Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Concordat of Worms

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, founded by Celts, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The façade of western choir is clearly influenced by architectural ideas from Burgundy, probably from Cluny. So all around the choir are lots of carvings showing strange creatures making grimaces to the people on the ground - and small men in anger and in danger. The only small lady I took a photograph of. The elderly gentlewoman is elegantly dressed, wearing a cap with two veils on the sides. She is holding a ball and seems to be contemplating over the future. She does not know, that the grinning hellhound is already waiting just around the corner, though the creature has lost half of his head over the centuries, she will still be surprised, when she turns around.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, founded by Celts, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The façade of western choir is clearly influenced by architectural ideas from Burgundy, probably from Cluny. So all around the choir are lots of carvings showing strange creatures making grimaces to the people on the ground - and small men in anger and in danger. On the right is a huge, evil creature with enormous teeth, swallowing two smaller animals. On the left two small men, clothed much better than the neighbouring peasants - arm wrestling and posing. Or are they dancing?

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The façade of western choir is clearly influenced by architectural ideas from Burgundy, probably from Cluny. So all around the choir are lots of carvings showing strange creatures making grimaces to the people on the ground - and small men in anger and in danger. Two small men in a brawl. They have each other by the beards - and so are "beardpullers". Actually this theme was very popular within the 12th century, especially in Burgundy and the Auvergne. I am sure about the beards, that is easy. I am not sure what they are holding or pulling with the other hands.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The façade of western choir is clearly influenced by architectural ideas from Burgundy, probably from Cluny. So all around the choir are lots of carvings showing strange creatures making grimaces to the people on the ground - and small men in anger and in danger. Most carvings here are from the local red sandstone and weathered, so they look older as the impressing lions from the eastern side. Here a small peasant returning from the field. He carries his shovel or hoe on the shoulder. He had worked the whole days and so he is very tired and scratches his long beard. He is not at all aware, that the terrifying hellhound is just behind him. The creature will grab him within the next second - and throw him into the center of hell.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The façade of western choir is clearly influenced by architectural ideas from Burgundy, probably from Cluny. So all around the choir are lots of carvings showing strange creatures making grimaces to the people on the ground - and small men in anger and in danger.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. Another pair of lions on another window sill of the eastern façade. The left lion is just killing a poor human with a long mustache and a giant chin. The black lion to the right may be a mother, protecting her cub, a theme similar to the carving in Andlau (Alsace). It is difficult to take photos of the façade, as the neighbouring buildings are very close to it. This black lioness is the only clearly weathered carving on this side. All other, like the left lion, by her side look mint and may be copies of the old ones. The cathedral got severely damaged end of WWII - and reconstructed in the 1950s.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. Two evil snarling lions loitering on a windowsill of the eastern façade, that reminds on a westwork, but faces east. It is difficult to take photos of the façade, as the neighbouring buildings are very close to it. All the carvings on this side look - mint. They may be copies of the old ones. The cathedral got severly damaged end of WWII - and reconstructed in the 1950s. Here are the same lions as before - from a different point of view.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. Two evil snarling lions loitering on a windowsill of the eastern façade, that reminds on a westwork, but faces east. It is difficult to take photos of the façade, as the neighbouring buildings are very close to it. All the carvings on this side look - mint. They may be copies of the old ones. The cathedral got severly damaged end of WWII - and reconstructed in the 1950s.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The crypt of the carolingian church was the burial place for the Salian dynasty already since early times. Meanwhile a new underground chapel is built, but the old tombs still exist. Here is the tomb of Conrad, Duke of Lorraine, aka "Conrad the Red". + 955. Great-grandfather of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor. Conrad the Red was married to Liutgarde, daughter of Otto and Editha. I had met Conrad´s parents in law in Magedburg. See them here www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4328456651/

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. Inside the eastern choir, now facing east, looking through the nave. The baroque altar, a work of Balthasar Neumann, is to be seen in the western choir, in a distance of about 100 meters.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, founded by Celts, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The western choir of the cathedral. Somewhere here the important episode of the "Nibelungenlied" is placed. Brynhild and Kriemhild met "at the western entrance" of the cathedral - and had that controversy, that starts the story. Actually they argued about whose right it was (rank!), to enter the cathedral first. The architecture of the choir is clearly influenced by lombardic and burgundian traditions. There are many carvings around it.

Worms, one of the five oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The chapel of Saint Nicolas was added to the cathedral 1315. A legend tells that Empress Theophanu brought the relics of St. Nicolas to Worms from Byzanz, where she was born, when she was married to Otto II in 972. Looking over the layout of the demolished cloister west to the western choir and the two round towers. The cathedral has five towers including the crossing tower.

A rainy autumn day in Worms, an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. An important episode of the "Nibelungenlied" is placed on the western side of the cathedral. Brynhild and Kriemhild meet in front of the cathedral - and have the argument, that starts the story, ending in Kriemhild´s revenge.

This is, where in 1077 the "Road to Canossa" (aka "Walk to Canossa") ended. Matilda of Tuscany (aka "Matilde di Canossa") had invited Pope Gregory VII to take refuge here in 1076/77 during the dispute with Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. Gregory had imposed an excommunication on Henry during the Investiture Controversy. Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV then treked from Speyer over the Alps (in January!) to Canossa to obtain the revocation of the excommunication. Henry had taken on the behavior of penitence. He wore a hair-shirt and allegedly walked barefoot. On 25 January 1077, he reached the locked gates of the Castello di Canossa. Pope Gregory VII had ordered to refuse entrance, and so Henry was forced to wait on his knees for three days and three nights before the gate of the castle, while a blizzard raged. Pope Gregory VII finally let Henry in and absolved him. On 28 January Gregory VII, Henry IV and Matilda of Tuscany, who was Gregory´s policy adviser, shared communion in the castle´s chapel, signaling the official end of Henry's excommunication. This did not end the Investiture Controversy. The struggle ended with an agreement ("Concordat of Worms") between Pope Calixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, signed in 1122.

Foligno was an Umbrian settlement, taken over by the Romans in 295 BC and named "Fulginiae". After the fall of the Roman Empire it was part of the Duchy of Spoleto. In 881 it got sacked and looted by Saracens, in 915 and again in 924 it was ruined by Magyar troops. The survivers decided to move close to the "Civitas Sancti Feliciani", a strongly fortified church where Bishop and martyr Feliciano was buried. Thanks to Barbarossa it gained the status of free city in 1165. Siding first with the Guelph party, Foligno became Ghibelline later and was a rival of Perugia. Foligno changed hands often during the wars of the 13th century. From the the 14th century on the city flourished, controlling large territory. Foligno was part of the Papal States until 1860 (with only two short exceptions). Foligno has suffered from a major earthquake in 1997, some traces can still be found. The "Cattedrale di San Feliciano" was built on the site of an earlier basilica ("Civitas Sancti Feliciani") 1133-1201. It is the seat of the Bishop of Foligno. The cathedral has two façades, the principal façade, facing the Piazza Grande, and the secondary façade facing the Piazza della Repubblica. This is the center of the secondary façade´s portal, that dates from 1201. It is the work of the master sculptors and architects Rodolfo and Binello. The zodiacs are on the inner archivolt, the next one has entangled vines (and grapes). The two outer archivolts consist out of nice "cosmatesque" mosaics. In the center are moon, stars and sun under an inscription of the keystone telling the onlookers, that "stars, sun, and moon reveal a time of purity”. Pope Innocent III had crowned Otto of Brunswick as Emperor Otto IV of the Holy Roman Empire in 1209. But this was not the begin of a "time of purity”. Otto IV broke all promises and commanded Innocent III to annul the Concordat of Worms. Innocent III promptly excommunicated Otto IV what triggered a pan European power game, that Otto IV lost, when his armee was beaten in the Battle of Bouvines in 1214. Otto IV was followed by Frederick II (aka "Stupor Mundi").

The Cahors Cathedral was erected between 1080 and 1135. It got consecrated by Pope Calixtus II in 1119. The same pope, who two years later could imprison his rival "Antipope" Gregory VIII. Four years later, Calixtus ended the Investiture Controversy by agreeing with Emperor Henry V on the Concordat of Worms. During the times of medieval pilgrimage this cathedral was an important place on the "Via Podiensis", as the "Sainte Coiffe" could be venerated here. This "Holy Headdress" was believed to have been used during Jesus' burial. It had been given to Aymatus, Bishop of Cahors, by Charlemagne. A relic similar to the "Shroud of Turin". While inside the cathedral all carvings got vandalized by iconoclastic fanatics during the Wars of Religion, the carvings here got spared out. The most prominent features are probably the two domes, seen here fro the cloister, that was added in 1504. While inside the cathedral all carvings got vandalized by iconoclastic fanatics during the Wars of Religion, the carvings here got spared out. So this pilgrim wearing the shell on his hat survived. He receives a piece of bread from a generous person.

The Cahors Cathedral was erected between 1080 and 1135. It got consecrated by Pope Calixtus II in 1119. The same pope, who two years later could imprison his rival "Antipope" Gregory VIII. Four years later, Calixtus ended the Investiture Controversy by agreeing with Emperor Henry V on the Concordat of Worms. During the times of medieval pilgrimage this cathedral was an important place on the "Via Podiensis", as the "Sainte Coiffe" could be venerated here. This "Holy Headdress" was believed to have been used during Jesus' burial. It had been given to Aymatus, Bishop of Cahors, by Charlemagne. A relic similar to the "Shroud of Turin". The most prominent features are probably the two domes, seen here fro the cloister, that was added in 1504. While inside the cathedral all carvings got vandalized by iconoclastic fanatics during the Wars of Religion, the carvings here got spared out.

The Cahors Cathedral was erected between 1080 and 1135. It got consecrated by Pope Calixtus II in 1119. The same pope, who two years later could imprison his rival "Antipope" Gregory VIII. Four years later, Calixtus ended the Investiture Controversy by agreeing with Emperor Henry V on the Concordat of Worms. During the times of medieval pilgrimage this cathedral was an important place on the "Via Podiensis", as the "Sainte Coiffe" could be venerated here. This "Holy Headdress" was believed to have been used during Jesus' burial. It had been given to Aymatus, Bishop of Cahors, by Charlemagne. A relic similar to the "Shroud of Turin". The most prominent features are probably the two domes. Both domes had (15th c.) frescoes, but only here they could get restored after centuries of neglect.