is round and has a diameter of 34 mm. It shows the half-length of the standing abbot with miter. In his right hand he holds the abbot's staff turned outwards, in his left the closed book pressed to his chest. The inscription reads: + SECRET (UM) FRID (ERICI) DEI GRA (TIA) ABBATIS FVLDENSIS .

Seal of Johann I of Merlau (1395–1440)

  1. The oval seal is 70 mm long and 47 mm wide. It depicts the abbot with miter seated under a Gothic canopy. The right hand of the abbot holds the raised, closed book, the left the abbot's staff turned outwards. Under the enthroned abbot there is a coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Merlau (a crowned lion). The seal field is latticed and decorated with dots. The inscription reads: s (igillum) iohannis dei gracia abbatis eccle (sie) fuldensis .
  2. The second seal of John I is his secretion seal . It is round and has a diameter of 36 mm. It shows the bust of the abbot with miter. This protrudes into the legend of the seal imprint. In his right hand the abbot holds the raised, closed book and in his left the slightly tilted abbot's staff, turned outwards. Under the bust of the abbot there is a coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Merlau. The seal field is decorated with crosses. The inscription reads: s (ecretum) iohannis abbatis fulden (sis) .
  3. The third seal of Johann I is also a secretion seal and shows the same seal image as the second seal impression. Only it is a bit smaller with a diameter of 32 mm and the figure of the abbot and the coat of arms appear wider. The seal field does not contain any crosses. The inscription reads: + s (ecretum) iohoñis ABBAT (IS) FVLDEN (SIS) .

Seal of Hermann II of Buchenau (1440–1449)

Since 1419 Hermann was coadjutor ( lat. "Assistance") with succession right (coadiutor cum iure successionis) . Coadjutor is the assistant or deputy assigned to an ecclesiastical office holder ( bishop or abbot) with the right of succession and certain powers. The coadjutor represents and supports the official in his management duties. From 1419 onwards, Hermann had been at the side of the incumbent Abbot Johann I von Merlau. With his first two seals he sealed as coadjutor.

  1. The oval seal is 70 mm long and 47 mm wide. It shows the abbot with miter seated under a Gothic canopy. He holds the raised, closed book in his right hand. In the left the abbot turned outwards. On the right side of the abbot there is a heraldic shield with the Fulda cross, on the left a heraldic shield with the family coat of arms of the Lords of Buchenau (a rising crow). The inscription reads: s (igillum) hermanni coaditor (is) (dei) (gratia) iohanni abbati (s) fulden (sis) .
  2. The second seal used as a coadjutor is round and 36 mm in diameter. On this is the standing abbot with miter, who holds the abbot's staff turned outwards with his right and the closed book in front of his chest with his left. On the right side of the abbot is a heraldic shield with the Fulda cross and on the left a heraldic shield with the family arms of the Lords of Buchenau. The inscription reads: s (igillum) h (er) mani io (hanni) con 'ato ... abb (atis) fuld (ensis) .
  3. The third seal, now listed as an abbot, has a pointed oval shape and is 66 mm long and 39 mm wide. The seal shows the abbot sitting under a richly decorated Gothic canopy with a miter, in his right hand the abbot's staff turned outwards and in the left the closed, raised book. Two coats of arms standing side by side are under the enthroned abbot. The right shows the Fulda cross, the left the family coat of arms of the Lords of Buchenau. The inscription reads: sigillum hermanni abbatis fuldensis .
  4. The fourth seal of Hermann II is his secretion seal . It is round and has a diameter of 36 mm. It shows the abbot sitting under a small Gothic canopy with a miter. He holds the abbot's staff turned outwards in his right hand and the raised, closed book in his left. Under the enthroned abbot there are two inwardly inclined coats of arms. On the right is the Fulda cross and on the left the family coat of arms of the Lords of Buchenau. The inscription reads: s (ecretum) hermanni aboatis fuldens (sis) .
  5. The fifth seal is also a secretion seal . It has a round shape and a diameter of 32 mm. It shows the abbot with miter sitting under a canopy with thick columns. The abbot's right hand holds the abbot's staff turned outwards, the left the closed, raised book. The inscription reads: secr (etum) herman (ni abba) tis fuldens (sis) .

Seal of Reinhard von Weilnau (1449–1472)

  1. The pointed oval seal, 70 mm long and 40 mm wide, depicts the abbot with miter sitting under a Gothic canopy. The abbot holds the richly decorated, outwardly turned abbot's staff in his right hand and the closed, raised book in his left hand. A coat of arms with the Fulda cross is shown on the right side of the abbot and on the left a coat of arms with three lily stems. The coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Counts of Weilnau (two striding lions on top of each other) is located under the enthroned abbot. The seal field is latticed and little crosses surround it according to the legend. The inscription reads: si (gillum) reinhardi abbatis monasterii fuldēsis .
  2. The second seal is Reinhard's secretion seal . It is round and has a diameter of 36 mm. It shows in the quatrefoil seated abbot who in his right hand holding the raised, closed book in his left hand the outwardly facing Abtsstab. The coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Counts of Weilnau is shown under the abbot. The inscription reads: s (ecretum) reinhardi abbatis fuldis .
  3. Reinhard von Weilnau's third seal is also a secretion seal . It is round and slightly smaller with a diameter of 29 mm. It represents a coat of arms with the family coat of arms of the Counts of Weilnau in the six pass . The inscription reads: s (ecretum) reinhart abba (ti) s ...

Seal of Johann II. Von Henneberg (1472–1513)

  1. The round seal, with a diameter of 51 mm, shows the abbot with a miter standing under a Gothic canopy. The abbot is holding the sloping abbot's staff in his right hand and the closed book in his left. On the right side of the abbot is a heraldic shield with three lily stems, on the left a split heraldic shield with half a double-headed eagle and half a Simplicius symbol (lily stem). Under the abbot's feet there is a four-part coat of arms, which firstly shows the Fulda cross, secondly a hen on a mountain of three, thirdly a double-headed eagle and fourthly again the Fulda cross. There is also an inscription along the inscription. This reads: ANNO DOMINI 1472 . The inscription reads: s (igillum) iohannis dei gracia abbatis monaster '(i) i fuldēn (sis) .
  2. The second seal is also round and a little smaller with a diameter of 47 mm. The abbot with miter is shown standing in quatrefoil. The abbot's staff, turned outwards, is in the abbot's right hand and the closed book is held in his left. A heraldic shield with three lily stems is shown to the right of the abbot. To the left is a split shield with half a double-headed eagle on the left and a halved Simplicius sign on the right. In front of the abbot's feet is the same four-part shield as on the first seal. The inscription reads: s (igillum) iohannis dei gra (tia) abbatis fuldēn (sis) .
  3. The third seal is the secretion seal of Johann II. It is also round, but with a diameter of 27 mm, it is considerably smaller than the two previous ones. The seal picture shows a four-part escutcheon with an angel as a shield holder. A hen is located on the first and fourth field fuldische the cross on the second field on a three mountain and the third panel is divided, above double eagle and it is below geschacht . The legend is written on two ribbons. It reads: io (hannis) abba (ti) s fuldensis .

Seal of Hartmann II of Kirchberg (1513–1529)

Since 1507 Hartmann was coadjutor with succession rights and thus deputy and assistant to Abbot Johann II von Henneberg. The first two seals are seals from his time as coadjutor.

  1. The round seal with a diameter of 55 mm shows St. Boniface with a miter standing under a Gothic canopy. In his right hand he holds the bishop's staff turned outwards and in his left a sword with an impaled book. A four-part shield is shown above his feet. The first and fourth field of the shield shows the Fulda cross, the second the coat of arms of the Burgraviate of Kirchberg (an upright inwardly turned lion) and the third field the coat of arms of the county of Kirchberg (triple stake area). On both sides of Boniface there is an inscription on two ribbons. It reads: bonifaci '- sanc mr. The inscription reads: s (igillum) hartmani burcg¯av de / kirchbrk coadiut (oris) eccles (ie) ful (densis) .
  2. Hartmann's second coadjutor seal is also round, but with a diameter of 30 mm, it is smaller than the first. It shows a four-part escutcheon with an angel as a shield holder. The first and fourth fields of the coat of arms depict the Fulda cross, the second the coat of arms of the burgrave Kirchberg and the third the coat of arms of the county of Kirchberg. The inscription reads: s (igillum) har (t) m (ani) būgr de kirchb coadoiut (oris) .
  3. The seal represents Hartmann's first seal as an abbot. The round, 50 mm diameter seal shows the abbot with a miter standing under a Gothic canopy and holding the inclined abbot's staff in his right hand. He has the closed book in his left hand. A heraldic shield with three lily stems is on the right side of the abbot, as well as a split shield with half a double-headed eagle on the left and a half Simplicius symbol on the right. A four-part coat of arms is under the abbot's feet. In the first and fourth fields of the shield the Fulda cross is shown, in the second the coat of arms of the burgrave of Kirchberg and in the third field the coat of arms of the county of Kirchberg. There is an inscription along the inscription. It reads: ANNO DOMINI 1513 . The inscription reads: s (igillum) hartmani dei gracia abbatis ecclesie fuldēn (sis) .
  4. The second seal of Hartmann II is his secret seal . It is round and has a diameter of 30 mm. It shows a four-part escutcheon with an angel as a shield holder. The first and fourth field of the coat of arms shows the Fulda cross, the second the coat of arms of the burgrave of Kirchberg and the third field the coat of arms of the county of Kirchberg. The legend is written on a tape. It reads: s (ecretum) har (t) m (ani) dei gracia abba (ti) s ecclesi (e) fuld (ensis) .

Seal of Johann III. von Henneberg (1529–1541)

Since 1521 Johann was coadjutor with succession rights and thus deputy and assistant to Hartmann II. Von Kirchberg. He also served since 1521 administrator . The first three seals are seals from his time as coadjutor. The fourth seal is his administrator seal. Seals five and six are Johanns III. Abc seal.

  1. The round seal with a diameter of 18 mm shows three coats of arms in the round seal field. The upper one shows the Fulda cross. The right shield is split and shows the coat of arms of the Burggrafschaft Kirchberg on the left and the coat of arms of the Grafschaft Kirchberg on the right. The left shield is also split. The left field is divided and shows a double-headed eagle at the top and a shaft at the bottom. The right field shows a hen on a mountain of three. There is an inscription on both sides of the upper shield. It reads:  AE - CF  (= abbas et coadiutor fuldensis).
  2. Johann's second coadjutor seal is also round and slightly larger with a diameter of 21 mm. It also contains three coats of arms in the round seal field. The upper one shows the Fulda cross, the right one is divided into a double-headed eagle and a nested surface and the left shows a hen on a mountain of three. Also on this seal there is an inscription on both sides of the upper coat of arms. It reads:  AB (BATIS) - EC (CLESIE) . Below, between the two coats of arms is the inscription:  FVL (DENSIS) .
  3. The third coadjutor seal is also round, but with a diameter of 43 mm it is larger than the other two. It also shows three coats of arms in the round seal field. The upper one shows the Fulda cross. The right shield is in four parts and shows the coat of arms of the Burggrafschaft Kirchberg in the first and fourth fields. Fields two and three show the coat of arms of the county of Kirchberg. The left shield is also in four parts and shows in fields one and four a double-headed eagle and a hen on a mountain of three in fields two and three. The inscription reads:  sigillum abbatis et coatiutoris ecclesie fuldēn (sis) .
  4. The fourth seal is Johann's administrator seal. The diameter of the round seal is 68 mm. It shows St. Boniface turned to the left with miter standing in front of a large Renaissance building. In his right hand he holds a sword with an impaled book and in his left a scroll. A heraldic shield with three lily stems is on its right. To his left is a split coat of arms, which shows a halved double-headed eagle in the left field and a half Simplicius symbol in the right. A four-part shield covers the lower part of the body of St. Boniface. Fields one and four are divided and show a double-headed eagle at the top and are well below. Fields two and three show a hen on a mountain of three. The middle shield shows the Fulda cross. The inscription reads:  + SIGILLUM IOANNIS ADMINISTRATORIS FVLDEN (SIS) DIVE AVG (VSTE ARCHICANCELLARY) .
  5. This seal is the first abt seal of Johann III. It has the same shape and dimensions as the administrator's seal. The seal image is designed in the same way, only here St. Boniface is turned to the right and there is an outer and inner seal inscription. Outer inscription:  + SIGILLVM (IOAN) NIS D G ABB (ATIS) ECCLESIE FVLDE (NSIS) DIVE AVGVSTE ARCHICANCELLARY . Inner inscription:  + NECNON ET ORDINIS S (ANCTUS) BENEDICDII PER GERMANIAM ET GALLIAM PRIMATIS C 1531 .
  6. This seal represents the secretion seal of Johann III. The round seal with a diameter of 39 m shows a four-part coat of arms shield with an angel as a shield holder. Fields one and four are divided and show a double-headed eagle at the top and are well below. Fields two and three show a hen on a mountain of three. In the middle of the seal is a small central shield with the Fulda cross. The inscription reads: SECRE (TUM) IO (HANNIS) ABBATIS ECCLE (SIE) FVLDEN (SIS) D (EI) AVG (VSTE) ARCHICAN (CELLARY) .

The secretion seal after 1541

The secret seal moved more and more into the foreground over time and Abbot Johann III. (1529–1541) was the last Fulda abbot who still had a large personal main seal in addition to the secretion seal. The abbot Philipp von Schweinsberg (1541–1550), the successor of Johann III, only used the secret seal to certify documents. The secret seal has been in effect since it was introduced by Abbot Heinrich VI. (1315–1353) as a full replacement for the main seal.

Since 1541 the appearance of the secretion seal has not changed fundamentally. It has a round shape and shows a four-part escutcheon with an angel as a shield holder. In the 17th century, only the angel as a shield holder was replaced by objects such as a helmet, a cross, a sword, etc.

See also

literature

  • Ludwig Weth: Studies on the sealing system of the imperial abbey of Fulda and its territory. Darmstadt / Marburg 1980 (Sources and Research on Hessian History 41), ISBN 3884431285 .
  • Friedrich Küch : On the history of the seal cut in Hesse. In: Hessenkunst 1929, pp. 3–17.
  • Johann Friedrich Schannat : Historia Fuldensis. Frankfurt 1729.
  • Wolfhard Vahl: Fulda, St. Salvator. Sphragistics and heraldry. In: Germania Benedictina, Vol. VII (The Benedictine monastery and nunnery in Hesse), St. Ottilien 2004, pp. 427–434.
  • Richard Gaettens: The money and coinage of the Fulda Abbey in the High Middle Ages. Fulda 1957.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ludwig Weth: Studies on the sealing system of the Reichsabtei Fulda and its territory , Darmstadt / Marburg 1980, (sources and research on Hessian history 41), p. 10.
  2. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , p. 16
  3. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 21f.
  4. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 46th
  5. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 46f.
  6. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , p. 48
  7. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 50f.
  8. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 26f.
  9. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 27th
  10. ↑ Weth, Siegelwesen , pp. 27f.
  11. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 29f.
  12. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 29f.
  13. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 31f.
  14. ↑ Weth, Siegelwesen , p. 33 f.
  15. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , p. 36
  16. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , p. 13
  17. ^ Wilhelm Ewald : Siegelkunde , Munich – Berlin 1914 (reprinted 1969), p. 83f.
  18. ^ Wilhelm Ewald: Siegelkunde , Munich – Berlin 1914 (reprinted 1969), pp. 99-104
  19. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 60th
  20. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 60th
  21. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 61st
  22. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 61st
  23. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 61st
  24. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 61st
  25. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 61st
  26. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 61st
  27. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 62nd
  28. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 62nd
  29. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 62nd
  30. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 62nd
  31. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 63rd
  32. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 63rd
  33. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 63rd
  34. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 63rd
  35. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 64th
  36. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 64th
  37. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 64th
  38. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 64th
  39. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 64th
  40. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 65th
  41. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 65th
  42. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 65th
  43. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 65th
  44. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 65th
  45. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 66th
  46. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 66th
  47. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , p. 67
  48. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , p. 67
  49. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , p. 67
  50. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , p. 67
  51. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 68th
  52. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 68th
  53. ↑ http://www.orden-online.de/wissen/k/koadjutor/
  54. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 68th
  55. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 68th
  56. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 69th
  57. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 69th
  58. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 69th
  59. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 69th
  60. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 69th
  61. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 70th
  62. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 70th
  63. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 70th
  64. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 71st
  65. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 71st
  66. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 71st
  67. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 71st
  68. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 72nd
  69. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 72nd
  70. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 72nd
  71. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 72nd
  72. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 73rd
  73. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 73rd
  74. ↑ Weth, Siegel essence , S. 73rd
  75. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 59th
  76. ↑ Weth, Seal beings , S. 59th

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