Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: burial site

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². Facing east. In front is the tomb of Rudolph I of Germany (aka "Rudolph of Habsburg"). He was a very popular king, having 14 children with his first wife Gertrude of Hohenburg. Three years after Gertrude´s death he married Isabella of Burgundy. Isabella was 14 years of age at that time, he was 66. Behind the everlasting light (obviously equipped with a red LED) is the tomb of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, the first king of the Salian dynasty. He comissioned this cathedral around 1025. He is the founder of the Salian dynasty of four German Kings (1024-1125). His heart and bowels are buried in Utrecht, where he died. Behind the round oculus-window is the altar of the chapel, we saw before.

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. The cathedral was completed 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. A huge crown hanging on a chain like a pendulum. Below the choir is the large crypta, that is used as the burial site for the Salian emperors. So this crown marks the burial site below. The crown is a giant copy of the orginal crown, Conrad II wore, when he was buried here in 1039. The original is on view in the nearby museum. Engraved is"PACIS ARATOR ET VRBIS BENEFACTOR" what is "Sower of peace and Benefactor of the city (of Rome)". As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². The crypt is so large, that it is impossible to give an impression by just one photo, so I´ll upload a couple of shots. In the background to the right is the same the central chapel of the crypt as before, visible here is the right aisle. There are more than 40 groin vaults. The sandstones alternate in colour, a design often used in romanesque architecture (e.g. Vezelay) that may be connected to Mozarabic art. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. In medieval times the burial places was at the eastern end of the central nave, just in front of the choir. Early 20th century, during renovations all tombs in the nave were opened by archeologists. Later this area in the crypt was created. Here are the tombs of eight German kings and emperors. Here are to be seen (front to back) are the tombs of: Adolf of Nassau, King of Germany, + 1298 Albert I, King of Germany, son of Rudolph I, + 1308 Rudolph I, King of Germany (aka "Rudolph of Habsburg"), + 1291 Beatrice I, Queen of Burgundy, wife of Frederick I, + 1184 Philip of Swabia, King of Germany, son of Frederick I (aka "Barbarossa"), + 1208 Only a few tombs are visble to the left. There are the the tombs of: Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, son of Henry III, + 1106 He did the "Walk to Canossa") Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (aka "Henry the Pious"), son of Conrad II, + 1056 Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, the first king of the Salian dynasty. He comissioned this cathedral around 1025. + 1039 Gisela of Swabia, Empress, wife of Conrad II, mother of Henry III, + 1043 Bertha of Savoy, Empress, wife of Henry IV. She accompanied her husband on the "Walk to Canossa". Mother of Conrad III and Henry V. + 1087

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". lt was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. The crypt of the cathedral, consecrated in 1041, is the largest Romanesque columned hall crypt in Europe, with an area of 850 m². The crypt is so large, that it is impossible to give an impression by just one photo, so I´ll upload a couple of shots. Seen here is the central chapel of the crypt. The burial site of the Salian (and other) emperors is in another part of the crypt. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html

Speyer gained importance, when the Salian dynasty entered the political stage with Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. He commissioned the construction of of this church, known as the "Imperial Cathedral of Speyer". It was planned to be the largest cathedral worldwide. A display of the Emperor´s power, that was - before the "Investiture Controversy" - secular and ecclesiastical. This "blueprint" from about 1025/1030 got changed later and the even enlarged cathedral was completed in 1106, the year Conrad´s grandson Emperor Henry IV died. Looking up to the vault of the "double chapel", added to the cathedral to the south about 1050. The lower level, dedicated St. Martin and St. Emmeran, is a baptisterium now. The upper level, dedicated St. Catherine of Alexandria is used for displaying relics. On the northern side of the cathedral is the chapel of St. Afra, now a tabernacel. Henry IV was buried in the unconsecrated chapel om 1106 to 1111, when Pope Paschalis II revoked the ban, which had been in effect since 1088. As the history of the cathedral is really complex, I add the Wikipedia-links here: english: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer_Cathedral french: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-l%27A... german: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyerer_Dom "Europaeische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer" has a very good website, but only in German: www.dom-speyer.de/index.html