Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Gregory VII

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. - Rudolf von Rheinfelden´s oath hand, which was cut off during the Battle of Hohenmölsen, is on display in the neighboring museum. Rudolf von Rheinfelden (1025 – 1080) was Duke of Swabia from 1057 to 1079. Initially, he was a supporter of his brother-in-law, the Salian Emperor Hinrich IV. In 1076, after Pope Gregory VII had pronounced the ban on Heinrich IV, Rudolf decided to proceed openly against him. At a princely assembly in Trebur in October 1076, the South German dukes tried to obtain a new election. Henry IV. who was also stationed in Oppenheim on the other side of the Rhine at the same time, was forced to make a compromise. Altogether a large anti-Salian party had emerged, which gave Henry a year to free himself from the ban if he wished to remain king. The matter of kingship was then to be discussed at a princely conference in Augsburg in February 1077 in the presence of the pope. A month before the deadline, Heinrich set out on the journey across the Alps to meet the Pope, who was on the way to Augsburg. Gregor feared a military conflict with Heinrich and sought refuge in the castle of Canossa with Margravine Mathilde von Tuszien. Heinrich, however, only wished to be freed from the ban. Henry IV is said to have stayed in front of the castle gate for three days, dressed in a penitent's robe. But Gregory hesitated and only accepted him back into the church after three days of penance. However, the release of the ban did not prevent the German princes from electing Rudolf von Rheinfelden as German king in March 1077. The course of the election corresponded to the usual procedure, apart from the fact that this represented the first election of an anti-king in Roman German history. Rudolf agreed to two demands. He approved the free canonical election of bishops without royal interference, and he committed himself to recognize the right to free choice of the king for every succession to the throne. Rudolf was ordained king in March 1077 by the local Archbishop Siegfried I. The election of Rudolf evoked very different responses. The pope remained neutral for the time being and sided neither with Heinrich nor with Rudolf. As a result, Rudolf's position remained weak and he was unable to secure a larger power base in the empire either. He lacked the followers he needed to build up his fledgling kingdom. Only in Saxony did he find broad support. The followers of Henry IV accused Rudolf of a lack of gratitude and loyalty. An important battle took place on January 27, 1080, in Flachheim, Thuringia. After Heinrich had assembled his army from Bavaria, Bohemia, Franconia, Swabia, and Burgundy, he marched towards Saxony with it. On the way he particularly devastated the areas of Archbishop Siegfried I of Mainz, who then banned him and his followers. Rudolf managed to raise a sizeable army. Nevertheless, the battle seemed already lost for Rudolf when his ally Otto von Northeim managed to turn the fight and still emerge victorious. In March 1080, Pope Gregory VII gave up his wait-and-see attitude and declared Rudolf the rightful king. Henry was again excommunicated and deposed. However, at this time Rudolf could no longer derive any benefit from it. The royal side registered with satisfaction that Rudolf's sphere of power was largely limited to Saxony. In large numbers, the princes and the people sided with the king. Heinrich now launched a counterattack against the pope. He declared the pope deposed and with the participation of a total of 30 bishops from Italy, Germany, and Burgundy, a decree of dismissal was finally drawn up and Wibert of Ravenna was ceremoniously proclaimed (anti-)Pope Clemens III on June 25, 1080. After numerous battles, the decision came on October 15, 1080, in the Battle of Hohenmölsen. This battle had no clear winner. Heinrich himself had to flee but it was worse for Rudolf, who was mortally wounded. A knight of Heinrich stabbed him in the abdomen with his sword and cut off his right hand. From Heinrich's side, death with the simultaneous loss of the hand of the oath was interpreted as a visible sign of divine punishment for the person who broke the oath Rudolf died a day later and was laid out and buried here.

Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King König Heinrich I. (Henry the Fowler) built a royal palace at Merseburg after having married the daughter of Count Erwin of Merseburg, so that the place came under the rule of the Saxon dynasty. In 955, after finally defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld, King Otto I vowed to found a diocese. Otto I founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 with the suffragan bishopric Merseburg, but the diocese was dissolved in 981 and only re-established in 1004 by King Heinrich II. Until the Protestant Reformation, Merseburg was the seat of the Bishop of Merseburg, in addition to being for a time the residence of the margraves of Meissen. It was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen diets were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterward transferred to those of Leipzig. In the years 1218/19, the area on the left bank of the Saale was protected by a city wall that adjoined the already fortified "Domfreiheit". Civil self-government of the city was first mentioned in 1289. The bonze graveslab of Rudolf von Rheinfelden Rudolf von Rheinfelden (1025 – 1080) was Duke of Swabia from 1057 to 1079. Initially, he was a supporter of his brother-in-law, the Salian Emperor Hinrich IV. In 1076, after Pope Gregory VII had pronounced the ban on Heinrich IV, Rudolf decided to proceed openly against him. At a princely assembly in Trebur in October 1076, the South German dukes tried to obtain a new election. Henry IV. who was also stationed in Oppenheim on the other side of the Rhine at the same time, was forced to make a compromise. Altogether a large anti-Salian party had emerged, which gave Henry a year to free himself from the ban if he wished to remain king. The matter of kingship was then to be discussed at a princely conference in Augsburg in February 1077 in the presence of the pope. A month before the deadline, Heinrich set out on the journey across the Alps to meet the Pope, who was on the way to Augsburg. Gregor feared a military conflict with Heinrich and sought refuge in the castle of Canossa with Margravine Mathilde von Tuszien. Heinrich, however, only wished to be freed from the ban. Henry IV is said to have stayed in front of the castle gate for three days, dressed in a penitent's robe. But Gregory hesitated and only accepted him back into the church after three days of penance. However, the release of the ban did not prevent the German princes from electing Rudolf von Rheinfelden as German king in March 1077. The course of the election corresponded to the usual procedure, apart from the fact that this represented the first election of an anti-king in Roman German history. Rudolf agreed to two demands. He approved the free canonical election of bishops without royal interference, and he committed himself to recognize the right to free choice of the king for every succession to the throne. Rudolf was ordained king in March 1077 by the local Archbishop Siegfried I. The election of Rudolf evoked very different responses. The pope remained neutral for the time being and sided neither with Heinrich nor with Rudolf. As a result, Rudolf's position remained weak and he was unable to secure a larger power base in the empire either. He lacked the followers he needed to build up his fledgling kingdom. Only in Saxony did he find broad support. The followers of Henry IV accused Rudolf of a lack of gratitude and loyalty. An important battle took place on January 27, 1080, in Flachheim, Thuringia. After Heinrich had assembled his army from Bavaria, Bohemia, Franconia, Swabia, and Burgundy, he marched towards Saxony with it. On the way he particularly devastated the areas of Archbishop Siegfried I of Mainz, who then banned him and his followers. Rudolf managed to raise a sizeable army. Nevertheless, the battle seemed already lost for Rudolf when his ally Otto von Northeim managed to turn the fight and still emerge victorious. In March 1080, Pope Gregory VII gave up his wait-and-see attitude and declared Rudolf the rightful king. Henry was again excommunicated and deposed. However, at this time Rudolf could no longer derive any benefit from it. The royal side registered with satisfaction that Rudolf's sphere of power was largely limited to Saxony. In large numbers, the princes and the people sided with the king. Heinrich now launched a counterattack against the pope. He declared the pope deposed and with the participation of a total of 30 bishops from Italy, Germany, and Burgundy, a decree of dismissal was finally drawn up and Wibert of Ravenna was ceremoniously proclaimed (anti-)Pope Clemens III on June 25, 1080. After numerous battles, the decision came on October 15, 1080, in the Battle of Hohenmölsen. This battle had no clear winner. Heinrich himself had to flee but it was worse for Rudolf, who was mortally wounded. A knight of Heinrich stabbed him in the abdomen with his sword and cut off his right hand. From Heinrich's side, death with the simultaneous loss of the hand of the oath was interpreted as a visible sign of divine punishment for the person who broke the oath Rudolf died a day later and was laid out and buried here.

Theologian Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. This frieze over a lintel of a now walled side-entrance, is probably one of the parts, that were reused. The three arches are pretty delicate, even the capitals of the pillars are nicely done, - but the carvings inside the arches are pretty archaic. Under the left arch is a lion, that actually does look a bit like a poodle. The rear part of the lion, including one leg got lost. The head of the lion looks a bit "human". Under the middle arch, a rather small man fighting a lion. He is "riding" the lion - and trying to open the lion´s mouth. This may be Samson. Under the right arch is probably as well a lion, but there are so many parts missing, that it is hard to say, what this really shows. I had been here before. So now I just add a few shots, that I did not had taken before . More photos of the Collégiale Saint Gangolph are in the set www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/sets/72157626442170032/

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material, so some of the carvings seen here, may orginate from the older church. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but some parts seem seem still unchanged. On the other corner of the transept, next to the gutter, is a shepherd and his ram. The shepherd is obviously watching a oncoming weather-change. Behind them the fastening of a modern antenna - and on the head of the ram -sits a little bird. I am sure, that Sonja as an ornithologist, can identify the species.

Maybe Irish monks founded a monastery here within the 8th century. That is what legends say. Later theologian Manegold de Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy monastery and churches. That ended the monastery ijn 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many more changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Pretty complete and very surprising is the narthex in the middle.

Theologian Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. One of the two thin monolithic pillars inside the narthex of the collegiate church. Note the complex ribbed vault formed by bow-shaped segments from red and white sandstones.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. As you see, this frieze consists out of three frames, of which two are nearly identical - and one is rather large. I will start from inside. Robert Will does not mention the first two "frames", so there is no help from "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque. There are two men. Wrestling. The anatomy of the two bodies is strange, maybe even bumbling.. It is not clear, why these men are wrestling. I do not know, what "to wrestle" did mean within the 11th century. I can imagine, that wrestling was not a "knightly" form of fighting. Sofar I have seen fighting men, wearing armours and having weapons of any kind. Some even on horses. Here the men, that look like twins are naked. Obviously the wrestling takes place "outside", as there are leafs around the heads. Or - are these naked men not wrestling at all? Are they kissing each other? That would of course add some very different flavour! Please note, that the two profiles of the wrestlers form one "full" face. An idea, that Picasso had later as well. This "frame" is very cryptic. The strangest is, that next to this - is the same frame again. So if there is someone, who knows, what this could mean - write a comment please.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, the friezes (left and right of the entrance) are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These carvings may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. I am not really sure about the theme, I will follow Robert Will´s interpretation (from "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque), though in some details I doubt that. He sees the whole frieze under the theme of adultery. This is the fourth (and last) third "frame" of the left frieze. This "frame" is very cryptic. From left a man, on his knees on the back of a foul-legged animal, trying to open it´s snout. The snake, that bit into the clothing if the raging husband, runs diagonal from the left top corner, crossing over a smaller person laying on the ground. Over this person, between the husband head and the tail of the snake is a huge area, that seems to be a cloud. Robert Will sees the body of a child (under the snake) and the naked seducer riding the beast and opening the it´s snout. The three "frames" before seemed so structured compared to this chaotic one. Maybe this is about an emotional rage, but - maybe it means something totally different. Robert Will has some doubts as well, but he connects the theme of "adultery" to the vita of St. Gangolph, authored by Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim around 960. She wrote, that St. Gangolph was cheated by his wife - and after that got killed by her seducer, who according to Hrotsvitha, was a priest.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material, so some of the carvings seen here, may orginate from the older church. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but some parts seem seem still unchanged. High up on a corner of the transept, next to the gutter, is a small pride of (friendly looking) lions. Loitering there since about 800 years

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. This carving is not integrated in the friezes, but placed on the right corner just outside the narthex. See the position here: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5501571819/ Compared to the friezes, showing two ways leading into hell, this carving depicts a very different situation. The opposite! A couple, nicely dressed, belts around their bodies, face the onlooker. The couple is standing - see the foliage around - in the middle of a Garden, which is the "Garden of Eden". He hands over an apple to her. The fruit is not forbidden any longer, as this is the end of time. Robert Will (in "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque) cites, that similar scenes are found in some illuminated manuscripts.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material, so some of the carvings seen here, may orginate from the older church. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but some parts seem seem still unchanged. This gargoyle is for sure not reused from the older structure. This gargoyle was carved, after the choir was added to the church around 1235. The cone-shaped "Jewish hat" makes very clear, that the person seen here, is a jew. To wear such hats was enforced in many places in medieval times, in order to distinguish Jews from others. Here is another example of a "jewish hat", taken in Lemgo, Germany. www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4338575468/

Theologian Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. I had been here before. So now I just add a few shots, that I did not had taken before . Standing on the stairs, that lead up to the organ loft. Two rows of romanesque pillars form the nave. Typical basilica style. The architectonical "rythm" of the pillars square-round-square-round is "rhenian". The "saxonian" rythm would be square-round-round-square. The organ loft was added later, the neo-classical pillars on the left, holding it, are from wood. More photos of the Collégiale Saint Gangolph are in the set www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/sets/72157626442170032/

Theologian Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. I had been here before. So now I just add a few shots, that I did not had taken before . The last remaining part of the former cloister has a gothic vaulting. As the adjoining building is now used by the local government, the door to the right opens to the office of the mayor. Office hours can be found on the little framed plaque on the wall. More photos of the Collégiale Saint Gangolph are in the set www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/sets/72157626442170032/

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. Here is the right side of the "smiling-devil-frame", seen before. A pig is feeding here on that babylike body, symbolising the soul, that the devil is holding by the leg. On the left side a body (head upward) is given to a snake, on the right side a body (head downward) is given to a pig. Why did the carver choose a snake and a pig? Accidently? Just two snakes would have created a very nice, even symmetrical icon. The snake and the pig must have different "symbolic values" - in the evil system of hell. There must be sins, punished by being fed to snakes, and other sins, punished by being fed to pigs.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. Here is the left side of the "smiling-devil-frame", seen before. A giant snake feeds on that babylike body, symbolising the soul, that the devil is holding by the right arm. The snake has a very strange head and snout, like biblical snakes often have. The carver tried to give the giant moving snake a three-dimensionality, but it does not really work. So - for a certain kind of sin - the souls are eaten up by a giant snake. This sin should depicted be on one of the two friezes.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to Lautenbach, to destroy the monastery and churches. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, both friezes are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These friezes may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. The third "frame" of the right frieze is larger than the other two (nearly) identical ones. Here Robert Will does mention this carving in "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque. There is a smiling (well combed) devil in the middle, a kind of "jack in the box", holding two (babylike) bodies (souls) and feeding them to two creatures of the underground (hell). I agree with Robert Will in this interpretation. So far, the interpretation is clear and easy. But is there a connection between the four wrestlers - and this smirking devil? Is there eventually even a connection between the devil and the frieze on the other side, where the contemplator was introduced into adultery? In case, the naked men do not wrestle, but kiss and hug, they are behaving like (heterosexual) couple on the left side. If there is a time bar in the friezes, then the smiling devil, marks the end of the kissing and hugging of both friezes. We will have a closer look on the sides of the devil.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, the friezes (left and right of the entrance) are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These carvings may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. I am not really sure about the theme, I will follow Robert Will´s interpretation (from "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque), though in some details I doubt that. He sees the whole frieze under the theme of adultery. This is the third "frame" of the left frieze. The husband (dressed) has found out about the (hugging and kissing of) the second "frame". The husband has obviously knocked her over, so she fell to the ground, holding up the baby. He is beating her up, or - worse - he has a stone in his hand. A snake (only the head is visible here) has bitten into his clothing. The (evil) snake may stand for - and fuel - the furious rage of the man. An emotional status which is connected to devils and hell.

Manegold of Lautenbach, a celebrity of his time, lived here in the 11th. century. During the Investiture Controversy, Manegold sided strongly with Pope Gregory VII. Emperor Henry IV was so annoyed about this, that he sent an army, to destroy the monastery and churches. That ended the monastery 1084. About 50 years later Augustinian Canons settled here - and rebuilt the church, reusing a lot of old material. Many changes took place in and around the building (now the parish church) over the time, but the ground floor of the westwork seen here, seems still unchanged. Having seen the delicate structure of the narthex with slim pillars -and fine capitals, the friezes (left and right of the entrance) are kind of shocking. The naiv style of these carvings differs totally from the others. These carvings may have been part of the church destroyed 1086 - and be reused here. I am not really sure about the theme, I will follow Robert Will´s interpretation (from "Alsace romane", Éditions Zodiaque), though in some details I doubt that. He sees the whole frieze under the theme of adultery. This is the second "frame" of the left frieze, you see the animal of the first "frame" to the right. The naked man and the dressed lady (now having the same size) are laying together, hugging and kissing. Unter the theme of adultery, the interaction between them may have gone further..