Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Widukind

After warlike situations, the collegiate which was in existence since 974 moved from Enger into the fortified town of Herford in 1414. Everything of value (of course the relics of Widukind) so came to Herford. The collegiate used the St. Johann church, as their collegiat church upto the secularisation in 1810. Originally this gothic hall church was the parish church of the 1224 founded "new town"-area in Herford. The construction of the church started 1240. When the collegiate moved in, the church got a very valuable interior, which got lost, due to an iconoclasm, that took place here in 1532, when everything that could be moved out was moved out - and burnt. Only the choir, being owned by the collegiate, was spared out. All the baroque furniture, we see today was installed within the 17th century. On the sides and on the galleries, the local guildes had their specific seats, that were proudly decorated. There were special seats for the guildes of weavers, bakers, shoemakers, tailors and others.

After warlike situations, the collegiate which was in existence since 974 moved from Enger into the fortified town of Herford in 1414. Everything of value (of course the relics of Widukind) so came to Herford. The collegiate used the St. Johann church, as their collegiat church upto the secularisation in 1810. Originally this gothic hall church was the parish church of the 1224 founded "new town"- area in Herford. The construction of the church started 1240. When the collegiate moved in, the church got a very valuable interior, which got lost, due to an iconoclasm, that took place here in 1532, when everything that could be moved out was moved out - and burnt. Only the choir, being owned by the collegiate, was spared out. All the baroque furniture, we see today was installed within the 17th century.

The Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) in the town of Enger in northeastern Westphalia. Here is the epitaph of Widukind, the pagan Saxon leader and Charlemagne´s chief opponent of 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 oldest mentioning of Widukind´s grave in Enger goes back to 1216. The church was built between the 12th and the 14th century. Obvioulsy the building started at the apse, as from there to the transpet, the style is romanesque. There is even a carved tympanum over the portal, displaying a "pankrator" in a mandorla with St. Mary and a bishop (probably St. Dionysius/St. Denis, first bishop of Paris) on the sides. From there on to left, the style is gothic.

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.

The extraordenary Renaissance facade of Saint Maurille, erected in Vouziers 1517 - 1548. Vouziers is the burial place of early French aviator and a WWI fighter pilot Roland Garros. The "French Open" is named after him. Nearby is Attigny, now a small village, once an important palace of Charlemagne. Charles´ Saxon arch-enemy Widukind was baptized in Attigny in 785. Charlemagne was Widukind´s godfather.