Does anyone have any good references on the subject of the origin of church towers? They are remarkably neglected by the standard works on early Christian/Byzantine/Carolingian architecture.
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:36:55 +0100
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[log in to unmask]Subject: Re: [M-R] Motives for donations to churches/monasteries
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[log in to unmask]medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear John,
A good story is the foundation of the Cistercian house of Hauterive (Santa Maria de Alta Ripa) in what was then Burgundy and is now Switzerland. BTW This is still a flourishing Cistercian monastry. Google under <Hauterive> to find their website with some very nice pics.
It was founded by Lord William of Glane in 1138 in memory of his father Peter, and eldest brother Ulrich, who were murdered at the Benedictine monastery of Payerne in February 1127 along with William "the Child" Duke of Burgundy. It was a political assassination, Duke William being the prime target and the de Glanes being among his loyal supporters. Indeed, I suspect that Ulrich de Glane was Duke William's "chamber child" - and in the dark who would distinguish one young man in his shirt for another ? It is also possible that Peter's brother, Philip de Glane, died in the same incident which was almost certainly inspired by a pro-imperial faction while Duke William (who had probably just come of age) was either pro-French or pro independence. Subsequently the Emperor Lothair III made Conrad of Zaeringen "Rector" of Burgundy - he was NOT the lawful heir but the brother of William the Child's mother Anne!!! (Shades of Richard III !!!)
William of Glane gave his entire partimony to found Hautrive, joined the order as a lay brother and is said to have personally overseen the demolition of the family castle and the transport of the materials to the site where the new monastry was to be built.
The gap of almost ten years between the murder and the donation is variously explained, the usual explanation being that William was waiting to see whether the pro-Burgundian/French or pro-Imperial faction triumphed in the subsequent civil war. My own theory is that he had to wait ten years for his youngest sister to reach marriagable age (12) and dower her, then he would know that all he had left he was free to give to the church. It is also possible that he had been briefly married and widowed without an heir.
For a popular account see
M-Stanislas Barbey, "Vision de paix: L'Abbaye cistercienne d'Hauterive dans son cadre historique et spirituel." (Fribourg: Imp. St-Paul, 1951.)
For the most detailed scholarly account
Romain Pittet, "L'Abbaye d'Hauterive au moyen age," (Fribourg: Imp Fragniere freres, 1934) Archives de la Societe d'Histoire du Cantom de Fribourg, t. 13)
Brenda M Cook
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 8:14 PM
Subject: [M-R] Motives for donations to churches/monasteries
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear learned list members,
I am in search of different motives for giving land, etc. to churches and monasteries, particularly in the period c. 800-1150; statements either by the donors themselves or the clerics commenting on the donations. Is there any source, primary or modern, where such statements of motives can be found?
Thanks,
John W.
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