Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Epitaph

Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, is situated on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. It is only 80 kilometres south of Helsinki. From the 13th century until the first half of the 20th century Tallinn was known as Reval. The first recorded claim over the place was laid by Denmark after a raid in 1219 led by Valdemar II. In 1227, the Order of the Brothers of the Sword conquered Reval and three years later recruited 200 Westphalian and Lower Saxon merchants from Gotland, who settled below the castle and were granted freedom of customs and land. In 1238 Reval fell back to Denmark, Under renewed Danish rule, the city rapidly grew in size and economic importance. In 1248, the Danish king granted it the Lübische Stadtrecht (town charter). Due to the strategic location, its port became a significant trade hub, especially in the 14–16th centuries when Tallinn grew in importance as the northernmost member city of the Hanseatic League. The king of Denmark sold Reval along with other land possessions in northern Estonia to the Teutonic Knights in 1346. The "Niguliste kirik" (St. Nicholas Church) was founded and built around 1230–1275 by Westphalian merchants. In 1405–1420 the church obtained its current late Gothic appearance. In 1515 the tower was built higher and in late 17th century, it got a Baroque spire with airy galleries, which was raised higher stage by stage through several centuries. The tower is now 105 metres (344.5 ft) high. Saint Nicholas was the only church in Tallinn that remained untouched by iconoclasm brought by the Protestant Reformation in 1523. The church was converted to a Lutheran congregation in the 16th century. In 1944, the church was severely damaged by bombing. The resulting fire turned the church into ruins and destroyed most of its interior. Most art treasures survived thanks to their timely evacuation from the church. The renovation of the church started in 1953 and was completely finished in 1981. The church tower was again damaged by a fire in October 1982. The tower was burnt out. After a restoration the church was inaugurated in 1984 as a museum and concert hall. There are many epitaphs hanging on the walls of the church. This one is by Gotthard Wilhelm von Helffreich (ca. 1693 -1751). I have not found out the connection the von Hellfreich family had to elephants.

There is a legend around the foundation of the Walsrode Monastery by Count Wale. When the count had to leave his nearby castle he got stuck in the swamp with his wagon in the area of today's Walsrode. He saw this as a divine sign to buy the place and found a monastery there. He named the place "Walesrode" The settlement that developed around the monastery was repeatedly caught up in the military conflicts from 1371 onwards. The village was helplessly exposed to the frequent looting and pillaging by the troops and was burned down by soldiers from Bremen in 1381. The citizens were allowed after that by the Saxon dukes to build fortifications. They laid out a large moat and erected four city gates. The Reformation was very slow to take hold in the area. Duke Ernst sent the preacher Henning Kelp to Walsrode around 1528 so that the monastery would be reformed, but the resistance of the canonesses and the rural population continued for decades. It was not until 1574 that the Reformation was considered complete in the monastery of Walsrode. The "Stadtkirche", dedicated to "St. John the Baptist" was erected in classicist style 1848 -1850. There were at least three predecessor churches, built in the 10th, 12th and 15th centuries. Pictures of two pious men. Epitaphs of former Lutheran pastors with nice Baroque hairdos. To the left Gabriel Meyer (1608 - 1679), to the right Meyer´s successor Superintendent Rudolphus Lodemann (1639 - 1714).

The Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) in the town of Enger in northeastern Westphalia. Here, behind the altar in the back, stands the epitaph of Widukind, the pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent to Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was first mentioned 777, being the only saxonian leader not appearing to Charlemagne´s court in Paderborn. Upto 784 the Saxons battled the Franks, opposing christianisation. 785 Widukind surrendered and got baptized in (today french) Attigny. Charlemagne being the godfather. Many legends have developed around Widukind´s life. One tells, that he came to Enger, founded a church and lived here. There is no proof for that. Historians assume, that Widukind was imprisoned after his baptism, as Charlemagne used to deal with "old opponents" that way. But there is no proof either. The church we see today, was built between the 12th and the 14th century. The transept and the choir being romanesque. Archeologists found out, that two church-buildings have been here before. The oldest dating back into the 9th century.

The Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) in the town of Enger in northeastern Westphalia. Here is the epitaph of Widukind, the pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent to Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was first mentioned 777, being the only saxonian leader not coming to Charlemagne´s court in Paderborn. Upto 784 the Saxons battled the Franks opposing christianisation. 785 Widukind surrendered and got baptized in (today french) Attigny. Charlemagne being the godfather. Many legends have developed around Widukind´s life. One tells, that he came to Enger, founded a church and lived here. There is no proof for that. Many historians assume, that Widukind was imprisoned after his baptism, as Charlemagne used to deal with "old opponents" that way. But there is no proof either. The Widukind-epitaph stands in the center of the choir, behind the winged altar. The base is dating back to early renaissance. It is topped by a romanesque carved slab. This slab now is secured by a plastic box. All over the epitaph are numerours graffitis. This epitaph was a center of pilgrimage, especially in the 19th century, so lots of graffitis date back to this time. Here below the "official" inscription: F.A. ROLE 1849 IN ENGER

The Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) in the town of Enger in northeastern Westphalia. Here is the epitaph of Widukind, the pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent of Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was first mentioned 777, being the only saxonian leader not appearing to Charlemagnes court Paderborn. Upto 784 the Saxons battled the Franks, 785 Widukind surrendered and got baptized in (today french) Attigny. Charlemagne being the godfather. Many legends have developed around Widukind´s life. One tells, that he came to Enger, founded a church and lived here. There is no proof for that. Many historians assume, that Widukind was imprisoned after his baptism, as Charlemagne used to deal with "old opponents" that way. But there is no proof either. The first mentioning of Widukind´s grave in Enger dates back to 1216. The romanesque carved slab tops the Widukind-epitaph. It shows the lifesize carving of a laying male person, wearing a crown and holding a sceptre. This carving was done around 1100 - and it is one of the oldest of its kind in Germany. The slab now is covered and secured by a plastic box. I could not get in a distance for a better shot.

The Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) in the town of Enger in northeastern Westphalia. Here is the epitaph of Widukind, the pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent to Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was first mentioned 777, being the only saxonian leader not coming to Charlemagne´s court in Paderborn. Upto 784 the Saxons battled the Franks opposing christianisation. 785 Widukind surrendered and got baptized in (today french) Attigny. Charlemagne being the godfather. Many legends have developed around Widukind´s life. One tells, that he came to Enger, founded a church and lived here. There is no proof for that. Many historians assume, that Widukind was imprisoned after his baptism, as Charlemagne used to deal with "old opponents" that way. But there is no proof either. The Widukind-epitaph stands in the center of the choir, behind the winged altar. The base is probably dating back to the time of the early renaissance. It is topped by a carved slab, showing (lifesize) a male person, wearing a crown and holding a sceptre. This carving was done around 1100. In the 1970s archeologists found three skeletons of adult males in the nave. Already in medieval times bones, now shown in the little altar in the back, were believed to be Widukinds, but it came out, they belong to a female person. The epitaph has been a center of pilgrimage for a long time - and lots of graffitis cover the stones.