Usedom Abbey
Encyclopedia
Usedom Abbey was a medieval Premonstratensian
monastery on the isle of Usedom
(Western Pomerania, Germany
) near the town of Usedom
. It was founded in Grobe and later moved to nearby Pudagla
, and is thus also known as Grobe Abbey or Pudagla Abbey respectively.
The abbey was founded by the Pomeranian duke
Ratibor I
and his wife, Pribislawa, in the course of the conversion of Pomerania
to Christianity
. The exact foundation date is uncertain, but it is assumed that it was about 1155, after the foundation of Stolpe Abbey
in 1153 and before Ratibor's death. The first written record is the confirmation of the abbey by the Pomeranian bishop Adalbert
of 8 June 1159, which at the same time is the oldest known Pomeranian document.
The site of Grobe Abbey has been archaeologically determined to be Priesterkamp hill in the town of Usedom
. The monks first came from Magdeburg
, later from Havelberg
. Shortly after its foundation, Grobe Abbey functioned as the temporary seat of the Pomeranian diocese, before its move to Cammin
(Kammin, Kamien) in 1175.
In 1307/09, the abbey was relocated to nearby Pudagla. After the Protestant Reformation
, the abbey was secularized into a ducal domain, and from the late 16th century was a refuge for ducal widows.
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
monastery on the isle of Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
(Western Pomerania, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) near the town of Usedom
Usedom (town)
Usedom is a town in Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is the seat of the Amt of Usedom-Süd, to which 14 other communities also belong.-Geography:...
. It was founded in Grobe and later moved to nearby Pudagla
Pudagla
Pudagla is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. From 1307/09 until the Protestant Reformation, it was the site of Pudagla or Usedom Abbey, which moved there from Usedom . After the abbey's secularization into a ducal domain, it at times served...
, and is thus also known as Grobe Abbey or Pudagla Abbey respectively.
The abbey was founded by the Pomeranian duke
Duchy of Pomerania
The Duchy of Pomerania was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania ....
Ratibor I
Ratibor I, Duke of Pomerania
Ratibor I of the House of Pomerania was Duke of Pomerania. He was married to Pribislawa, and was the ancestor of the Ratiborides sideline of the Griffins....
and his wife, Pribislawa, in the course of the conversion of Pomerania
Conversion of Pomerania
Medieval Pomerania was converted from Slavic paganism to Christianity by Otto von Bamberg in 1124 and 1128 , and in 1168 by Absalon .Earlier attempts, undertaken since the 10th century, failed or were short-lived...
to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. The exact foundation date is uncertain, but it is assumed that it was about 1155, after the foundation of Stolpe Abbey
Stolpe Abbey
Stolpe Abbey was the first monastery in Pomerania. It was located on the southern bank of the Peene River between Gützkow and Anklam near the village of Stolpe....
in 1153 and before Ratibor's death. The first written record is the confirmation of the abbey by the Pomeranian bishop Adalbert
Adalbert of Pomerania
Adalbert of Pomerania was the first bishop of the 12th century Pomeranian bishopric, with its see in Wolin . The territory was put under the jurisdiction of the archbishopric of Magdeburg by emperor Otto I...
of 8 June 1159, which at the same time is the oldest known Pomeranian document.
The site of Grobe Abbey has been archaeologically determined to be Priesterkamp hill in the town of Usedom
Usedom (town)
Usedom is a town in Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is the seat of the Amt of Usedom-Süd, to which 14 other communities also belong.-Geography:...
. The monks first came from Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, later from Havelberg
Havelberg
Havelberg is a town in the district of Stendal, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the Havel, and part of the town is built on an island in the centre of the river. The two parts were incorporated as a town in 1875...
. Shortly after its foundation, Grobe Abbey functioned as the temporary seat of the Pomeranian diocese, before its move to Cammin
Cammin
Cammin may refer to:*Cammin, Bad Doberan, a municipality in the district of Bad Doberan, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany*Cammin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a municipality in the district of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany...
(Kammin, Kamien) in 1175.
In 1307/09, the abbey was relocated to nearby Pudagla. After the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the abbey was secularized into a ducal domain, and from the late 16th century was a refuge for ducal widows.
See also
- Conversion of PomeraniaConversion of PomeraniaMedieval Pomerania was converted from Slavic paganism to Christianity by Otto von Bamberg in 1124 and 1128 , and in 1168 by Absalon .Earlier attempts, undertaken since the 10th century, failed or were short-lived...
- History of PomeraniaHistory of PomeraniaThe history of Pomerania dates back more than 10,000 years. Settlement in the area started by the end of the Vistula Glacial Stage, about 13,000 years ago. Archeological traces have been found of various cultures during the Stone and Bronze Age, of Veneti and Germanic peoples during the Iron Age...
- Pomerania during the High Middle AgesPomerania during the High Middle AgesPomerania during the High Middle Ages covers the History of Pomerania in the 12th and 13th centuries.The early 12th century Obodrite, Polish, Saxon, and Danish conquests resulted in vassalage and Christianization of the formerly pagan and independent Pomeranian tribes...
- Duchy of PomeraniaDuchy of PomeraniaThe Duchy of Pomerania was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania ....
- Bishopric of Cammin
- List of Christian religious houses in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern