Limburg Abbey – A Salian Pillar of Power and the origin of advent

Albeit a ruin, it is still impressive: Limburg Abbey. Take a stroll through its grounds, marvel at its high walls and you may get a sense of its former glory. Like other abbeys, Limburg Abbey played an important part for a medieval sovereign who sought to expand his power.

Founded by Emperor Conrad II.

It was Conrad II. who founded the Benedictine abbey. He was the first emperor of the Salian dynasty. And he tried to establish his power in the Rhine Region. Thanks to him Speyer got a new cathedral. And the advent season got a fixed date. And this date was set right here in Limburg Abbey.

Temporarily the Imperial Regalia were kept safe here. Limburg Abbey protected these symbols of power, like the imperial sword.

Today we can learn something about medieval life from a document that was created here. It is a list stating manorial law. And it sheds light on the concept of serfdom. Serfdom meant many peasants were unfree and bound to their lords and the land they worked on.

The Salian Dynasty – Loss of Power

Limburg Abbey was built by the Salian dynasty. It lost power in the 12th century. And a local family, the counts of Leiningen jumped at the chance. They had been appointed as guardians of Limburg Abbey. But they used this position to built their own castle, Hardenburg, on land that belonged to the abbey. Limburg Abbey was repeatedly damaged by the power struggles that ensued in the Rhine region. In 1376 large parts were destroyed in a quarrel between the counts of Leiningen and the dioceses of Mainz, Worms and Speyer. 

You can learn more about the special relationship between Limburg Abbey and the Salian dynasty. The Society “Aktion Limburg” presents the exhibition “The Abbey of the Salian emperors” right here in the abbey.

Or would you like to know more about medieval power struggles? Clergy, knights and nobility...how it all fit together? It was complicated. If you want to get to the bottom of it, take a trip to Bad Dürkheim. The City Museum in House Catoir hosts the exhibition “Between abbots and counts - Dürkheim (not only) in the Middle Ages”

https://www.bad-duerkheim.de/stadtmuseum-im-kulturzentrum-haus-catoir