Thorn Abbey
Encyclopedia
Thorn Abbey or Imperial Abbey of Thorn was an imperial abbey of the Holy Roman Empire
in was is now the Netherlands
. The capital was Thorn. It was founded in th 10th century; independence ended in 1794, when it was occupied by French troops. The abbey was reichsunmittelbar and belonged to the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle
.
The territory covered about 1.5 square kilometers with 3400 inhabitants in 1790.
. Other sources claim a Benedictine double monastery was dounded by Bishop Ansfried of Utrecht
and his wife Hereswint in 925. A Romanesque
abbey church was built in 992; some souces give this as the year the Abbey was founded.
order originally. It probably changed, however, in the 12th century, to a free secular ladies' abbey. In 1310, the secular cannons of the Abbey stressed their secular status and they claimed to never have been Benedictine.
In the 18th century, collegiate ladies were, in principle, required to reside in the Abbey all year, except for at most six weeks per year. However, for 600 florins, ladies could buy themselves free. In theory, free ladies were still required to provide six weeks of choral service; this was not always observed in practice. Some ladies held positions in several abbeys. This possibility of buying freedom appears to have been used frequently. Maria Josepha of Hatzfeld and Gleichen, for example, was a member of the abbeys at Thorn and Essen
for 46 years. During this time, she resided in Essen Abbey
for four years, but never in Thorn.
The abbey district contained a curia building for the Deachoness and five house for the ladies. In the 14th Century, a new gothic Abbey Church was built. Some of the ladies built houses outside the abbey district.
. Under Emperor Maximilian I
, the abbey was under the special imperial protection. In the imperial matriculation register at Worms, the Abbey was recorded as a reichsunmittelbar area. The matriculation duties, however, were transferred to the Counts of Lippe
.
The abbey was a member the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle and the Rhenish College of Imperial Prelates.
In the 17th century the governorship of the Spanish Netherlands sought to restrict the imperial immediacy. The abesses resisted these attempts successfully. In the 18th century, the abbess held the title of Pricess. Several abbesses were simultaneously head of Essen Abbey
.
The territory was conquere by French troops in 1794 and formally annexed by France
in 1795.
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna
awarded the territory to the Kingdom of the United Netherlands.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
in was is now the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The capital was Thorn. It was founded in th 10th century; independence ended in 1794, when it was occupied by French troops. The abbey was reichsunmittelbar and belonged to the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle
Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle
The Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised territories of the former Duchy of Lower Lorraine, Frisia and the Westphalian part of the former Duchy of Saxony....
.
The territory covered about 1.5 square kilometers with 3400 inhabitants in 1790.
Foundation
Details of the founding of the abbey are not clear. According to some sources, the abbey was founded by Countess Hilswind in 902 for herself and her daughter Beatrix. She donated the necessary land, which had been personal property, given to the Countess by King ZwentiboldZwentibold
Zwentibold was the illegitimate son of the Carolingian Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. In 895 his father, then king of East Francia, granted him the Kingdom of Lotharingia, which he ruled until his death.After his death he was declared a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church.- Life :Zwentibold...
. Other sources claim a Benedictine double monastery was dounded by Bishop Ansfried of Utrecht
Ansfried of Utrecht
Saint Ansfried of Utrecht was Count of Huy and the sword-bearer for Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor....
and his wife Hereswint in 925. A Romanesque
Romanesque
Romanesque may refer to:*Romanesque art, the art of Western Europe from approximately AD 1000 to the 13th century or later*Romanesque architecture, architecture of Europe which emerged in the late 10th century and lasted to the 13th century...
abbey church was built in 992; some souces give this as the year the Abbey was founded.
Abbey structure
The collegiate women came only from the high nobility. It is likely that Thorn had belonged to the BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
order originally. It probably changed, however, in the 12th century, to a free secular ladies' abbey. In 1310, the secular cannons of the Abbey stressed their secular status and they claimed to never have been Benedictine.
In the 18th century, collegiate ladies were, in principle, required to reside in the Abbey all year, except for at most six weeks per year. However, for 600 florins, ladies could buy themselves free. In theory, free ladies were still required to provide six weeks of choral service; this was not always observed in practice. Some ladies held positions in several abbeys. This possibility of buying freedom appears to have been used frequently. Maria Josepha of Hatzfeld and Gleichen, for example, was a member of the abbeys at Thorn and Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
for 46 years. During this time, she resided in Essen Abbey
Essen Abbey
Essen Abbey was a collegiate foundation for women of the high nobility in Essen. It was founded in about 845 by the Saxon Altfrid , later Bishop of Hildesheim and saint, near a royal estate called Astnidhi, which later gave its name to the religious house and to the town...
for four years, but never in Thorn.
The abbey district contained a curia building for the Deachoness and five house for the ladies. In the 14th Century, a new gothic Abbey Church was built. Some of the ladies built houses outside the abbey district.
History
The imperial immediacy of the abbey was confirmed in 1292 by King Adolf of NassauAdolf of Nassau
Adolf of Nassau may refer to:*Adolf, King of Germany , King of the Romans*Adolph II of Nassau , Archbishop of Mainz...
. Under Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, the abbey was under the special imperial protection. In the imperial matriculation register at Worms, the Abbey was recorded as a reichsunmittelbar area. The matriculation duties, however, were transferred to the Counts of Lippe
Principality of Lippe
Lippe was a historical state in Germany. It was located between the Weser River and the southeast part of the Teutoburg forest.-History:...
.
The abbey was a member the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle and the Rhenish College of Imperial Prelates.
In the 17th century the governorship of the Spanish Netherlands sought to restrict the imperial immediacy. The abesses resisted these attempts successfully. In the 18th century, the abbess held the title of Pricess. Several abbesses were simultaneously head of Essen Abbey
Essen Abbey
Essen Abbey was a collegiate foundation for women of the high nobility in Essen. It was founded in about 845 by the Saxon Altfrid , later Bishop of Hildesheim and saint, near a royal estate called Astnidhi, which later gave its name to the religious house and to the town...
.
The territory was conquere by French troops in 1794 and formally annexed by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1795.
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
awarded the territory to the Kingdom of the United Netherlands.
Abbesses
- 982 - ?: Hilsondis (or Hilswinde?)
- 1010 - ?: Benedicta
- ? - ?: Godchildis
- ? - ?: Adelaide
- Before 1217: Elizabeth
- 1217 -: Jutta
- 1231-1269: Hildegond de Born
- 1273-1304: Guda of mountain race
- 1310-1337: Margaret of Bautersheim I.
- 1337: Isonde of Wied
- 1337-1378: Margaret II of Heinsberg
- 1389-1397: Margaretha III of Horne Perwez
- 1404-1446: Mechtilde of Horne
- 1446-1454: Jacoba of Heinsberg
- 1454-1473: Else of Buren
- 1473-1486: Gertrude de Sombreffe
- 1486-1531: Eva of Isenburg
- Other ladies also claim during this period
- 1531-1577: MargarethaIV of Brederode
- 1577-1579: Josina I of Manderscheid
- 1579-1604: Josina II of the Mark
- 1604-1631: Anna of the Mark
- 1631-1632: Josina Walburgis of Löwenstein-Rochefort
- 1632-1646: Anna Eleonora of Staufen (simultaneously also Abbess of EssenEssen AbbeyEssen Abbey was a collegiate foundation for women of the high nobility in Essen. It was founded in about 845 by the Saxon Altfrid , later Bishop of Hildesheim and saint, near a royal estate called Astnidhi, which later gave its name to the religious house and to the town...
) - 1646-1647: Anna Catherina of Salm-Reiffenscheidt
- 1647-1690: Anna Salome of Manderscheid-BlankenheimAnna Salome of Manderscheid-BlankenheimAnna Salome of Manderscheid-Blankenheim was from 1648 to 1688 Abbess of Thorn Abbey, and from 1688 until her death the abbess of Essen Abbey.- Life :...
(from 1690 to 1691 she was abbess of Essen) - 1690-1706: Eleanor of Löwenstein-Rochefort
- 1706-1717: Anna Juliana of Manderscheid-Blankenstein
- 1717-1776: Countess Palatine Francisca Christina of Sulzbach (she was also Abbess of Essen)
- 1776-1795: Maria Kunigunde of Saxony (she was also Abbess of Essen)