Princely abbeys and imperial abbeys of the Holy Roman Empire

{{short description|Religious institutions in the Holy Roman Empire with imperial immediacy}} [[File:Abt Rittler Portrait 1.jpg|thumb|right|Anselm Rittler, last Imperial abbot of Weingarten (1784–1804). Starting in 1555, the abbots of Weingarten cast the collective vote of the Imperial abbots of Swabia at the Imperial Diet.<ref>Whaley, J., ''Germany and the Holy Roman Empire (1493–1806)'' Oxford University Press, 2011, p. 353.</ref>]] thumb|Imperial abbeys in Swabia thumb|Weissenau abbey, {{Circa|1625}}

'''Princely abbeys''' ({{langx|de|Fürstabtei}}, ''Fürststift'') and '''Imperial abbeys''' ({{langx|de|Reichsabtei}}, ''Reichskloster'', ''Reichsstift'', ''Reichsgotthaus'') were religious establishments within the Holy Roman Empire which enjoyed the status of imperial immediacy (''Reichsunmittelbarkeit'') and therefore were answerable directly to the Emperor. The possession of imperial immediacy came with a unique form of territorial authority known as ''Landeshoheit'', which carried with it nearly all the attributes of sovereignty.<ref>Gagliardo, J. G., ''The Holy Roman Empire as Idea and Reality 1763–1806'', Indiana University Press, 1980, p. 4.</ref>

==Princely abbeys and imperial abbeys==

The distinction between a princely abbey and an imperial abbey was related to the status of the abbot: while both prince-abbots and the more numerous imperial abbots sat on the ecclesiastical bench of the College of ruling princes of the Imperial Diet, prince-abbots cast an individual vote while imperial abbots cast only a curial (collective) vote alongside his or her fellow imperial abbots and abbesses. Eight princely abbeys (including similar status priories) and roughly 40 imperial abbeys survived up to the mass secularisation of 1802–03 when they were all secularized.

thumb|upright|An 18th-century prince-abbot: Anselm Reichlin von Meldegg of Kempten The head of an Imperial abbey was generally an '''Imperial abbot''' (''Reichsabt'') or '''Imperial abbess''' (''Reichsäbtissin''). The head of a ''Reichspropstei''—an Imperial provostry or priory—was generally a ''Reichspropst''. Collectively, Imperial abbots, provosts and priors were formally known as ''Reichsprälaten'' (Imperial Prelates). A small number of the larger and most prestigious establishments had the rank of '''princely abbeys''' (''Fürstsabtei''), and were headed by a '''prince-abbot''' or a '''prince-provost''' (''Fürstabt'', ''Fürstpropst''), with status comparable to that of Prince-Bishops. Most however were imperial prelates and as such participated in a single collective vote in the Imperial Diet as members of the Bench of Prelates, later (1575) divided into the '''Swabian College of Imperial Prelates''' and the '''Rhenish College of Imperial Prelates'''. Despite their difference of status within the Imperial Diet, both the Imperial Prelates and the Prince-Abbots exercised the same degree of authority over their principality.

Some abbeys, particularly in Switzerland, gained the status of princely abbeys (''Fürstsabtei'') during the Middle Ages or later but they either did not have a territory over which they ruled or they lost that territory after a short while. This was the case with Kreuzlingen, Allerheiligen, Einsiedeln, Muri and Saint-Maurice abbeys.<ref>French, German and Italian versions: http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/f/F9921.php</ref> One major exception was the large and powerful Abbey of St. Gall which remained independent up to its dissolution during the Napoleonic period, despite the fact that, as a Swiss abbey, it had stopped taking part in the Imperial Diet and other institutions of the Holy Roman Empire once the independence of the Swiss Confederacy was recognized in 1648.<ref>French, German and Italian versions: http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/f/F8394.php</ref> Elsewhere, the Prince-Abbot of St. Blaise's Abbey in the Black Forest held that title, not on account of the status of the abbey, which was not immediate, but because it was conferred on him by the abbey's ownership of the immediate County of Bonndorf (later annexed to the Principality of Heitersheim of the Knights of Malta).

== Lists of Imperial abbeys ==

===List of Imperial abbeys with seat and voice at the Imperial Diet of 1792 === Source:<ref>G. Benecke, ''Society and Politics in Germany, 1500-1750'', Routledge & Kegan Paul and University of Toronto Press, London, Toronto and Buffalo, 1974, Appendix III.</ref>

The following list includes the Imperial abbeys which had seat and voice at the Imperial Diet of 1792. They, along with the two Teutonic Order commanderies whose commanders ranked as prelates, are listed according to their voting order on the two Benches of Prelates of the Diet. Not shown are the abbeys of Stablo, Kempten and Corvey, whose abbots had princely status and sat on the Ecclesiastical Bench of the College of Ruling Princes. For additional information on individual abbeys, see: ''List A: Imperial abbeys named in the Matrikel'' below this list.

====Bench of Swabian Prelates==== {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| # Salem # Weingarten # Ochsenhausen # Elchingen # Irsee # Ursberg # Kaisheim # Roggenburg # Roth (Mönchroth) # Weissenau # Schussenried # Marchthal # Petershausen # Wettenhausen # Zwiefalten # Gengenbach # Neresheim # Heggbach # Gutenzell # Rottenmünster # Baindt # Söflingen # St. George's at Isny }}

====Bench of Rhineland Prelates==== {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| # Kaisheim (Swabian Bench after 1756) # Commandery Koblenz (Teutonic Order) # Commanderies Alsace and Burgundy (Teutonic Order) # Odenheim and Bruchsal # Werden # St. Ulrich's and St Afra's # St. George's at Isny (Swabian Bench after 1782) # St. Kornelimünster # St. Emmeram's # Essen # Buchau # Quedlinburg # Herford # Gernrode # Niedermünster # Obermünster # Burtscheid # Gandersheim # Thorn }}

=== List A: Imperial abbeys named in the ''Matrikel'' of 1521 === The religious houses listed here as List A are those named in the ''Matrikel'', or lists of those eligible to vote in the Imperial Diet, including those whose votes were collective rather than individual. Three of these lists survive and are accessible, from 1521, 1755 (or thereabouts) and 1792. thumb|left|The former Imperial abbey of Zwiefalten in 1890. Most Imperial abbeys belonged to the Benedictine order.

This list includes the Principalities, Imperial abbeys (''Reichsabteien'' and ''-klöster''), Imperial colleges (''Reichsstifte''), Imperial provostries or priories (''Reichspropsteien'') and the single Imperial charterhouse (''Reichskartause'').

The word "Stift", meaning a collegiate foundation or canonry, possibly belonging to a variety of different orders or to none at all, and either with or without rules and vows, for either men ("Herrenstift") or for women (Frauenstift), has been left untranslated, except when it specifically refers to the chapter of a church. thumb|''Germania Benedictina''

Some of the imperial abbeys were dissolved during the Reformation; others were absorbed into other territories at various times in the general course of political life. Those in Alsace and Switzerland passed out of the Empire in 1648, when Alsace was ceded to France and Switzerland became independent. The great majority of these religious bodies however were secularized during the brief period that included the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and their aftermath, especially as a result of the German mediatization (''Reichsdeputationshauptschluss'') of February 1803. Any that survived lost their Imperial status when the Holy Roman Empire was wound up in 1806.

==== Abbreviations ==== * Description and Imperial status column: ** '''RA''' stands for ''Reichsabtei'' (Imperial abbey) ** '''RF''' stands for "Reichsfürstentum" (Princely Abbey) ** '''RP''' stands for "Reichspropstei" (Imperial provostry) * Lost imm. column: ** imm. Imperial immediacy ** Sec. secularised ** Med. mediatised ** Switz. Switzerland ** Hel. Helvetic Republic * College column: ** '''RC''' stands for "Rhenish College" ** '''SC''' stands for "Swabian College" ** '''RF''' stands for "Reichsfürst", i.e., the head of the house in question had the status of prince with an individual seat and voice in the Imperial Diet; there were ten of those (Fulda, Kempten, Ellwangen, Murbach-Lüders, Berchtesgaden, Weissenburg, Prüm, Stablo-Malmedy, Corvey and St. Gall).

{|class="wikitable sortable" ! class="unsortable" | CoA ! Religious house ! Location ! Founded ! Imm. ! Lost imm. ! To... ! Description and status ! College |- | 25px | Baindt Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1240|format=no}} | {{nts|1376|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Aspermont-Linden|20px Count of Aspremont-Lynden}} | Cistercian nunnery; ''reichsunmittelbar'' but remained subordinate to Salem Abbey. RA | SC |- | 25px | Berchtesgaden Provostry | Bavaria | {{nts|1102|format=no}} | {{nts|1194|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Salzburg|20px Electorate of Salzburg}} | Augustinian Canons. ''Fürstpropstei'' ("Prince-Provostry"). RF from 1380 or 1559 | RF |- | 25px | Buchau Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|700|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1347|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Thurn und Taxis|20px County of Thurn und Taxis}} | ''Frauenstift''. RA. RF<ref>In 1792 the "Gefürstete Äbtissin zu Buchau" was listed among the Swabian Counts, not the Prelates</ref> | RC |- | 25px | Burtscheid Abbey | North Rhine-Westphalia (Aachen) | {{nts|997|format=no}} | {{nts|1220|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|France: Roer|border|20px Roer}} | Benedictine monastery; from 1220/21 Cistercian nunnery. RF | RC |- | 25px | Buxheim Charterhouse | Bavaria | {{nts|1100|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1548|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}}/03 Sec. | {{sort|Ostein|20px County of Ostein}} | Canons; Carthusians from 1402 (the only ''Reichskartause''). RP | SC ''and'' RC |- | 25px | Comburg | Baden-Württemberg (Schwäbisch Hall) | {{nts|1070|format=no}}s | {{ntsh|1399}} before 15th century | {{nts|1587|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Wurttemberg|20px Duchy of Württemberg}} | Benedictine monastery, later ''Herrenstift''. Mediatised by Württemberg 1587; secularised 1803. RA | SC |- | 25px | Corvey Abbey | North Rhine-Westphalia (Höxter) | {{nts|820|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1150|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Nassau-Orange-Fulda|20px Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda}} | Benedictine monastery. RA; RF no later than 1582<ref>The abbots became the Bishops of Corvey in 1792; the territory was later (1820) part of the Diocese of Paderborn</ref> | RF |- | 25px | Disentis Abbey | Switzerland | {{nts|720|format=no|prefix=c. }}<ref>the traditional date of 614 is not borne out by archaeological investigation</ref> | {{ntsh|725}}early 8th century | {{nts|1798|format=no}} Hel. | {{sort|Switzerland: Three Leagues|20px Three Leagues}} | Benedictine monastery; secularised 1798; re-established 1803. RA | SC |- | 25px | Echternach Abbey | Luxembourg | {{nts|700|format=no}} | {{nts|751|format=no}} | {{nts|1794|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|France: Forets|border|20px Forêts}} | Benedictine monastery. Mediatised by Austria sometime after 1521<ref>listed in the 1521 Matrikel but not in that of 1755</ref> RA |  |- | 25px | Einsiedeln Abbey | Switzerland | {{nts|934|format=no}} | {{nts|965|format=no}} | {{nts|1648|format=no}} Switz. | {{sort|Switzerland: Schwyz|20px Canton of Schwyz}} | Benedictine monastery. Ceased to be part of the HRE in 1648; secularised 1798; re-established 1803. RA | |- | 25px | Elchingen Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|1128|format=no}} | {{nts|1485|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Ellwangen Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|764|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1011|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Wurttemberg|20px Duchy of Württemberg}} | Benedictine monastery; ''Fürstpropstei'' ("Prince-Provostry"). Possibly founded as early as 732. RF | RF |- | 25px | Essen Abbey | North Rhine-Westphalia | {{nts|845|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{ntsh|900}} betw. 874 and 947 | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Prussia|border|20px Kingdom of Prussia}} | ''Frauenstift''. RA | RC |- | 25px | Frauenchiemsee Abbey (aka '''Frauenwörth''') | Bavaria | {{nts|782|format=no}} | {{nts|782|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Benedictine nunnery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Fraumünster Abbey | Switzerland (Zürich) | {{nts|853|format=no}} | {{nts|1218|format=no}} | {{nts|1524|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Switzerland: Zurich|20px Canton of Zurich}} | Benedictine nunnery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Fürstenfeld Abbey | Bavaria (Fürstenfeldbruck) | {{nts|1258|format=no}} | Uncertain | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Cistercian monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Fulda Abbey | Hesse | {{nts|744|format=no}} | {{nts|765|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Nassau-Orange-Fulda|20px Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda}} | Benedictine monastery. RF<ref>from 1752 the abbots were also the Prince-Bishops of Fulda</ref> | RF |- | 25px | Gandersheim Abbey | Lower Saxony | {{nts|852|format=no}} | {{nts|919|format=no}} (de facto 877) | {{nts|1810|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel|20px Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel}} | ''Frauenstift''. The abbey asserted Imperial immediacy but owned no ''reichsunmittelbar'' estates, and was claimed until 1709 by Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. RA | RC |- | 25px | Gengenbach Abbey<ref>While the abbey was mediatized in 1803, the new owner let it function normally until 1807 when it was dissolved.</ref> | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|727|format=no}}–35 | {{ntsh|899}} 9th century | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Baden|border|20px Margraviate of Baden}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Gernrode Abbey | Saxony-Anhalt | {{nts|959|format=no}} | {{nts|961|format=no}} | {{nts|1728|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Anhalt-Dessau|border|20px Principality of Anhalt-Dessau}} | ''Frauenstift''. ''De facto'' sovereignty lost to Anhalt in 1570. RA | RC |- | 25px | Göss Abbey | Austria (Leoben) | {{nts|1004|format=no}} | {{nts|1020|format=no}} | {{nts|1782|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Habsburg Monarchy|border|20px Habsburg monarchy}} | Benedictine nunnery. RA  | SC |- | 25px | Gutenzell Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1237|format=no}} | {{nts|1417|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Toerring|20px County of Toerring}} | Cistercian nunnery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Heggbach Abbey | Baden-Württemberg (Maselheim) | {{nts|1231|format=no}} | {{nts|1429|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bassenheim|20px County of Bassenheim}} | Beguines; Cistercian nunnery from 1248.<ref>1248 is the year of the charter confirming status, but probably Cistercian in observance from c. 1237–44</ref> RA | SC |- | 25px | Helmarshausen Abbey | Hesse (Bad Karlshafen) | {{nts|997|format=no}} | {{nts|997|format=no}} | {{nts|1538|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Hesse|20px Landgraviate of Hesse}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Herford Abbey | North Rhine-Westphalia | {{nts|832|format=no}} | {{nts|1147|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Ravensberg|20px County of Ravensberg}} | ''Frauenstift''. Lutheran from 1533. RA | RC |- | 25px | Herrenalb Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1147|format=no}}/48 | {{nts|1275|format=no}} | {{nts|1497|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Baden and Wurttemberg|20px Margraviate of Baden border|20px Duchy of Württemberg}} | Cistercian monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Hersfeld Abbey | Hesse | {{nts|736|format=no}}–42 | {{nts|775|format=no}} | {{nts|1648|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Hesse-Kassel|20px Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel}} | Benedictine monastery. ''De facto'' mediatised to Hesse-Kassel from 1606. RA | RC |- | 25px | Irsee Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|1186|format=no}} | {{nts|1695|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Kaisheim Abbey (sometimes '''Kaisersheim Abbey''') | Bavaria | {{nts|1135|format=no}} | {{nts|1346|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Cistercian monastery. Immediacy was not recognised by the Wittelsbachs, who were the ''Vögte''; a legal agreement was reached with their successors in 1656, confirming ''Reichsfreiheit''. RA | SC ''and'' RC |- | 25px | Kaufungen Abbey | Hesse (Kassel) | {{nts|1017|format=no}} | {{nts|1089|format=no}} | {{nts|1527|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Hessian Knighthood|20px Hessian Knighthood}} | Benedictine nunnery. Given to the Hessische Ritterschaft 1532; still extant as a private foundation. RA | |- | 25px | Kempten Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|752|format=no}} | {{nts|1062|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Benedictine monastery; ''Fürststift'' from 1524. RA / RF | RF |- | 25px | Klingenmünster Abbey | Rhineland-Palatinate | {{nts|636|format=no}}? | {{nts|1115|format=no}} | {{nts|1567|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Electorate of the Palatinate|20px Electorate of the Palatinate}} | Possibly founded in 636, definitely before 780. Benedictine abbey until 1490; then ''Herrenstift''. RA / RP | RC |- | 25px | Königsbronn Abbey | Baden-Württemberg (Heidenheim) | {{nts|1303|format=no}} | {{ntsh|1450}} probably 15th century | {{nts|1553|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Wurttemberg|20px Duchy of Württemberg}} | Cistercian monastery, taken over and made Protestant by Württemberg. It remained Protestant despite failed attempts to revert to Catholicism in 1630–32 and 1635–48; it was finally secularised in 1710. RA | |- | 25px | Kornelimünster Abbey | North Rhine-Westphalia (Aachen) | {{nts|614|format=no}} | {{ntsh|825}} by mid-9th century | {{nts|1802|format=no}} | {{sort|France: Roer|border|20px Roer}} | Benedictine monastery. RA<ref>possibly later a ''Reichsfürstabtei''</ref> | RC |- | 25px | Kreuzlingen Abbey | Switzerland | {{nts|1125|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1145|format=no|prefix= }} | {{nts|1648|format=no}} Switz. | {{sort|Switzerland: Thurgau|20px Canton of Thurgau}} | Augustinian Canons. Dissolved by the cantonal government in 1848. RA | |- | 25px | Lindau Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|822|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1466|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} | {{sort|Bretzenstein|20px Prince of the County of Bretzenheim}} | ''Frauenstift'', possibly later a ''Reichsfürstabtei''; RA. | SC |- | 25px | Lorsch Abbey | Hesse (Darmstadt) | {{nts|764|format=no}} | {{nts|852|format=no}} (confirmed) | {{nts|1232|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Mainz|20px Archbishopric of Mainz}} | Benedictine monastery until 1248; thereafter Premonstratensian until dissolution in 1556. RA | SC |- | 25px | Malmedy Abbey | Belgium | {{nts|645|format=no}} | {{nts|651|format=no}}? | {{nts|1794|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|France: Ourthe|border|20px Ourthe}} | Benedictine monastery, forming a single principality with Stavelot. RA | RF |- | 25px | Marchtal Abbey (also '''Marchthal''') | Baden-Württemberg | {{ntsh|700}} before 776 | {{nts|1500|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Thurn und Taxis|20px County of Thurn und Taxis}} | Premonstratensian monastery. Refounded 1171. RA | SC |- | 25px | Marmoutier Abbey; also '''Maursmünster'''<ref>must not be confused with Münster im Gregoriental in Upper Alsace</ref> | Alsace | {{nts|659|format=no|prefix=by }} | {{ntsh|659}} 659 | {{nts|1789|format=no}} | {{sort|France|border|20px Bas-Rhin}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Maulbronn Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1147|format=no}} | {{nts|1147|format=no}} | {{nts|1806|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Wurttemberg|border|20px Kingdom of Württemberg}} | Cistercian monastery. Seized by Württemberg in 1504, secularised in 1534, alternated between Cistercianism and Protestantism until settled to the latter by Peace of Westphalia in 1648. RA | SC |- | 25px | Memleben Abbey | Saxony-Anhalt | {{nts|975|format=no}} | {{ntsh|975}} uncertain, poss. late 10th century | {{nts|1548|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Hersfeld|20px Hersfeld Abbey}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | RC |- | 25px | Michaelsberg Abbey (also known as '''Siegburg Abbey''') | North Rhine-Westphalia (Siegburg) | {{nts|1064|format=no}} | {{nts|1512|format=no}} | {{nts|1676|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Berg|20px Duchy of Berg}} | Benedictine monastery. Secularised in 1803. RA | RC |- | 25px | Mönchrot Abbey, also '''Mönchroth''', '''Münchenroth''', '''Rot''' or '''Rot an der Rot Abbey''' | Baden-Württemberg (Rot an der Rot) | {{nts|1126|format=no}} | {{nts|1497|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Wartenberg|20px County of Wartenberg}} | Premonstratensian monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Mondsee Abbey | Austria | {{nts|748|format=no}} | {{nts|788|format=no}} | {{nts|1791|format=no}} | {{sort|Habsburg Monarchy|border|20px Habsburg monarchy}} | Benedictine monastery. Imperial immediacy lost to the Bishopric of Regensburg 831–1142. RA | SC |- | 25px | Abbey of Münster im Gregoriental<ref>The imperial abbey of Münster im Gregoriental (Georgental) in Haut-Rhin (near Colmar) must not be confused with Maurmünster in Bas-Rhin (near Saverne)</ref> | Alsace | {{nts|660|format=no}} | {{nts|1235|format=no}} | {{nts|1789|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|France: Haut-Rhin|border|20px Haut-Rhin}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- |25px | Murbach Abbey (incl Lüders) | Alsace | {{nts|727|format=no}} | {{ntsh|792}} 792 | {{nts|1789|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|France: Haut-Rhin|border|20px Haut-Rhin}} | Benedictine monastery. Effectively French since 1648, but anomalously remained legally part of the Empire; dissolved during the Revolution. RF | RF |- | 25px | Muri Abbey | Switzerland | {{nts|1027|format=no}} | {{nts|1701|format=no}} | {{nts|1648|format=no}} Switz. | {{sort|Switzerland: zz Helvetic Rep: Baden|20px Helvetic Canton of Baden}} | Benedictine monastery. The abbey was never immediate, but the abbot was created ''Reichsfürst'' in 1701. RA | |- | 25px | Neresheim Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1095|format=no}} | {{nts|1764|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Thurn und Taxis|20px County of Thurn und Taxis}} | Benedictine monastery. The abbey's status was the subject of litigation with the County of Oettingen until after 1760. RA | SC |- | 25px | Niedermünster | Bavaria (Regensburg) | {{nts|700|format=no|prefix=before }} | {{nts|1002|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | ''Frauenstift''. Refounded 788, 948–55. RA | RC |- | 25px | Nordhausen chapter | Thuringia | {{ntsh|950}} poss. mid-10th century | {{nts|1220|format=no|prefix=by }} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Prussia|border|20px Kingdom of Prussia}} | Chapter of Nordhausen Cathedral. RA | |- | 25px | Obermünster | Bavaria (Regensburg) | {{ntsh|825}} early 9th century | {{nts|1024|format=no|prefix=before }} | {{nts|1810|format=no}} | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Kingdom of Bavaria}} | Benedictine nunnery, later ''Frauenstift''. RA. RF from 1315 | RC |- | 25px | Oberschönenfeld Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|1211|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1248|format=no}}? | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Beguines until c 1211, then Cistercian nunnery, formalised from 1248. RA | |- | 25px | Ochsenhausen Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1093|format=no}} | {{nts|1495|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec | {{sort|Metternich|20px County of Metternich-Winnenburg}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Odenheim Abbey (originally '''Wigoldsberg'''; later also '''Odenheim and Bruchsal''') | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1108|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1161|format=no|prefix=by }} | {{nts|1802|format=no}}–03 Sec | {{sort|Baden|20px Margraviate of Baden}} | Benedictine monastery; ''Herrenstift'' from 1496. RA | RC |- | 25px | Ottobeuren Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|764|format=no}} | {{nts|1299|format=no}}, regranted 1710<ref>Immediacy lost when abbey was mediatised by Bishops of Augsburg (c. 1624); immediacy was regranted in 1710, but the Abbot did not regain a seat in the Imperial Diet</ref> | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} (20px Bishopric of Augsburg 1624–1710) | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Petershausen Abbey | Baden-Württemberg (Konstanz) | {{nts|983|format=no}} | {{ntsh|1225}} early 13th century | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec | {{sort|Baden|20px Margraviate of Baden}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Pfäfers Abbey | Switzerland | {{nts|731|format=no}} | {{nts|1408|format=no}} | {{nts|1648|format=no}} Switz. | {{sort|Switzerland: zz Condominium|border|20px Swiss condominium}} | Benedictine monastery. Ceased to be part of HRE in 1648 (secularised 1798; re-established 1803). RA | |- | 25px | Prüfening Abbey | Bavaria (Regensburg) | {{nts|1119|format=no}} | {{ntsh|1119}} Unknown | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Prüm Abbey | Rhineland-Palatinate | {{nts|720|format=no}} | {{nts|1222|format=no}} | {{nts|1576|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Trier|20px Archbishopric of Trier}} | Benedictine monastery. Annexed by France 1794. RF | RF |- | 25px | Quedlinburg Abbey | Saxony-Anhalt | {{nts|936|format=no}} | {{nts|936|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} | {{sort|Prussia|border|20px Kingdom of Prussia}} | ''Frauenstift''; Lutheran from 1540. RA | RC |- | 25px | Recklinghausen Abbey (also '''Rechenhausen''') | North Rhine-Westphalia | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | {{sort|Essen Abbey|20px Essen Abbey}} | RA | |- | 25px | Reichenau Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|724|format=no}} | Unknown | {{nts|1540|format=no}} or 1548 | {{sort|Constance Bishopric|20px Bishopric of Constance}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Riddagshausen Abbey | Brunswick | {{nts|1145|format=no}}/46 | {{ntsh|1147}} Uncertain, early | {{nts|1569|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel|20px Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel}} | Cistercian monastery. Mediatised on Reformation to Lutheran seminary; secularised 1809. RA | |- | 25px | Roggenburg Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|1126|format=no}} | {{nts|1482|format=no}}–1485 | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Premonstratensian monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Rottenmünster Abbey | Baden-Württemberg (Rottweil) | {{nts|1224|format=no}} | {{nts|1237|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Wurttemberg|20px Duchy of Württemberg}} | Cistercian nunnery. Reopened 1898. RA | SC |- | 25px | Saalfeld Abbey | Thuringia (Saalfeld) | {{nts|1071|format=no}} | Unknown | {{nts|1526|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Saxony|20px Electorate of Saxony}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | |- | 25px | St Bartholomäus cathedral chapter | Hesse (Frankfurt am Main) | {{nts|852|format=no}} | Unknown | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Frankfurt|20px Imperial City of Frankfurt}} | Chapter of the ''Kaiserdom'' in Frankfurt. RP | RC |- | 25px | St. Blaise's in the Black Forest | Baden-Württemberg | {{ntsh|950}} Uncertain | {{nts|1609|format=no}} | {{nts|1806|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Baden|20px Grand Duchy of Baden}} | Benedictine monastery. The Prince-Abbot of St. Blaise's had princely status (RF) not because of the abbey itself but because the abbey had acquired the County of Bonndorf, which carried princely status with it from 1609<ref>''1792 Matrikel: Fürst u. Abt zu St. Blasien wegen der gefürsteten Grafschaft Bonndorf''</ref> | |- | 25px | St. Emmeram's Abbey | Bavaria (Regensburg) | {{nts|739|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1295|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Regensburg|20px Principality of Regensburg}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | RC |- | 25px | St. Gall | Switzerland | {{nts|613|format=no}} | {{nts|1207|format=no}} | {{nts|1798|format=no}} Sec. (1648 Switz.) | {{sort|Switzerland: zz Helvetic Rep: Santis|border|20px Helvetic Canton of Säntis}} | Benedictine monastery; later ''Fürstabtei''. Swiss associate from 1451; secularised temporarily 1527–32. RA / RF | SC |- | 25px | St George's at Isny in the Allgäu | Baden-Württemberg (Isny im Allgäu) | {{nts|1096|format=no}} | {{nts|1781|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Quadt-Wyrkradt|20px Princely County of Quadt-Wykradt}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | St. George's Abbey, Stein am Rhein | Switzerland (Stein am Rhein) | {{ntsh|850}} 9th century | {{ntsh|1450}} 15th century | {{nts|1521|format=no}}–26 Sec. | {{sort|Switzerland: Zurich|20px Canton of Zurich}} | Founded 9th century on the Hohentwiel; moved to Stein am Rhein c. 1007. RA | |- | 25px | St. Giles' Abbey, Nuremberg (Schottenkloster Sankt Ägidien) | Bavaria | {{nts|1140|format=no|prefix=c. }} | Unknown | {{nts|1525|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Nuremberg|20px Imperial City of Nuremberg}} | "Schottenkloster"; Benedictine monastery from 1418. Absorbed by Nuremberg in 1525 (possibly 1567) as unable to document immediacy. RA | |- | 25px | St. Ludger's Abbey | Lower Saxony (Helmstedt) | {{nts|800|format=no|prefix=c. }} | Unknown | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel|20px Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | RC |- | 25px | St. Maximin's Abbey, Trier | Rhineland-Palatinate | {{ntsh|350}} 4th century | {{ntsh|1100}} before early 12th century | {{nts|1669|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Trier|20px Archbishopric of Trier}} | Benedictine monastery. Mediatised to the Electorate of the Palatinate in the 16th century, but status not finalised until immediacy definitively surrendered to Trier in 1669. RA | RC |- | 25px | St. Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1073|format=no|prefix=before }} | {{ntsh|1093}} 1093 | {{nts|1806|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Baden|20px Grand Duchy of Baden}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | |- | 25px | St. Ulrich's and St. Afra's Abbey | Bavaria | {{ntsh|950}} c. 10th century | {{nts|1577|format=no}} ''de jure'' 1643 ''de facto'' | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Augsburg| Imperial City of Augsburg border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Benedictine monastery from 1006–12; probably refounded from a 5th- or 6th-century predecessor. The abbey was made immediate in 1577, but its status was challenged by the Bishop of Augsburg in litigation until 1643/44. RA | RC |- | 25px | Salem Abbey aka '''Salmansweiler''' | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1136|format=no}} | {{nts|1138|format=no}}–52 | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Baden|20px Margraviate of Baden}} | Cistercian monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Schaffhausen Abbey | Switzerland | {{nts|1049|format=no}} | {{nts|1190|format=no}} | {{nts|1529|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Switzerland: Schaffhausen|20px Canton of Schaffhausen}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | |- | 25px | Schänis Abbey | Switzerland | {{ntsh|850}} 9th century | {{nts|1045|format=no}} | {{nts|1438|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Switzerland: zz Condominium|border|20px Swiss condominium}} | ''Frauenstift''. Frederick IV, King of Germany confirmed the abbatial rights in 1442, but the link with the Empire was broken; the abbess continued to bear the title of Princess of the Holy Roman Empire until secularisation to the canton of St. Gallen under the Act of Mediation in 1803. Suspended during the Protestant Reformation 1529–31. RA | SC |- | 25px | Schussenried Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1183|format=no}} | {{nts|1440|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Sternberg-Manderscheid|20px County of Sternberg-Manderscheid}} | Premonstratensian monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Schuttern Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|603|format=no}} | {{nts|975|format=no}} | {{nts|1801|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Modena|20px Duchy of Modena}} | Benedictine monastery. Not to be confused with Schottern Abbey in Austria, secularised in the 15th century. RA | SC |- | 25px | Selz Abbey | Baden, later Alsace | {{nts|991|format=no}} | {{nts|992|format=no}} | {{nts|1481|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|EElectorate of the Palatinate|20px Electorate of the Palatinate}} | Benedictine monastery / nunnery. Secularised in 1803. RA | |- | 25px | Söflingen Abbey (sometimes '''Söfflingen''') | Baden-Württemberg (Ulm) | {{nts|1258|format=no}} | {{nts|1773|format=no}} | {{nts|1797|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Poor Clares. RA | SC |- | 25px | Stablo or Stavelot Abbey (also Stablingen) | Belgium | {{nts|651|format=no}} | {{nts|651|format=no}}? | {{nts|1794|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|France: Ourthe|border|20px Ourthe}} | Benedictine monastery. Formed a single principality with Malmedy. RF. | RF |- | 25px | Thorn Abbey | The Netherlands (Limburg) | {{nts|975|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1292|format=no}} | {{nts|1795|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|France: Meuse-Inférieure|border|20px Meuse-Inférieure}} | ''Frauenstift''. RA. RF from 1793. | RC |- | 25px | Ursberg Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|1126|format=no}}–28 | {{nts|1143|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Premonstratensian monastery. Not to be confused with Urspring Abbey. RA | SC |- | 25px | Waldsassen Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|1128|format=no}}–32 | {{nts|1147|format=no}} | {{nts|1543|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Electorate of the Palatinate|20px Electorate of the Palatinate}} | Cistercian monastery. Secularised to the Electorate of Bavaria in 1803; reopened as Cistercian nunnery 1863. RA | SC |- | 25px | Walkenried Abbey | Lower Saxony | {{nts|1127|format=no}} | {{nts|1542|format=no}} | {{nts|1648|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel|20px Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel}} | Cistercian monastery. RA | RC |- | 25px | Weingarten Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1056|format=no}} | {{nts|1274|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Nassau-Orange-Fulda|20px Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Weissenau Abbey | Baden-Württemberg (Ravensburg) | {{nts|1145|format=no}} | {{nts|1257|format=no|prefix=c. }} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} | {{sort|Sternberg-Manderscheid|20px County of Sternberg-Manderscheid}} | Premonstratensian monastery. RA | SC |- | 25px | Weissenburg Abbey | Alsace | {{ntsh|650}} 7th century | Unknown | {{nts|1306|format=no}} Med. | {{sort|Wissembourg|20px Imperial City of Weissenburg}} | ''Reichspropstei''. Raised to Imperial city 1306, joined Décapole 1354, annexed by France 1697. RP / RF (status later assumed by Bishop of Speyer). | RF |- | 25px | Werden Abbey | North Rhine-Westphalia (Essen) | {{nts|799|format=no}} | {{nts|877|format=no}} | {{nts|1803|format=no}} | {{sort|Prussia|border|20px Kingdom of Prussia}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | RC |- | 25px | Wettenhausen Abbey | Bavaria | {{nts|1130|format=no}} | Unknown | {{nts|1803|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Bavaria|border|20px Electorate of Bavaria}} | Augustinian Canons. Founded on the site of an earlier foundation, dated 982. RA | SC |- | 25px | Zwiefalten Abbey | Baden-Württemberg | {{nts|1089|format=no}} | {{nts|1750|format=no}} | {{nts|1802|format=no}} Sec. | {{sort|Wurttemberg|20px Duchy of Württemberg}} | Benedictine monastery. RA | SC |-class="sortbottom" ! class="unsortable" | CoA ! Religious house ! Location ! Founded ! Imm. ! Lost imm. ! To... ! Description and status ! College |}

===List B: ''Reichsmatrikel'' 1521=== The ''Matrikel'' of 1521 included a number of religious houses which have not been identified:

{|class="wikitable" |- ! Religious house ! Location ! Dates ! Description and Imperial status |- | Beckenried Abbey<ref>there is no trace of a religious house at any time located in the village of Beckenried</ref> | Switzerland | ceased to be part of the HRE in 1648 | RA |- | Blankenburg Abbey | nk<ref>attributed, by sources on the [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/reichsstande.htm Heraldica website] either to Blankenberg in Lorraine or to a place "Blankenburg" near Oldenburg</ref> | nk | nk |- | Brunnen Abbey | Landstrass, Carinthia (Austria) | nk | nk |- | Hynoltshusen Abbey | nk<ref>Honnecourt near Cambrai has been suggested [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/reichsstande.htm see Heraldica website]</ref> | nk | monastery |- | Kitzingen Abbey | nk | nk | monastery |- | Rockenhausen | nk<ref>a location near Kaiserslautern has been suggested, or possibly Rönkhausen Abbey [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/reichsstande.htm see Heraldica website]</ref> | nk | RA |- | St. Johann (St. John's Abbey) | nk | nk | nk |}

Inclusion in the 1521 ''Reichsmatrikel'' is not by itself conclusive evidence that a particular religious house was in fact an Imperial abbey, and the status of the following abbey listed in the ''Matrikel'' is questionable in the absence of further confirmation from other sources:

{|class="wikitable" |- ! Religious house ! Location ! Dates ! Description and Imperial status |- | St. John's Abbey in the Thurtal (''Sant Johans im Turital'') | Switzerland (Alt St. Johann, later Nesslau) | fdd. before 1152; RU nk (if at all); subordinated to St. Gall's Abbey 1555; ceased to be part of the HRE 1648 (dissolved 1805) | Benedictine monastery. Imperial status unknown |}

===List C: Imperial abbeys not named in the ''Matrikel''=== For a variety of reasons a quantity of religious houses that possessed, or claimed, the status of Imperial immediacy either did not attend the Imperial Diet, or were not listed in the surviving Matrikel. The following list is very far from complete, and possibly some of those listed may not in fact have been immediate (''reichsunmittelbar'').

{|class="wikitable" |- ! Religious house ! Location ! Dates ! Description and Imperial status |- | Amorbach Abbey | Bavaria | | |- | Edelstetten Abbey | Bavaria | fdd. 1126; more a charitable institution for daughters of the lower Swabian nobility than a monastery. Except for the abbesses, the women were free to leave after some time and get married. Imperial abbey status in 1783 only. Secularized in 1803 and given as a principality to Prince Charles-Joseph de Ligne. One year later, he sold his principality to Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy.<ref>Philip Mansel, ''Le Prince de Ligne, le charmeur de l'Europe'', Perrin, 2002, pp. 211-215</ref> | Augustinian monastery. RA || | |- | Engelberg Abbey | Switzerland | Founded in 1120 by Count Blessed Conrad of Seldenburen. Engelberg Abbey (German: Kloster Engelberg) is a Benedictine monastery in Engelberg, Canton of Obwalden, Switzerland. Initially, the abbey was placed under the immediate jurisdiction of the Holy See, which condition continued until the formation of the Swiss Congregation in 1602 when Engelberg united with the other monasteries of Switzerland and became subject to a president and general chapter. In 1873 a colony from Engelberg founded Conception Abbey, at Conception, Missouri in the United States; in 1882, Mount Angel Abbey was founded near what is now Mount Angel, Oregon, also in the United States. William Wordsworth wrote a poem about the abbey entitled "Engelberg, The Hill of Angels" | Benedictine monastery. RA | |- | Munsterbilzen Abbey | Belgium | | |- | Nienburg Abbey | Saxony-Anhalt | fdd 975; RA temp. Otto II; mediatised 1166 by the Archbishop of Magdeburg; secularised 1563 by the Prince of Anhalt-Dessau | Benedictine monastery. RA | RC |- | Nivelles Abbey | Belgium | | |- | Schöntal Abbey<ref>not to be confused with Schönthal Priory in Bavaria, which was not immediate (''reichsunmittelbar'')</ref> | Baden-Württemberg | fdd. 1157; RA from 1418 to 1495; secularised 1803 | Cistercian; RA |- | Tegernsee Abbey | Bavaria | fdd 760s; granted RA status by Otto II around 978 but unable to exercise effective Imperial immediacy; remained subordinate to Bavaria until secularization in 1803. |Benedictine; RA |- | Wiblingen Abbey | Baden-Württemberg, Ulm | fdd. 1037; subordinate to Habsburg high jurisdiction (Oberhoheit) from about 1500; gained more autonomy in 1701 but was unable to gain immediacy and remained part of Further Austria until secularization in 1806. | Benedictine; |}

==See also== * Hochstift

==References and notes== {{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography== In German: * Matthäi, George, 1877: ''Die Klosterpolitik Kaiser Heinrichs II. Ein Beitrag zur *Geschichte der Reichsabteien''. Grünberg i.Schl. * Brennich, Max, 1908: ''Die Besetzung der Reichsabteien in den Jahren 1138–1209''. Greifswald. * Polzin, Johannes: ''Die Abtswahlen in den Reichsabteien von 1024–1056''. * Riese, Heinrich, 1911: ''Die Besetzung der Reichsabteien in den Jahren 1056–1137''. * Feierabend, Hans, 1913, repr. 1971: ''Die politische Stellung der deutschen Reichsabteien während des Investiturstreites''. Breslau 1913; Aalen 1971 * Wehlt, Hans-Peter, 1970: ''Reichsabtei und König'' * Vogtherr, Thomas, 2000: ''Die Reichsabteien der Benediktiner und das Königtum im hohen Mittelalter'' (900–1125) (Mittelalter-Forschungen, vol. 5)

==External links== * [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/reichsstande.htm Reichstag participants 1521, c. 1755 and 1792, on Heraldica website] {{in lang|de}} * [http://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Reichsmatrikel_von_1521 1521 Reichsmatrikel] {{in lang|de}} * Sarah Hadry: Reichsstifte [Imperial Abbeys]. In: Historisches Lexikon Bayerns. [http://www.historisches-lexikon-bayerns.de/artikel/artikel_45346 Onlineversion] * Sarah Hadry: Reichsprälatenkollegium [Council of Imperial Abbeys]. In: Historisches Lexikon Bayerns. [http://www.historisches-lexikon-bayerns.de/artikel/artikel_45818 Onlineversion]

Imperial abbeys Abbeys Category:Imperial abbeys Category:Christian monasteries in Germany Category:Christian monasteries in Austria Category:Christian monasteries in Switzerland Category:Christian monasteries in Belgium Category:Christian monasteries in the Netherlands Category:Christian monasteries in France Category:History of Swabia Category:Former enclaves