Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Heinrich I.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. The Saale river and in the background the cathedral and the castle.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. The construction of the church began between 1173 (the year Thomas Becket = St. Thomae Cantuariensis was canonized) and 1188 (the year the church was first mentioned in a deed of Frederick I Barbarossa). After that, the church was built in two construction phases from east to west. At least the eastern parts were already being used in 1188. Originally the church was a flat-roofed basilica with a choir square with apse and two side apses in the continuous transept and two towers at the western ends of the side aisles. During a restoration in 1825/26, the northern aisle, the southern side apse and a medieval sacristy on the south side of the chancel square were demolished. The southern aisle, the southern tower and the northern side apse were no longer preserved at that time. Due to the rise in the groundwater level, the site was raised by 1.5 to 2 meters, giving the building the appearance of having sunk. Further restorations and restorations took place in 1912/13 and after 1945. The church was given up as a place of worship in 1973 and used as an antique store for the area of commercial coordination for foreign exchange procurement in the GDR, with numerous works of art, especially from churches, being sold. The nave

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. The construction of the church began between 1173 (the year Thomas Becket = St. Thomae Cantuariensis was canonized) and 1188 (the year the church was first mentioned in a deed of Frederick I Barbarossa). After that, the church was built in two construction phases from east to west. At least the eastern parts were already being used in 1188. Originally the church was a flat-roofed basilica with a choir square with apse and two side apses in the continuous transept and two towers at the western ends of the side aisles. During a restoration in 1825/26, the northern aisle, the southern side apse and a medieval sacristy on the south side of the chancel square were demolished. The southern aisle, the southern tower and the northern side apse were no longer preserved at that time. Due to the rise in the groundwater level, the site was raised by 1.5 to 2 meters, giving the building the appearance of having sunk. Further restorations and restorations took place in 1912/13 and after 1945. The church was given up as a place of worship in 1973 and used as an antique store for the area of commercial coordination for foreign exchange procurement in the GDR, with numerous works of art, especially from churches, being sold. Today the church also serves as a hostel for pilgrims

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. The construction of the church began between 1173 (the year Thomas Becket = St. Thomae Cantuariensis was canonized) and 1188 (the year the church was first mentioned in a deed of Frederick I Barbarossa). After that, the church was built in two construction phases from east to west. At least the eastern parts were already being used in 1188. Originally the church was a flat-roofed basilica with a choir square with apse and two side apses in the continuous transept and two towers at the western ends of the side aisles. During a restoration in 1825/26, the northern aisle, the southern side apse and a medieval sacristy on the south side of the chancel square were demolished. The southern aisle, the southern tower and the northern side apse were no longer preserved at that time. Due to the rise in the groundwater level, the site was raised by 1.5 to 2 meters, giving the building the appearance of having sunk. Further restorations and restorations took place in 1912/13 and after 1945. The church was given up as a place of worship in 1973 and used as an antique store for the area of commercial coordination for foreign exchange procurement in the GDR, with numerous works of art, especially from churches, being sold.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. The cornerstone for the Merseburger Ständehaus was laid in 1892. The state parliament of the Prussian province of Saxony used to meet here.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . At the pulpit Saint Jerome and his lion. As a "Church Father", known for his wisdom, he was a model for the preacher

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. - Rudolf von Rheinfelden´s oath hand, which was cut off during the Battle of Hohenmölsen, is on display in the neighboring museum. Rudolf von Rheinfelden (1025 – 1080) was Duke of Swabia from 1057 to 1079. Initially, he was a supporter of his brother-in-law, the Salian Emperor Hinrich IV. In 1076, after Pope Gregory VII had pronounced the ban on Heinrich IV, Rudolf decided to proceed openly against him. At a princely assembly in Trebur in October 1076, the South German dukes tried to obtain a new election. Henry IV. who was also stationed in Oppenheim on the other side of the Rhine at the same time, was forced to make a compromise. Altogether a large anti-Salian party had emerged, which gave Henry a year to free himself from the ban if he wished to remain king. The matter of kingship was then to be discussed at a princely conference in Augsburg in February 1077 in the presence of the pope. A month before the deadline, Heinrich set out on the journey across the Alps to meet the Pope, who was on the way to Augsburg. Gregor feared a military conflict with Heinrich and sought refuge in the castle of Canossa with Margravine Mathilde von Tuszien. Heinrich, however, only wished to be freed from the ban. Henry IV is said to have stayed in front of the castle gate for three days, dressed in a penitent's robe. But Gregory hesitated and only accepted him back into the church after three days of penance. However, the release of the ban did not prevent the German princes from electing Rudolf von Rheinfelden as German king in March 1077. The course of the election corresponded to the usual procedure, apart from the fact that this represented the first election of an anti-king in Roman German history. Rudolf agreed to two demands. He approved the free canonical election of bishops without royal interference, and he committed himself to recognize the right to free choice of the king for every succession to the throne. Rudolf was ordained king in March 1077 by the local Archbishop Siegfried I. The election of Rudolf evoked very different responses. The pope remained neutral for the time being and sided neither with Heinrich nor with Rudolf. As a result, Rudolf's position remained weak and he was unable to secure a larger power base in the empire either. He lacked the followers he needed to build up his fledgling kingdom. Only in Saxony did he find broad support. The followers of Henry IV accused Rudolf of a lack of gratitude and loyalty. An important battle took place on January 27, 1080, in Flachheim, Thuringia. After Heinrich had assembled his army from Bavaria, Bohemia, Franconia, Swabia, and Burgundy, he marched towards Saxony with it. On the way he particularly devastated the areas of Archbishop Siegfried I of Mainz, who then banned him and his followers. Rudolf managed to raise a sizeable army. Nevertheless, the battle seemed already lost for Rudolf when his ally Otto von Northeim managed to turn the fight and still emerge victorious. In March 1080, Pope Gregory VII gave up his wait-and-see attitude and declared Rudolf the rightful king. Henry was again excommunicated and deposed. However, at this time Rudolf could no longer derive any benefit from it. The royal side registered with satisfaction that Rudolf's sphere of power was largely limited to Saxony. In large numbers, the princes and the people sided with the king. Heinrich now launched a counterattack against the pope. He declared the pope deposed and with the participation of a total of 30 bishops from Italy, Germany, and Burgundy, a decree of dismissal was finally drawn up and Wibert of Ravenna was ceremoniously proclaimed (anti-)Pope Clemens III on June 25, 1080. After numerous battles, the decision came on October 15, 1080, in the Battle of Hohenmölsen. This battle had no clear winner. Heinrich himself had to flee but it was worse for Rudolf, who was mortally wounded. A knight of Heinrich stabbed him in the abdomen with his sword and cut off his right hand. From Heinrich's side, death with the simultaneous loss of the hand of the oath was interpreted as a visible sign of divine punishment for the person who broke the oath Rudolf died a day later and was laid out and buried here.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. The bonze graveslab of Rudolf von Rheinfelden Rudolf von Rheinfelden (1025 – 1080) was Duke of Swabia from 1057 to 1079. Initially, he was a supporter of his brother-in-law, the Salian Emperor Hinrich IV. In 1076, after Pope Gregory VII had pronounced the ban on Heinrich IV, Rudolf decided to proceed openly against him. At a princely assembly in Trebur in October 1076, the South German dukes tried to obtain a new election. Henry IV. who was also stationed in Oppenheim on the other side of the Rhine at the same time, was forced to make a compromise. Altogether a large anti-Salian party had emerged, which gave Henry a year to free himself from the ban if he wished to remain king. The matter of kingship was then to be discussed at a princely conference in Augsburg in February 1077 in the presence of the pope. A month before the deadline, Heinrich set out on the journey across the Alps to meet the Pope, who was on the way to Augsburg. Gregor feared a military conflict with Heinrich and sought refuge in the castle of Canossa with Margravine Mathilde von Tuszien. Heinrich, however, only wished to be freed from the ban. Henry IV is said to have stayed in front of the castle gate for three days, dressed in a penitent's robe. But Gregory hesitated and only accepted him back into the church after three days of penance. However, the release of the ban did not prevent the German princes from electing Rudolf von Rheinfelden as German king in March 1077. The course of the election corresponded to the usual procedure, apart from the fact that this represented the first election of an anti-king in Roman German history. Rudolf agreed to two demands. He approved the free canonical election of bishops without royal interference, and he committed himself to recognize the right to free choice of the king for every succession to the throne. Rudolf was ordained king in March 1077 by the local Archbishop Siegfried I. The election of Rudolf evoked very different responses. The pope remained neutral for the time being and sided neither with Heinrich nor with Rudolf. As a result, Rudolf's position remained weak and he was unable to secure a larger power base in the empire either. He lacked the followers he needed to build up his fledgling kingdom. Only in Saxony did he find broad support. The followers of Henry IV accused Rudolf of a lack of gratitude and loyalty. An important battle took place on January 27, 1080, in Flachheim, Thuringia. After Heinrich had assembled his army from Bavaria, Bohemia, Franconia, Swabia, and Burgundy, he marched towards Saxony with it. On the way he particularly devastated the areas of Archbishop Siegfried I of Mainz, who then banned him and his followers. Rudolf managed to raise a sizeable army. Nevertheless, the battle seemed already lost for Rudolf when his ally Otto von Northeim managed to turn the fight and still emerge victorious. In March 1080, Pope Gregory VII gave up his wait-and-see attitude and declared Rudolf the rightful king. Henry was again excommunicated and deposed. However, at this time Rudolf could no longer derive any benefit from it. The royal side registered with satisfaction that Rudolf's sphere of power was largely limited to Saxony. In large numbers, the princes and the people sided with the king. Heinrich now launched a counterattack against the pope. He declared the pope deposed and with the participation of a total of 30 bishops from Italy, Germany, and Burgundy, a decree of dismissal was finally drawn up and Wibert of Ravenna was ceremoniously proclaimed (anti-)Pope Clemens III on June 25, 1080. After numerous battles, the decision came on October 15, 1080, in the Battle of Hohenmölsen. This battle had no clear winner. Heinrich himself had to flee but it was worse for Rudolf, who was mortally wounded. A knight of Heinrich stabbed him in the abdomen with his sword and cut off his right hand. From Heinrich's side, death with the simultaneous loss of the hand of the oath was interpreted as a visible sign of divine punishment for the person who broke the oath Rudolf died a day later and was laid out and buried here.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . These panels, a kind of "biblia pauperum", were carved by the monk Caspar Schockholcz in 1446. They are part of the choir stalls. God talking to Moses, Last Supper, Jonah and The Whale, Elijah on his way to Heaven, King David

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . I have the impression, that whoever C. FRIDEL was, did a mistake. MCDLXXX is 1480 - but the graffiti inside the church are way younger.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . Heinrich II and his wife Kunigunde Heinrich II became Duke of Bavaria in 995 after the death of his father. Through his grandfather he belonged to the Saxon imperial family. After the death of Otto III. the nobles of the empire elected him king. Heinrich II was crowned in Paderborn. He reestablishment the diocese of Merseburg and founded of the diocese of Bamberg in 1007. He also supported the church reforms emanating from the Cluny monastery. Together with his wife Kunigunde he was crowned emperor by the pope in Rome in 1014. Merseburg can claim to have been visited most frequently by Heinrich II.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . Since the Reformation the cathedral has not been the seat of a bishop. Martin Luther gave a sermon here in August 1545. The crypt

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . Since the Reformation the cathedral has not been the seat of a bishop. Martin Luther gave a sermon here in August 1545. The winged altar with the statue of Mary is dated to the second half of the 15th century.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . Since the Reformation the cathedral has not been the seat of a bishop. Martin Luther gave a sermon here in August 1545. A crucifix originally belonging to a triumphal cross group is carved from oak. The Romanesque crucifix is composed of three parts; the two arms are mortised into the body at the sides. On the crucifix from around 1240, small remains of the medieval color scheme have been found.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . Since the Reformation the cathedral has not been the seat of a bishop. Martin Luther gave a sermon here in August 1545. The nave

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. In 1428, Merseburg, together with other towns and against the resistance of the bishops, joined the Hanseatic League, to which it was to belong until at least 1604. The town suffered severely during the German Peasants' War and also during the Thirty Years' War. Construction of the early Romanesque cathedral was begun by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg in 1015. It was consecrated on 1 October 1021 in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, Kunigunde. However, the eastern part of the building collapsed twice within a few years and had to be rebuilt. It was only in 1042 that the cathedral was formally opened. The early Romanesque structure still influences the appearance of today's cathedral. The lower parts of the choir, transept and western towers remain Romanesque as do the eastern towers. Only the crypt still maintains the original spatial impression, however. The shape of the windows was later changed to Gothic style, probably in the second quarter of the 13th century when a new narthex was added to the church. In the first half of the 13th century the western façade, the western towers were mostly reconstructed. It is also likely that the nave was changed substantially and largely attained its final form. Finally, the eastern towers were raised around the middle of the 13th century. One of them retains a Gothic roof, the other is topped by a Baroque roof. Under Bishop Thilo von Trotha (1466-1514) the nave was rebuilt, due to the building of the adjacent Schloss/palace. The old nave was demolished in 1510 and the new nave built between 1510 and 1514 . Since the Reformation the cathedral has not been the seat of a bishop. Martin Luther gave a sermon here in August 1545.