View source for Lorsch Abbey

{{more citations needed|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| WHS           = Kloster Lorsch
| image         = Kloster Lorsch 06.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption       = The 9th-century ''Torhalle'' (gatehouse) is a unique survival of the Carolingian era. It curiously combines some elements of the Roman triumphal arch (arch-shaped passageways, half-columns) with the vernacular Teutonic heritage (baseless triangles of the blind arcade, polychromatic masonry).
| location      = [[Lorsch]], [[Bergstraße (district)|Bergstraße]], [[Hesse]], [[Germany]]
| part_of       = Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch
| criteria      = {{UNESCO WHS type|(iii), (iv)}} (iii), (iv)
| ID            = 515bis-001
| coordinates   = {{coord|49|39|13|N|8|34|11|E|region:DE-HE_type:landmark|display=title, inline|format=dms}}
| year          = 1991
| extension     = 
| danger        = 
| area          = {{convert|3.11|ha|acre|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone   = {{convert|14.825|ha|acre|abbr=on}}
| website       = {{url|www.kloster-lorsch.de/en}}
| embedded      = {{OSM Location map 
| coord = {{Coord|49|39|13|N|8|34|11|E}}
| zoom = 15
| caption = Lorsch Abbey
| label = Lorsch Abbey
| mark-coord = {{Coord|49|39|13|N|8|34|11|E}}
| label-pos = right
| mark-title = Lorsch Abbey
| mark-image =
| mark-description =
}}
| locmapin      = Hesse#Germany
| map_caption   = 
}}
{{Infobox country
|native_name            = ''Reichsabtei Lorsch''
|conventional_long_name = Imperial Abbey of Lorsch
|common_name            = Lorsch Abbey
|
|era                    = Middle Ages
|status                 = Imperial Abbey
|empire                 = Holy Roman Empire
|government_type        = Theocracy
|today                  = [[Germany]]
|
|year_start             = 852
|year_end               = 1232
|
|event_pre              = Founded by Count [[Cancor]]
|date_pre               = 764
|event_start            = ''[[Codex Aureus of Lorsch|Codex Aureus]]'' produced
|date_start             = 778–820
|event1                 = [[Imperial immediacy|Immediacy]] confirmed
|date_event1            = 852
|event2                 = [[Gorze Reform]]s
|date_event2            = 10th century
|event3                 = ''[[Lorsch codex]]'' produced
|date_event3            = 1175–95
|event4                 = 
|date_event4            = 
|event_end              = Granted to [[Archbishopric of Mainz|Mainz]] by<br>{{spaces|4}}[[Pope Gregory IX]] and<br>{{spaces|4}}[[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emp. Frederick II]]
|date_end               = 
|event_post             = Razed by French troops<br>{{spaces|4}}during [[Nine Years' War]]
|date_post              = <br>1679–97
|
|p1                     = East Francia
|image_p1               = [[File:Sin escudo.svg|20px|alt=]]
|s1                     = Archbishopric of Mainz
|image_s1               = [[File:Mainz Arms.svg|20px|alt=]]
|
|capital                = <nowiki>Lorsch Abbey</nowiki>
|
|image_coat             = Coat of Arms of the Bishopric of Konstanz.svg
|image_flag             = 
|image_map              = 
|image_map_caption      = 
|
|footnotes              = <!--- Accepts wikilinks --->
}}

'''Lorsch Abbey''', otherwise the '''Imperial Abbey of Lorsch''' ({{lang-de|Reichsabtei Lorsch}}; {{lang-la|Laureshamense Monasterium}} or ''Laurissa''), is a former [[Imperial abbey]] in [[Lorsch]], [[Germany]], about {{cvt|10|km}} east of [[Worms, Germany|Worms]]. It was one of the most renowned monasteries of the [[Carolingian Empire]]. Even in its ruined state, its remains are among the most important pre-[[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]]–[[Carolingian architecture|Carolingian style]] buildings in Germany.<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/515 |title = Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 18 Jun 2021}}</ref> Its chronicle, entered in the ''[[Lorsch codex|Lorscher Codex]]'' compiled in the 1170s (now in the state archive at [[Würzburg]]), is a fundamental document for early medieval German history. Another famous document from the monastic library is the [[Codex Aureus of Lorsch|''Codex Aureus'' of Lorsch]]. In 1991 the ruined abbey was listed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] because of its architectural and historical importance.<ref name = "unesco"/>

== Historic names ==
The following historical names have been recorded:

* In the 8th century: Laurisham<ref>{{Cite book|title=Oorkondenboek der Graafschappen Gelre en Zutfen tot op den Slag van Woeringen, 5 Juni 1288|last=Baron Sloet|first=L. A. J. W.|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff|year=1872|location=s'Gravenhage|pages=10 (no. 9)}}</ref>
* In the 9th century: Lorishaim
* 9th and 11th centuries: Loresham
* 9th–10th centuries: Laurishaim
* 10th century: Laresham
* 10th–12th centuries: Lareshaeim and Lauresheim
* 11th–12th centuries: Lauresham
* 11th century: Larsem, Loraszam, Lorozam, Lorisham
* 12th century: Laurisca, Laurisham, Laureshan, Loressam, Lorisheym, Lorscheim, Lors

== History ==
[[File:Lorsch church ruins.jpg|right|thumb|Church ruins]]

=== Founding ===
The abbey was founded in 764 by the Frankish Count [[Cancor]] and his widowed mother, Williswinda, as a [[proprietary church]] (''Eigenkirche'') and monastery on their estate, Laurissa. It was dedicated to [[Saint Peter]] and [[Saint Paul]]. The founders entrusted its government to Cancor's cousin, [[Chrodegang]] ([[Archbishop of Metz]]), who became its first abbot.<ref name="History"/>

The pious founders enriched the new abbey by further donations. To make the abbey popular as a shrine and a place of pilgrimage, Chrodegang obtained from [[Pope Paul I]] the body of [[Saint Nazarius (Roman Martyrology)|Saint Nazarius]], martyred at [[Rome]] with three companions under [[Diocletian]].
<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=http://www.kloster-lorsch.de/en/klosterlorsch/history-relevance/|title=History & Relevance of Lorsch Abbey|publisher=Kloster Lorsch|first=Hermann|last=Schefers|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>

On 11 July 765, the sacred relics arrived and with great solemnity were deposited in the basilica of the monastery. In 766 Chrodegang resigned the office of abbot, in favour of his other duties as Archbishop of Metz. He then sent his brother Gundeland to Lorsch as his successor, with fourteen [[Benedictine]] monks.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

That same year, there was a dispute about property rights between Gundeland and Cancor's son, and the abbey was moved to an Ice Age [[Inland dune|dune]], a few hundred metres from its original location on a small island in the [[Weschnitz]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In 772, Gundeland applied to the highest authority, [[Charlemagne]], who found in his favour. Gundeland gave the abbey with all his properties to the king, turning it into a Royal abbey.<ref name="History"/>

The abbey and basilica were then renamed in honour of Saint Nazarius: the main church of Saints Peter, Paul, and Nazarius was consecrated by the [[Archbishop of Mainz]] in September 774, in the presence of Charlemagne.<ref name = "icomos">{{cite report |url = https://whc.unesco.org/document/153636 |title = ICOMOS Advisory Report: Lorsch, former Benedictine Abbey |date = 28 Dec 1988 |publisher = ICOMOS |access-date = 18 Jun 2022}}</ref>

=== Influence ===
Many miracles were said to be wrought through the intercession of Saint Nazarius at Lorsch, and from all parts of Europe pilgrims in large numbers came to visit the shrine. In the course of the 9th century the library and [[scriptorium]] of Lorsch made it one of the cultural centres of Germany; its four surviving 9th-century catalogues show that it was rich in both Classical and Christian texts.<ref>James W. Thompson, ''The Medieval Library'' (New York) 1957, pp. 80–82; Chauncey E. Finch, "Catalogues and Other Manuscripts from Lorsch" ''Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association'' '''99''' (1968) pp. 165–79.</ref>

Few Carolingian manuscripts are better known than the Lorsch gospels, the ''[[Codex Aureus of Lorsch]]'', now divided between the [[Vatican Library]] and the [[Batthyaneum Library]] in [[Alba Iulia]], [[Romania]]; the carved ivory [[consular diptych]]s of [[Anastasius (consul 517)]] that were reused for its bindings are urbane classicising works of art in themselves, and embodiments of the classical tradition of Byzantium as it was transmitted to Lorsch in the time of [[Charlemagne]].<ref>Margaret H. Longhurst and Charles Rufus Morey, "The Covers of the Lorsch Gospels", ''Speculum'' '''3'''.1 (January 1928:64–74); Charles Rufus Morey, " The Covers of the Lorsch Gospels", ''Speculum'' '''4'''.4 (October 1929): 411–29).</ref>

In 876, shortly after the death of [[Louis the German|Ludwig der Deutsche]] (Louis the German), the abbey became the burial place for the first "German" king. His son, [[Louis the Younger|Ludwig der Jüngere]] (Louis the Younger, died 882), and his grandson Hugo (died 879) were also buried at Lorsch.<ref name="History"/> The burial chapel (''ecclesia varia'') later continued to serve as a Royal burial ground, e.g. for [[Cunigunde of Swabia|Kunigunde]] (died after 915), wife of the first non-Carolingian king, [[Conrad I of Germany|Konrad I]] (Conrad I).<ref name="History"/>

From 895–956, the abbey was not allowed to elect its own abbots: they were appointed by the king. Emperor [[Otto I]] restored this right to Lorsch. A confrontation between ruler and abbot about the construction of the castle of ''Starkenburg'' within view of the abbey resulted in abbot Udalrich confronting the king at [[Trebur]] with 1,200 armed riders.<ref name="History"/>

Throughout the 11th century, the abbey flourished. Popes and emperors repeatedly favoured the abbey with privileges and estates ranging from the [[Alps]] to the [[North Sea]], so that in a short time it became not only immensely rich, but also a seat of political influence. It was declared a ''[[reichsabtei]]'' (a sovereign principality in its own right, subject directly and solely to the [[Holy Roman Emperor|emperor]]). In 1052, [[Pope Leo IX]] came to consecrate an altar in the burial chapel of the eastern Carolingians.<ref name="History"/> By the end of the 11th century, Lorsch had been visited by kings/emperors around 2 times. In 1090, a fire ravaged the abbey, and an extensive rebuilding was conducted in the early 12th century.<ref name = "unesco"/> 

The abbey, enjoying sovereign territorial rights, became implicated in several local feuds and in a number of wars. After 46 [[Benedictine]] abbots had governed the abbey, Conrad, the last of them, was deposed by [[Pope Gregory IX]] in 1226, and through the influence of [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Friedrich II]] (Frederick II), Lorsch came into the possession of [[Siegfried III, Archbishop of Mainz]], in 1232, ending the period of Lorsch's cultural and political independence.
From 1232–48, Lorsch was used by the [[Cistercians]].<ref name="History"/>

=== Later history ===
In 1248, [[Premonstratensian]] canons from [[All Saints' Abbey (Baden-Württemberg)|Allerheiligen Abbey]] were given charge of the monastery with the sanction of [[Pope Celestine IV]]. In 1461, the abbey was mortgaged to the [[Electoral Palatinate]]. In 1556, [[Elector Palatine]] [[Otto Henry, Elector Palatine|Otto Heinrich]] implemented the [[Protestant Reformation]] in his territories and dissolved the monasteries.

He removed the contents of the library to [[Heidelberg]], forming the famous ''[[Bibliotheca Palatina]]'', just prior to Lorsch's dissolution in 1557/1563. The remaining members of the abbey's religious community were pensioned off and sent away. In 1623, after the capture of Heidelberg, the [[Rulers of Bavaria|Elector Maximilian of Bavaria]] presented the renowned library, 196 cases of manuscripts, to [[Pope Gregory XV]].<ref>Thompson 1957; Finch 1968:165.</ref> [[Leo Allatius]] was sent to superintend its removal to Rome, where it was incorporated into the [[Vatican library]] as the "Biblioteca Palatina".

As of 2015, the Vatican holds over a third of the surviving Lorsch manuscripts, while the rest are spread out over seventy two institutions in twelve countries. In 2014, the University of Heidelberg created a website reuniting the surviving Lorsch documents in a digital environment.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Buttner |first1=Alexandra |last2=Michael |first2=Kautz |title=From a dispersed medieval collection to one international library: the virtual reconstruction of the monastic library of Lorsch |journal=Art Libraries Journal |date=2015 |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=11–20|doi=10.1017/S0307472200000304 }}</ref>

=== Destruction of the abbey ===
During the [[Thirty Years' War]] Lorsch and its neighbourhood suffered greatly. In 1621, Spanish troops pillaged the abbey and most of the buildings at Lorsch were pulled down. After the Archbishopric of Mainz regained possession of it in 1623, the region was returned to the [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] faith. However, the abbey remained a ruin and served as a source of building materials for the whole region.<ref name="History"/>

The most depressed period for Lorsch was during the [[Nine Years' War|wars]] of [[Louis XIV of France]] in the late 17th century. Whole villages in the region were laid in ruins, the homes of the peasantry were burned, and the French soldiers torched the old abbey buildings. One portion, which was left intact, served as a tobacco warehouse in the years before [[World War I]]. The ancient entrance hall, the ''Königshalle'' or ''aula regia'' ("king's hall"; illustration above), built in the 9th century by King [[Louis the German|Louis II]],<ref name="kingshall">{{cite web|url=http://www.kloster-lorsch.de/en/klosterlorsch/archaeologie-baugeschichte/kingshall/|title=Gate Hall or Königshalle (King's Hall)|publisher=Kloster Lorsch|first=Hermann|last=Schefers|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref> is the oldest largely intact monument of [[Carolingian architecture]].{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}<!--present use???-->

== List of abbots ==
In 468 years, the monastery had 47 abbots..<ref>''Germania Benedictina'', Vol. 7: Die benediktinischen Mönchs- und Nonnenklöster in Hessen. (St. Ottilien, 2004), pp. 768–853.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:silver; text-align:left;"| Name
! style="background:silver; text-align:right;"| start
! style="background:silver; text-align:right;"| end
|-
| [[Chrodegang]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 764
| style="text-align:right;"| 765
|-
| Gundeland
| style="text-align:right;"| 765
| style="text-align:right;"| 778
|-
| Helmerich
| style="text-align:right;"| 778
| style="text-align:right;"| 784
|-
| [[Richbod]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 784
| style="text-align:right;"| 804
|-
| Adalung
| style="text-align:right;"| 804
| style="text-align:right;"| 837
|-
| [[Samuel of Worms|Samuel]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 837/838
| style="text-align:right;"| 857
|-
| Eigilbert
| style="text-align:right;"| 857
| style="text-align:right;"| 864/865
|-
| Thiothroch
| style="text-align:right;"| 864/865
| style="text-align:right;"| 876
|-
| Babo
| style="text-align:right;"| 876
| style="text-align:right;"| 881
|-
| Walther
| style="text-align:right;"| 881
| style="text-align:right;"| 882
|-
| Gerhard
| style="text-align:right;"| 883
| style="text-align:right;"| 893
|-
| Adalbero
| style="text-align:right;"| 895
| style="text-align:right;"| 897
|-
| Liuther
| style="text-align:right;"| 897
| style="text-align:right;"| 900
|-
| Adalbero
| style="text-align:right;"| 900
| style="text-align:right;"| 901
|-
| [[Hatto I]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 901
| style="text-align:right;"| 913
|-
| Liuther
| style="text-align:right;"| 914
| style="text-align:right;"| 931
|-
| Evergis
| style="text-align:right;"| 931
| style="text-align:right;"| 948?
|-
| [[Bruno of Cologne|Brun]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 948?
| style="text-align:right;"| 951
|-
| Gerbod
| style="text-align:right;"| 951
| style="text-align:right;"| 972
|-
| Salmann
| style="text-align:right;"| 972
| style="text-align:right;"| 999
|-
| Werner I
| style="text-align:right;"| 999
| style="text-align:right;"| 1001
|-
| Werner II
| style="text-align:right;"| 1001
| style="text-align:right;"| 1002
|-
| Gerold I
| style="text-align:right;"| 1002
| style="text-align:right;"| 1005
|-
|[[Poppo V|Poppo]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1006
| style="text-align:right;"| 1018
|-
| [[Reginbald II of Dillingen|Reginbald]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1018
| style="text-align:right;"| 1032
|-
| Humbert
| style="text-align:right;"| 1032
| style="text-align:right;"| 1037
|-
| Bruning
| style="text-align:right;"| 1037
| style="text-align:right;"| 1043
|-
| Hugo I
| style="text-align:right;"| 1043
| style="text-align:right;"| 1052
|-
| [[Arnold I of Falkenberg|Arnold]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1052
| style="text-align:right;"| 1055
|-
| Udalrich
| style="text-align:right;"| 1056
| style="text-align:right;"| 1075
|-
| Adalbert
| style="text-align:right;"| 1075
| style="text-align:right;"| 1077
|-
| Winther
| style="text-align:right;"| 1077
| style="text-align:right;"| 1088
|-
| Anselm
| style="text-align:right;"| 1088
| style="text-align:right;"| 1101
|-
| Gerold II
| style="text-align:right;"| 1101
| style="text-align:right;"| 1105
|-
| Hugo II
| style="text-align:right;"| 1105
| style="text-align:right;"| —
|-
| [[Gebhard II of Urach|Gebhard]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1105
| style="text-align:right;"| 1107
|-
| [[Erminold]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1107
| style="text-align:right;"| 1111?
|-
| Benno
| style="text-align:right;"| 1111?
| style="text-align:right;"| 1119
|-
| Heidolf
| style="text-align:right;"| 1119
| style="text-align:right;"| —
|-
| Hermann
| style="text-align:right;"| 1124
| style="text-align:right;"| 1125
|-
| Diemo
| style="text-align:right;"| 1125
| style="text-align:right;"| 1139
|-
| Baldemar
| style="text-align:right;"| 1140
| style="text-align:right;"| 1141
|-
| Folknand
| style="text-align:right;"| 1141
| style="text-align:right;"| 1148
|-
| Hildebert
| style="text-align:right;"| 1148
| style="text-align:right;"| —
|-
| Marquard
| style="text-align:right;"| 1148
| style="text-align:right;"| 1149
|-
| Heinrich
| style="text-align:right;"| 1151
| style="text-align:right;"| 1167
|-
| Sigehard
| style="text-align:right;"| 1167
| style="text-align:right;"| 1199/1200
|-
| [[Leopold II of Schönfeld|Leopold]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1199/1200
| style="text-align:right;"| 1214
|-
| Konrad
| style="text-align:right;"| 1214
| style="text-align:right;"| 1229
|}

== See also ==
*[[Carolingian art]]
*[[Carolingian dynasty]]
*[[Carolingian Renaissance]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

== References ==
* {{Catholic|wstitle=Lorsch Abbey}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch}}
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/515 Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch: UNESCO Official Website]
* [http://www.kloster-lorsch.de/en/ Lorsch Abbey: official website] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.literature.at/webinterface/library/COLLECTION_V01?objid=18716 Codex Laureshamensis, volume 1–3] Charters of Lorsch Abbey in Latin at [[Austrian Literature Online]] edited by Karl Glöckner, Darmstadt, 1929–1936.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090406024318/http://www.francia.ahlfeldt.se/monastery/Lorsch/ Interactive map of the property of Lorsch Abbey] at ''Regnum Francorum Online''
* [http://www.bibliotheca-laureshamensis-digital.de/en/index.html Bibliotheca Laureshamensis – digital:] virtualization of the monastic library of Lorsch Abbey

{{Swabian College}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Germany}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:8th-century religious buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Benedictine monasteries in Germany]]
[[Category:Premonstratensian monasteries in Germany]]
[[Category:Monasteries in Hesse]]
[[Category:Carolingian architecture]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bergstraße (district)]]
[[Category:Tobacco buildings]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 8th century]]
[[Category:Museums in Hesse]]
[[Category:Religious museums in Germany]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Germany]]
[[Category:8th-century establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Burial sites of the Carolingian dynasty]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 764]]