Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Richardis

After the defeat by Henry the Lion in the Battle of Verchen in 1164, Obotrite Prince Pribislaw submitted in 1167 and was baptised. One of Henry's conditions was the obligation to spread Christianity in the country by building monasteries. The Doberan Abbey was the first monastery founded in Mecklenburg, in 1171, as a daughter house of the cistercian Amelungsborn Abbey. The first community was massacred in 1179 in the unrest following the death of Pribislaw, and the abbey was re-founded in 1186. It became a political, social and spiritual centre in the region. The Romanesque monastery church, consecrated in 1232, was replaced after the fire of 1291 by a High Gothic church, the construction of which was probably begun in 1295. The new Gothic building was consecrated in 1368. The church was the most important burial place of the sovereign princes in the Middle Ages. After the Reformation, the monastery was dissolluted and the properties passed to the sovereign in 1552. The relics were removed from the monastery church and the monastery facilities were partially destroyed. Duke Ulrich of Mecklenburg-Güstrow wanted to preserve the church as the burial place of the princely house and so a first restoration of the monastery church began. The buildings were were looted and damaged in 1637 during the Thirty Years' War, and the church was used as a warehouse. During the French occupation of Mecklenburg by Napoleon from 1806 to 1813, the remaining buildings suffered further damage, and the monastery church was again used as a warehouse. Restorations took place from 1883 to 1896 and from 1962 to 1976. The Cistercians had good relations with France, from where the architecture of the former monastery church was strongly influenced. The vaulted nave is 76 metres long, 11 metres wide and 26 metres high. Tumba for Albrecht III and his first wife Richardis. Albrecht III was the King of Sweden 1364–1389.

Richardis (aka "Richardis of Swabia"), wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", was born in Andlau. She founded the abbey here around 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so was canonised, when Pope Leo IX visited the abbey in 1049. Nothing is to be seen out of this early time. The former abbey-church Saints-Pierre-et-Paul was largely rebuilt during the 17th century. Only the crypt and the facade including the narthex constructed from reddish sandstone (seen here) are romanesque.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX visited the abbey in 1049. The crypt of "Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" is the oldest part of the whole structure. The eastern part of the crypt dates back to 1080/1100, the western, was constructed around 1160. There is a legend telling that a bear showed Richardis the place, where the abbey should be built. See the statue of the bear - and in front under the small wooden cover is the exactly place, that the bear had choosen.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. The crypt of "Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" is the oldest part of the whole structure. The eastern part of the crypt dates back to 1080/1100, the western, where this pillar and the vaults are to be seen, was constructed around 1160.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. This is (beside the crypt) the remaining part of the old, romanesque abbey church ("St. Savieur"). This "reddish" block was once probably part of a westwork (see Maurmuenster). There are a couple of marvelous carved lions on the edges, but the most interesting is that (nearly 30m long) frieze, that runs all around, as this freeze tells some amazing stories.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Up to the very left of the "reddish" romanesque block, once maybe part of a westwork, towers this masterly carved lioness holding and so protecting her frightened cub. The lioness does not only have terrifying teeth, the flawless curly hairdo impresses as well.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Another frame of the frieze in Andlau. Actually I do not see a connection between the three carvings. The used stones differ in colour, a (soft) grey sandstone, a red stone and a yellow one. To the left a rider on a camel. What an exotic animal! The camel has two humps and the rider is using a scourge. The camel is carved pretty correct. Many participants of the first cruisade, that started 1096, had seen camels. In the middle a captured man, a rope around his neck, led by a man-like figure with the head of a dog, or of a sheep. Is there a dog-head demon in medieval literature? Maybe even with the head of an ape, reversing the often used icon "ape led by man" - see here: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5344006969/ To the right a huge dragon, a chimare with a gryphon head, two human arms, three fish-tails and two duck-feet. The dragon devours two snakes, he holds in his hands.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Another frame of the frieze in Andlau. A man - a tree - a dog - a wolf with a bird. A wolf has caught a bird (chicken?), and now the owner of the bird points to the wolf and has send his dog to pursue the thief. All "objects" differ remarkable in seize. The wolf, holding the bird in his mouth, seems gigantic compared to the dog - and the man, who is a farmer, holding a kind of spade. It could well be, that the carver tried to create a kind "perspectively deepness" in this frame. The wolf in the very foreground is bigger, than the dog in the middle. The wolf is nearer to the point of view and so looks bigger. The back part this dog is before a tree. The tree is behind the dog. If the tree stands for forest, then the wolf is out of the forest, the dog is just leaving it and the man is still has to cross the forest. If this would be a film, within the next second, the wolf would have jumped out of the frame, then the dog would reach the edge (and would seem bigger) - and then the man would arrive as well a little later, gasping for air.. This could maybe explain, why the carver created such a gigantic wolf - but it is only a theory. Nothing is written in stone.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Another frame of the frieze in Andlau depicts this naked lady, riding a giant fish. The lady does not have the typical mermaid-attribute (tail/s), but riding a fish, shows her "profession". Her feet are like duckfeet - or fins..

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Another frame of the frieze in Andlau. This is about the "Guiding Principles of the Honorable Merchant". A peasant is selling a small crop (not a potatoe!!) to a (very well dressed) merchant. The price is depending from the weight - and the scale is owned by the merchant. The devil on the shoulder whispers into the merchant´s ear "cheat him". A clear warning for all merchants, to be honorable. Actually the overall concept has not changed, see this website covering the same theme in a more lengthy way www.the-honorable-merchant.com/home/welcome/ As far as I know, the devil used the same words, when he whispered into Bernard Madoff´s ear. Mr. Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison in 2010. Well maybe an investment consultant is not identical to a merchant. Sorry for this off-topic!

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Another frame of the frieze in Andlau. A story about domestication! A wild boar - and it´s domesticated cousin. A hunter (to the right) points out to a wild boar to his dog. I think, that the animal outside the frame is a boar, as they were hunted with spears. And it connects to the rest of the story.. There are two butchers. The person in the middle hold up his axe, to kill the (domesticated) pig. He will hit the pig´s head with the edgeless side of the axe - and then cut it´s throat. This method is still in use today. Somewhere. His collegue standing to the left is already waiting - and sharpening his long knife meanwhile. As soon, as the pig is dead, they will start to prepare the "black pudding", known in France as "boudin noir" , in Germany as "Blutwurst".

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Flanking the arch of the former main entrance of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul are two biblical fights from the Old Testament. His is one. Small (and rather weathered) David standing triumphantly on the knees of the beaten Goliath. On the very right is the slingshot, David´s weapon.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Looking to the former main entrance of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul. Left and right to the doors are two sets of carvings showing strange, phantastic animals in floral surroundings. Next left and right are two (atlas like) persons on the ground, holding up five medaillons on each side, showing couples. Some of them have names on the frames. The lintel shows the biblical Paradis. All is crowned by tympanum with three large figures, flanked by tree-ornaments and two other smaller reliefed characters. I will not upload all the details, but some.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Here is one of the ten "medaillons" of the on the former main entrance of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul. A woman and a man standing under an arch. "Huc Elisabe" is written on the arch. So, the woman can only be Eliabeth, wife of Zechariah and mother of John the Baptist. He seems leaving (see his feet), but turns back, while she is saying goodbye to her son, who had decided to live in the desert near the Jordan River.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. The very left scne on the lintel over the door and below the tympanum of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul. Genesis 2.21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; Genesis 2.22 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; Actually seen here is, that the small Eve is rising out of the body of the sleeping Adam on a gesture of the Lord, who stands to the left. The gate to the right leads into the Garden of Eden - and the next episode.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Here is another one of the ten "medaillons" of the on the former main entrance of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul. A woman and a man standing under an arch. Written on the arch is "HILDEBOLD . SVETA", on the base is written "BEREWARTHEMON". Let´s start with the base. BEREWARTHE or maybe BEREVVARTHE. This may be "Berengar I of Italy". After Charles III, former husband of Richardis lost his power, Berengar was langobardian king since 888. In the end of his long career, he was King of Italy and crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope John X. So this connects directly to the "Vita Richardis". But who is HILDEBOT? And what does SVETA mean. I could not find any female Hildebot or Hildebold, connected to Berengar or Richardis so far. Maybe one of you can give me some hints.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. Another frame of the frieze in Andlau. An elephant, a griffin and a man holding two hunting dogs. The elephant is carved pretty precise - and that is pretty strange. This carvings in Andlau are dated 1130/1150, where did the carver obtain his obviously precise anatomical knowledge about the elephant? There were only three elephants in Europe in the medieval days. "Abul Abbas" (+810) owned by Charlemagne, - the "Cremona-elephant" owned by Frederik II in 1229 - and one owned by Louis IX in 1255 and given to Henry III later. This one died in London 1258. May these carving be more than 100 years younger - and show either the "Cremona"- or the "Saint Louis"-elephant? I just do not know. Please compare this elephant to the many other medieval carvings and drawings I have collected here: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/galleries/7215762494... The griffin, holding an animal down with his four claws, is nicely carved. The hunter with a spear, holding two hunting dogs on a leash, seems to be connected to the "deer hunt", as that was framed (to the left) by a similar hunter with a spear.

Richardis, wife of Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and so "Holy Roman Empress", founded the abbey in Andlau ca 880. Later she lived here (as the abbess). She was known for her piety and so she was canonised, when Pope Leo IX paid a visit to the abbey in 1049. A close-up of the "Andlau-elephant" (seen on the pic before). The elephant is carved pretty precise - and that is pretty strange. This carvings in Andlau are dated 1130/1150, where did the carver obtain his obviously precise anatomical knowledge about the elephant? There were only three elephants in Europe in the medieval days. "Abul Abbas" (+810) owned by Charlemagne, - the "Cremona-elephant" owned by Frederik II in 1229 - and one owned by Louis IX in 1255 and given to Henry III later. This one died in London 1258. May these carving be more than 100 years younger - and show either the "Cremona"- or the "Saint Louis"-elephant? I just do not know. Please compare this elephant to the many other medieval carvings and drawings I have collected here: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/galleries/7215762494...