Abbey of Frassinoro
Encyclopedia
The Abbey of Frassinoro was one of the many Benedictine
monasteries
throughout Europe
associated with the noblewoman Matilda of Tuscany
, who reigned over the Badia lands near Frassinoro. This abbey was located in Frassinoro
, in the Apennines in the province of Modena
, on the boarder with Reggio Emilia.
period in the 7th-10th centuries. At the end of the 8th century, there was a small church under the administration of the Pieve
(parish) of Rubbiano; the former had been in existence since the time of Siegfried I, Longobard founder of the Canossa dynasty, or about 930 AD. The chapel was located along the ancient via Bibulca which went through the San Pellegrino Pass in order to arrive in Lucca, a destination for pilgrims who came to worship the "Holy Face".
Between 1007 and 1052, a hostel for travelers was annexed by the church, and was then placed under the Abbey of Polirone
, near Mantua
.
In 1072, Beatrice of Lotharinga or Beatrice of Bar
and her daughter Matilda of Canossa (Tuscany), gave the relics of Saint Claudius
to this Benedictine convent.
The highest period of splendor for this abbey was when Beatrice of Lotharingia founded a Benedictine abbey; thereafter, its history got confused with that of the abbey in the nearby town of Montefiorino.
From 1210 to 1261, the abbey was at the center of several diatribes with the Municipality of Modena for control of the territory.
dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta of San Claudio
and Lawrence
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
associated with the noblewoman Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany was an Italian noblewoman, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. She is one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments...
, who reigned over the Badia lands near Frassinoro. This abbey was located in Frassinoro
Frassinoro
Frassinoro is a comune in the Province of Modena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km southwest of Bologna and about 50 km southwest of Modena....
, in the Apennines in the province of Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, on the boarder with Reggio Emilia.
History
It is believed that the first church dates back to the Italian-ByzantineByzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
period in the 7th-10th centuries. At the end of the 8th century, there was a small church under the administration of the Pieve
Pieve
In the Middle Ages, a pieve was a rural church with a baptistery, upon which other churches without baptisteries depended.The Italian word pieve is descended from Latin plebs which, after the expansion of Christianity in Italy, was applied to the community of baptized people...
(parish) of Rubbiano; the former had been in existence since the time of Siegfried I, Longobard founder of the Canossa dynasty, or about 930 AD. The chapel was located along the ancient via Bibulca which went through the San Pellegrino Pass in order to arrive in Lucca, a destination for pilgrims who came to worship the "Holy Face".
Between 1007 and 1052, a hostel for travelers was annexed by the church, and was then placed under the Abbey of Polirone
Polirone Abbey
The abbey of San Benedetto in Polirone stands in the Italian comune San Benedetto Po, near Mantua.The abbey was founded in 1007 by Tedald, count of Canossa, the paternal grandfather of Matilda of Canossa, countess of Tuscany, with a grant to the Benedictine monks, of half his land lying between the...
, near Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
.
In 1072, Beatrice of Lotharinga or Beatrice of Bar
Beatrice of Bar
Beatrice of Bar was the marchioness of Tuscany from 1053 to her death as the wife of Boniface III of Tuscany...
and her daughter Matilda of Canossa (Tuscany), gave the relics of Saint Claudius
Saint Claudius
Saint Claudius may refer to:* Claudius of Besançon , bishop and abbot* Saint Claudius, one of the Four Crowned Martyrs* Saint Claudius, martyr of León, Spain, one of the sons of Saint Marcellus of Tangier...
to this Benedictine convent.
The highest period of splendor for this abbey was when Beatrice of Lotharingia founded a Benedictine abbey; thereafter, its history got confused with that of the abbey in the nearby town of Montefiorino.
From 1210 to 1261, the abbey was at the center of several diatribes with the Municipality of Modena for control of the territory.
The site today
Of this ancient Benedictine abbey, all that remains are a few liturgical objects from the 11th and 12th centuries, some of which are kept in the Civic Museum of Modena. Built on the old foundations of the abbey, which fell into ruin in the 15th century, stands the present church of FrassinoroFrassinoro
Frassinoro is a comune in the Province of Modena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km southwest of Bologna and about 50 km southwest of Modena....
dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta of San Claudio
Saint Claudius
Saint Claudius may refer to:* Claudius of Besançon , bishop and abbot* Saint Claudius, one of the Four Crowned Martyrs* Saint Claudius, martyr of León, Spain, one of the sons of Saint Marcellus of Tangier...
and Lawrence
Saint Lawrence
Lawrence of Rome was one of the seven deacons of ancient Rome who were martyred during the persecution of Valerian in 258.- Holy Chalice :...