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Himmelpforten Convent (Low Saxon: ''Klooster Hemelpoorten'', ; (ラテン語:Conventus Porta Coeli)) was founded as a monastery of nuns following the Cistercian Rule during the 13th century in Himmelpforten, in today's Lower Saxony, Germany. During the 16th century, it was converted into use as a Lutheran Damsels' Convent. The Himmelpforten Convent was founded before 1255 and finally dissolved in 1647.〔Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824, vol. 1: p. 120. No ISBN.〕 The convent complex was built between 1300 and 1330. After 1645 the buildings, including the abbey, increasingly decayed, until they were little by little demolished. The dilapidated abbey was demolished in 1737 and replaced by today's St. Mary's Church which partially covers the foundations of the former abbey. ==History== The convent was founded in the mid-13th century on Westerberg hill in , a location later indicated by St. Andrew's Chapel.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 5. No ISBN.〕 As the Cistercian Order had restricted the incorporation of the growing number of women's monastic communities who followed the Cistercian Rule, and since no existing deed neither records the incorporation of the Himmelpforten Convent, nor the appointment of a Father Abbot, as usual for an affiliated community of women, Porta Coeli most likely never officially joined that Order.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 33. No ISBN.〕 In 1244 and 1245 the Cistercian general chapter had determined that a monastery of nuns could be incorporated into the Cistercian Order only if the competent bishop and the competent cathedral chapter exempted the community's temporalities and spiritualities from their control.〔Gerd Ahlers, ''Weibliches Zisterziensertum im Mittelalter und seine Klöster in Niedersachsen'', Berlin: Lukas-Verlag, 2002, (=Studien zur Geschichte, Kunst und Kultur der Zisterzienser; vol. 13), partially simultaneously Berlin, Free Univ., Diss., 1997, p. 49. ISBN 3-931836-47-9.〕 However, such a wide-ranging exemption from their sovereignty is exactly what Bremen's cathedral chapter and the prince-archbishop did not want, as is described below. The convent's main benefactor, the Brobergen family (also spelt Broc(k)bergen, extinct in 1745〔Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824, vol. 1: p. 300. No ISBN.〕) intended to make it their proprietary monastery.〔Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 78. ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9.〕 The , holding allodial estates, tried to establish the nunnery as their power base out of the immediate prince-archiepiscopal reach,〔Konrad Elmshäuser, „Die Erzbischöfe als Landesherren“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 159–194, here p. 165. ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2.〕〔Adolf E. Hofmeister, „Adel, Bauern und Stände“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 195–240, here p. 195. ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2.〕 an idea also pursued by the Brobergens' kinsman ,〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 27. No ISBN.〕 but failed.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 28. No ISBN.〕〔Adding up to the conflict was the fact that the Archdiocese of Bremen, upholding the claim of the merged Hamburg Archdiocese, tried to enforce its claim as metropolis over the new Baltic dioceses, whose incumbent bishops again, originating from the Bremian prince-archbishopric, strove for the erection of a Baltic metropolis, succeeding in 1253/1255 with the elevation of Riga to an archdiocese, with Dorpat as its suffragan.〕 In their aim to establish unrivalled territorial control, the Bremen Cathedral Chapter, led by its then Provost Gerard of Lippe,〔Being a son of Bernard III, Lord of Lippe he was promoted by his granduncle Prince-Archbishop Gebhard to be elected provost, striving to succeed him, he gained support among the enfranchised capitular canons and acted as rivalling archbishop, however, he succumbed to Count Hildebold of Wunstorf, the other rivalling archbishop, in a feud and was most likely killed in action in 1259.〕 besides fulfilling religious tasks of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bremen also wielding the secular rule in the much smaller Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, together with the prince-archbishop of Bremen, then Gerard's sick granduncle , since 1251 represented by Coadjutor , Prince-Bishop of Paderborn, being Gerard's uncle and Gebhard's nephew, managed to integrate the Porta Coeli convent and its holdings as a temporality within the prince-archiepiscopal sovereign territory.〔〔 With establishing Porta Coeli as a prince-archiepiscopal outpost to observe and surveil the peasants' ambitions Gerard and Simon of Lippe pursued Prince-Archbishop Gebhard's long-term project of enforcing the reign over the free peasants,〔 e.g. manifesting in Gebhard's earlier subjection of the Stedingers. The integration of Himmelpforten Convent into the prince-archiepiscopal temporalities was fixed in a deed, issued in 1255, on the occasion of moving the convent to then Eylsede/ Eulsete village (literally: Eylo's/Eilhard's seat), later adopting the Low Saxon translation ''tor Hemmelporten'' or ''to der Himilporten'' of the convent's Latin name ''Porta Coeli'' (Gate of Heaven;〔Cf. the Christian imagery of Mary of Nazareth as the Gate of Heaven refers to Ezekiel's "closed gate" ().〕 modern standard German: Himmelpforten).〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 23. No ISBN.〕 Eylsede was most likely chosen because its location adjacent to the Osten jurisdiction (Gericht Osten; in the Oste Marshes) and to Kehdingen,〔Bernd Ulrich Hucker, „Freiheit und Herrschaft bei den Kehdingern“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 61 (2001/2002), pp. 101–108, here pp. 104seq.〕〔Whereas Hucker points out that Porta Coeli was also to uphold the prince-archiepiscopal rule over Kehdingen, Hofmeister argues this was unlikely since at that time the impassable Kehdingen moorland (Kehdinger Moor) made Himmelpforten an unsuited place to access Kehdingen. Cf. Adolf E. Hofmeister, ''Besiedlung und Verfassung der Stader Elbmarschen im Mittelalter'': 2 parts, Hildesheim: Lax, 1979-1981, (=Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Historische Landesforschung der Universität Göttingen; vols. 12 and 14), part II: 'Die Hollerkolonisation und die Landesgemeinden Land Kehdingen und Altes Land' (1981), p. 344. ISBN 3-7848-3644-5.〕 both forming corporate bodies of free peasants upholding a certain inner autonomy, claiming and at times gaining seat and franchise at the diets of the estates of the prince-archbishopric (Stiftsstände) and therefore suspected by the chapter and the prince-archbishop to rival their reign.〔 The deed of 1 May 1255, empowering the convent's Provost Albertus to steward its possessions and waiving the prince-archiepiscopal overlordship,〔 explicitly mentions the donation of Großenwörden village by Frederick of Haseldorf, later canon at the Hamburg subchapter, who in 1250 on the occasion of joining clergy bestowed part of the allodial holdings of his family (extinct in the 1280s) in the Lamstedt Geest and the Oste Marshes on the nunnery.〔〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 6. No ISBN〕 He also donated to other monasteries ( in Stade, in Zeven, in Harsefeld), but preferred Porta Coeli.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 27. No ISBN.〕 The capitular deed also declared that the convent held all its possessions, donated by whom so ever, only by the virtue of the Bremen cathedral chapter, thus denying any exemption from territorial prince-archiepiscopal sovereignty.〔 In his will, Frederick of Haseldorf, meanwhile Prince-Bishop of Dorpat, bequeathed his personal belongings to Porta Coeli Convent, however Vitslav II, Prince of Rügen, captured and withheld the bequest, so that in 1291 the abbess of Porta Coeli waived its claim, likely in return for some form of compensation.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 8. No ISBN〕 The deed of waiver of 17 March 1291 shows the oldest preserved version of the nunnery's seal,〔 since 1955 officially used by the Himmelpforten municipality.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 5. No ISBN.〕 Besides the Brobergens and Haseldorfs further noble families from the Elbe–Weser triangle (Bremian ministerialis such as the ) bestowed land and dues on the convent.〔 The Cistercian nuns elected a male provost as their legal warden〔Sabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp. 51–78, here p. 64.〕 as well as their representative at the diets of the prince-archbishopric.〔Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824, vol. 1: pp. 278seq. No ISBN.〕 The provost and the convent's prioress stewarded its possessions together.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 24. No ISBN.〕 Until the secularisation Porta Coeli's provosts were usually simultaneously capitular canons residing in Bremen city. This was because any candidate for provostship had to be confirmed in advance by the Bremen Cathedral Chapter.〔 The provost also wielded the summary jurisdiction in Porta Coeli's temporal judicature precinct.〔 Furthermore the provost held the ''ius collationis''〔The privilege of auditing the accounts for correctness, accurateness and their collation.〕 in the Hechthausen parish.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 21. No ISBN.〕 Besides the provost there was also a (ad)vocate (), exerting military protection,〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 25. No ISBN.〕 managing the Vorwerke, and exercising police function in the convent's jurisdictions.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 34. No ISBN.〕 Each nun, and later each conventual, had a home of her own, with her personal maid.〔 All feudal estates (Meierhöfe) in Eulsete (Himmelpforten) were let out on socage (Meierverhältnis) to farmers, and each comprised less land than a family needed for self-sustenance, so that the farmers, men and women alike, depended on work for the convent as farmhands and maids.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 42. No ISBN.〕 The convent ran a village school, usually staffed with an educated schoolmaster, and therefore known for its higher standard than ordinary village schools.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 148. No ISBN.〕 In ecclesiastical respect Porta Coeli formed part of the archdeaconry connected in personal union with the Bremen cathedral provost, presiding over the cathedral chapter.〔 His archdeaconry comprised Kehdingen, Vieland〔Today the area of Vieland is mostly covered by Bremen's South borough with today's quarters of Huchting, Neustadt, Neustädter Hafen, Obervieland, Seehausen, Strom and Woltmershausen.〕 and the then vast Oldendorf parish.〔 Before the establishment of Porta Coeli's abbey, which simultaneously served as the local parish church too, Eulsete had formed part of the .〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 22. No ISBN.〕 Thus the new Himmelpforten parish with the affiliate parishes of Großenwörden and formed part of the cathedral provost's archdeaconry too. After having become Regent of Hadeln Magnus, the heir apparent of Saxe-Lauenburg, on 24 November 1498 allied with his father John V and Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg in order to conquer the Land of Wursten,〔Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278, here p. 266. ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2.〕 an autonomous peasants' corporation under the loose Bremian prince-archiepiscopal overlordship. For the threat of Wursten Bremen's Prince-Archbishop Johann Rode was prepared, since already on 16 November he and Hamburg's three burgomasters (upcoming, presiding, and outgoing), Johannes Huge, Hermen Langenbeck and Henning Buring had concluded a defensive alliance.〔 Rode appealed at the burghers of Bremen, Hamburg and Stade, which considered the areas downstream the rivers Elbe and Weser their own front yard existential for their free maritime trade connections, so the three Hanseatic cities supported Rode, who further won the Ditmarsians, free peasants under Bremen's loose overlordship.〔Elke Freifrau von Boeselager, „Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 321–388, here p. 332. ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2.〕 On 1 May 1499 Rode, the Land of Wursten, Hamburg and Bremen concluded a defensive alliance in favour of Wursten in case of another invasion by John XIV of Oldenburg, who had conquered westerly neighbouring Butjadingen in April with the help of the ''Great'' or ''Black Guard'' of ruthless and violent Dutch and East Frisian mercenaries.〔 Wursten was thus threatened by Oldenburg from the west and by Magnus from the east. In order to avoid war on two fronts Rode tried to ease the relation with Magnus, but in vain.〔 On 1 August Rode, Bremen's cathedral chapter, more prelates from the prince-archbishopric, as well as the cities of Bremen, Buxtehude, Hamburg, and Stade stipulated to supply 1,300 warriors and equipment to defend Wursten and / or invade Hadeln.〔 Finally on 9 September 1499 Rode waged feud against John V and Magnus.〔 The allied forces easily conquered the Land of Hadeln, defeating Magnus and even drove him out of Hadeln.〔Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 184.〕〔Heinz-Joachim Schulze, „Johann III. Rode“, in: ''Neue Deutsche Biographie'' (NDB), vol. 10: pp. 480–481, here p. 480.〕 By 20 November 1499 Magnus hired the ''Great'' or ''Black Guard'', prior operating in Oldenburg, for his purposes.〔Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278, here p. 267. ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2.〕〔 They invaded the prince-archbishopric through the neighbouring Prince-Bishopric of Verden.〔Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here pp. 184seq.〕〔Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278, here pp. 267seq.〕 The Guard southerly by-passed the fortified Buxtehude and Stade, leaving behind a wake of devastation on the countryside and in the monasteries (, Neukloster, both localities of today's Buxtehude).〔Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278, here p. 268. ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2.〕 Still in 1499 the Guard also looted Porta Coeli, which, however, could ransom itself from being set on fire,〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 23. No ISBN.〕 before in mid-January 1500 King John of Denmark finally hired the Guard and guaranteed for its safe conduct to his Holstein.〔Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 185.〕 Under the squandering reign of Prince-Archbishop the indebted ruler in 1541 ceded his revenues from Porta Coeli to his Chancery Secretary Steffen vom Stein for three years in lieu of a repayment.〔Karl Schleif, ''Regierung und Verwaltung des Erzstifts Bremen'', Hamburg: no publ., 1972, (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vol. 1), p. 234, also Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 1968. No ISBN.〕 Christopher's financially burdensome prodigal lifestyle fostered the spreading of the Reformation in the prince-archbishopric. The conversion of the nuns followed the adoption of Lutheranism among the noble families from whom they originated.〔Heinz-Joachim Schulze, „Himmelpforten“ (article), in: ''Germania Benedictina'': 12 vols., vol. XII: 'Norddeutschland: Die Männer- und Frauenklöster der Zisterzienser in Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg' (1994), Ulrich Faust (compil.), pp. 148–167, here p. 154.〕 The convent's aim was to care for noble women,〔〔Christine Kleinjung, „Nonnen und Personal, Familien und Stifter: Zisterzienserinnenkonvente und ihre soziale Umwelt“, in: ''Norm und Realität: Kontinuität und Wandel der Zisterzienser im Mittelalter'' (proceedings of the international conference «Norm und Realität. Kontinuität und Wandel der Zisterzienser im Mittelalter» held from 14 to 16 March 2007 in Mainz), Franz J. Felten and Werner Rösener (eds.), Berlin: Lit-Verlag, 2009, (=Vita regularis: Ordnungen und Deutungen religiösen Lebens im Mittelalter; vol. 42), pp. 225–263, here p. 232. ISBN 978-3-643-10408-3.〕 which was to be maintained and thus it became a Lutheran Damsels' Convent.〔Sabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp. 51–78, here p. 60.〕 "The ancestors primarily dedicated, founded and endowed noble … monasteries with estates so that their descendants … who had no desire or were uncomfortable to get married, could be admitted to them and sustained in them."〔In the German original: „… Adeliche () Clöster … () von den … Vorfahren dazu vornemblich gewidtmet, gestiftet und mit gütern dotiret (), damit ihre nach Kommen …, die zu heirathen keine Lust hatten oder dazu unbequem wehren, darinnen aufgenommen und erhalten werden könnten …“ Submission of 1650 by male relatives of Himmelpforten conventuals explaining the original purpose of the nunneries and petitioning at the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden in favour of considering the aspirants to expectancies. Here quoted after Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 43. No ISBN.〕 As far as known today, there were no commoners accepted among the nuns and later Lutheran conventuals.〔 The nuns and conventuals originated - amongst others - from the families Brobergen, von der Brock, von Campe, von der Decken, Drew(e)s, , von Hadeln, Haken, , von Issendorff, , von der Lieth, Marschalck, Plate, von Reimershausen, , Voß, and von Weyhe.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 36. No ISBN.〕〔Especially in northwestern Germany, where about 200 to 300 different surnames of non-noble families include the word ''von'', elsewhere usually considered a nobiliary particle, the surnames of many noble families do not include this particle. Cf. ("Adelszeichen und Adel: Kennzeichnet das 'von' in jedem Fall eine Adelsfamilie?" ) (Nobiliary particle and nobility: Does the "von" indicate a noble family in every case?), Institut Deutsche Adelsforschung (''Institute of German nobility research''), retrieved on 8 January 2013.〕 By 1550/1555 the convent's provost, wielding the ''ius nominandi''〔The privilege to nominate a candidate for a pastorate.〕 in Großenwörden, Hechthausen and in Horst upon Oste〔〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 37. No ISBN.〕 nominated the first Lutheran preacher for St. Peter's Church in Horst,〔 whom then the competent archdeacon, in personal union the cathedral provost of the Bremen chapter, invested〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 20. No ISBN.〕 according to his ''ius investiendi''.〔The privilege to invest a priest.〕 This is taken as evidence that by then the Reformation of the conventuals must have been completed.〔 In 1556 the provost also nominated the first Lutheran preacher for the abbey of Porta Coeli, who was also invested.〔〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 27. No ISBN.〕 In 1581 a fire destroyed farms and convent buildings in Himmelpforten.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 23seq. No ISBN.〕 In the Thirty Years' War after the Battle of Lutter on 17/27 August 1626O.S./N.S. the Catholic Leaguist forces invaded the Bremian prince-archbishopric, capturing one fortified city after the other.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 31. No ISBN.〕 After the surrender of Stade on 27 April/7 May 1628O.S./N.S. the Leaguists occupied all the state, including Himmelpforten.〔 Between 1628 and 1629 most Protestant preachers fled the area.〔 In September 1629 the Imperial Commission of Restitution ordered Himmelpforten Convent to hand in a complete register of all its possessions and revenues.〔 Prioress Gerdruth von Campe informed Provost Franz Marschalck, then residing in safe Bremen out of reach for the Leaguist occupants and the Restitution Commission, who on 8/18 October 1629O.S./N.S. personally delivered the demanded information to the Commission then residing in Verden upon Aller.〔 On 19/29 NovemberO.S./N.S. the Commission's subdelegates, Jacob Brummer and Wilhelm Schröder, arrived at Himmelpforten Convent in order to sight the situation there.〔 Much of the chattels had been plundered by the Leaguists since their invasion.〔 The lifestock then counted four horses, two cows and one calf, 15 fattening pigs, 25 breeding pigs, five piglets and uncounted geese, ducks and chickens.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 32. No ISBN.〕 The subdelegates found the abbey church untouched with all its furnishings, such as altars, religious paintings, pews, paraments, chasubles and other liturgical devices.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 33. No ISBN.〕 They ordered the prioress to deliver all liturgical devices which they appropriated in favour of the Restitution Commission and brought them to Stade.〔 The prioress made the men aware of the fact that the convent had more liturgical devices stored in a house in Stade.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 56. No ISBN.〕 On 22 November/ 2 December 1629O.S./N.S. all the seized liturgical devices from Himmelpforten and in Stade were handed over to the Jesuit Father Matthias Kalkhoven, and disappeared with the Jesuits in April 1632.〔〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 38. No ISBN.〕 Only one chalice from 1422, preserved until today, remained with the convent.〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 142. No ISBN.〕 On 23 November/ 3 December 1629O.S./N.S. the subdelegates returned to Himmelpforten and interrogated the conventuals as to alienations of convent possessions, but without learning anything new.〔 Then the conventuals were ordered to the abbey quire to acknowledge the seizure of the convent by the Restitution Commission.〔 They were told, that those who would convert to Catholicism until Christmas 1629, would be granted a lifelong annuity, whereas the others would lose their sustenance by Easter 1630 (i.e. 31 MarchN.S.).〔〔Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 123. ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9.〕 Provost Marschalck refused to deliver the convent's archive, which Henrich Moller in Hamburg held in pledge for an earlier credit to the convent.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 34. No ISBN.〕〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 36. No ISBN.〕 What happened to the archive is unclear, the credit was obviously never repaid so the archive was never restituted.〔 Marschalck pleaded the Restitution Commission to have mercy on the conventuals who on their entry into the convent had bestowed estates or revenues on it and were without any means if expelled.〔〔 With the prince-archbishopric plundered and suffering from occupation the conventuals could not hope to find any other refuge.〔 However, the Restitution Commission refused.〔 On 6/16 May 1630O.S./N.S. the Restitution Commission commissioned Philipp Lütringhausen, Albert Treckel and Chamber Councillor Thomas Runge to evict the conventuals and hand over the convent to the Jesuits in Stade.〔 For 19/29 JulyO.S./N.S. these three men, accompanied by Father Kalkhoven, gathered in Drochtersen the Kehdingen farmers tithing to the convent, and declared that from then on the tithe would be collected by the Jesuits.〔 On 21/31 JulyO.S./N.S. the three men, now coming from Stade, arrived again in Himmelpforten and the day after they requested the conventuals to leave their convent since they all steadfastly held on to the Lutheran faith.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 34seq. No ISBN.〕〔 The men repeated that as Catholic converts the conventuals would be granted alimony.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 35. No ISBN.〕 The conventuals' pleas to allow them to stay acknowledging their steady service to the benefit of the convent and in respect of their faith, did not help it.〔 On 6 August Provost Marschalck personally intervened again at the three men in favour of the conventuals, but in vain.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 37. No ISBN.〕 Kalkhoven offered each conventual Rixdollar (Rtlr) 75 and two barrels of rye, if they would leave.〔 The conventuals rejected any gifts.〔 The conventuals were then announced to be violently evicted by noon 28 July/7 AugustO.S./N.S..〔 With the administrator regnant, John Frederick, deposed and in exile, the conventuals and the provost were on their own and could not help it.〔 So on 27 July/ 6 August 1630O.S./N.S. the conventuals finally left.〔Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 79. ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9.〕〔 Thereafter the three men formally seized the convent in favour of the new Jesuit college founded in Stade in order to Catholicise the local population.〔Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here pp. 79 and 122seq. ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9.〕 Jesuit Father Kalkhoven literally appropriated the abbatial ring, the kitchen pothook, the keys of the convent, and a sod from the convent garden, representing its landed estates.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 35seq. No ISBN.〕 Kalkhoven also took possession of the Lutheran former abbey church by ceremonially posing his hands over the altar.〔 Already on 26 July/ 5 August 1630O.S./N.S. socage farmers from Himmelpforten had been gathered in order to make them render homage to their new lord, the Society of Jesus.〔 Kalkhoven then usurped the title of Provost of Himmelpforten.〔 Kalkhoven appointed Erich Raschke as administrator, later expelled by the Swedes who took Himmelpforten in early May 1632.〔Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here pp. 123 and 126. ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9.〕 In the second half of April 1632, after the Swedish victory in the Battle of Rain, the Imperial and Leaguist forces, altogether 23,000 men billeted in the area of Himmelpforten, Stade, Buxtehude, the Stade Geest and the Bremian Elbe Marshes,〔Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 57. No ISBN.〕 left the prince-archbishopric and with them the foreign Catholic clergy.〔 Now the allied troops of Sweden, the city of Bremen and the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen under Achatius Tott captured the prince-archbishopric〔 and John Frederick resumed his office as its Administrator regnant. Highly indebted as he was after recruiting and arming his troops allied with the Swedes, he brought in a bill to confiscate all the monasteries in the prince-archbishopric.〔〔 However, on 20 and 28 May 1633O.S. on the diet in Basdahl the estates of the prince-archbishopric rejected that, but allowed the Administrator regnant to collect the revenues of the monasteries until the Thirty Years' War would end.〔 With John Frederick's death in 1634 the greatest antagonist to the continued existence of the convents had disappeared, since the estates supported them.〔Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 88.〕 By then the conventuals managed to recapture the buildings,〔 however, without the previous revenues then granted to the ruler. After Provost Marschalck had died in June, on 22 November/ 2 December 1638O.S./N.S. the conventuals elected Casper Schulte their new provost.〔Karl Schleif, ''Regierung und Verwaltung des Erzstifts Bremen'', Hamburg: no publ., 1972, (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vol. 1), p. 196, also Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 1968. No ISBN.〕 In 1646 Prioress Gerdruth von Campe started recompleting the set of liturgical devices and donated a new chalice, and two years later her fellow conventual Anna Voß bestowed a new paten on the convent, both till this day owned by the Lutheran parish.〔 Following the Treaty of Brömsebro on 13/23 August 1645O.S./N.S. Sweden seized the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, with Swedish troops anyway in the country as concluded by the war alliance between the kingdom and the prince-archbishopric.〔Beate-Christine Fiedler, „Bremen und Verden als schwedische Provinz (1633/45–1712)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-7-5), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ISBN 978-3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 173–253, here p. 189. ISBN 978-3-9801919-9-9.〕 On 27 October/ 9 November 1647O.S./N.S. Queen Christina of Sweden promised the convent with all its revenues to Count Gustaf Adolf Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt (1619–1656),〔 who on 30 July/ 9 August 1651O.S./N.S. was invested with the convent as a fief heritable in the male line (Mannlehen).〔 In 1647 there were twelve conventuals,〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 39. No ISBN.〕 and 14 women aspirants held abeyances to a sustenance in the convent.〔Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 40. No ISBN.〕 By the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 the prince-archiepiscopal elective monarchy was secularised as the heritable Duchy of Bremen, which was jointly ruled with the new Principality of Verden, as Bremen-Verden, since both imperial fiefs were bestowed on the Swedish crown.〔 By the 1650s the previous religious bodies, such as the Lutheran cathedral chapter or the archdeaconries, had been abolished, their revenues mostly confiscated, with only few of them not granted to Swedish war veterans.〔 On 2/12 September 1651O.S./N.S. the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden appointed the first general superintendent for the new , the state church of Bremen-Verden, presiding over the consistory in Stade. The General Diocese of Bremen-Verden became a subdivision of the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover on its formation in 1864. Since 1936 its locally competent church district, the General Diocese, is succeeded by the Stade Diocese (Sprengel Stade). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Himmelpforten Convent」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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