Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Hungarian Raids

Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria, had founded a monastery in 782 on Herrenchiemsee, but mid of the 9th century the nuns moved to smaller island Frauenchimsee, where Louis the German, son of Louis the Pious and so Charlemagne´s grandson had founded a nunnery. His daughter Irmgard (of Chiemsee) was the first Abbess here in 857. During the Hungarian raids of the 10th century, the monastery got looted and severely damaged. The convent recovered and the buildings got repaired or rebuilt. Here is abbey church, a three-nave-basilica, erected probably after the Hungarian invasion, on Carolingian foundations within the 11th or 12th century. The building stayed unchanged to 15th century, when Gothic and later Baroque elements were added. The architecture of the Romanesque portal is pretty unique, as the tympanum is "framed" by a very large and unusual structure. A nicely combed lion, serves the church as a doorknocker, since the early times. That was my first thought, and G. Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") described this as well as a lion´s head, But this could be as well a male person with a beard/mustache. If this is a human head, it would fit to the heads seen at the portal.

Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria, had founded a monastery in 782 on Herrenchiemsee, but mid of the 9th century the nuns moved to smaller island Frauenchimsee, where Louis the German, son of Louis the Pious and so Charlemagne´s grandson had founded a nunnery. His daughter Irmgard (of Chiemsee) was the first Abbess here in 857. Irmgard died in 866 and got beatified in 1928. Her tomb was rediscovered during excavations in 1961. During the Hungarian raids of the 10th century, the monastery got looted and severely damaged. The convent recovered and the buildings got repaired or rebuilt. The "Karolingische Torhalle" (= Carolingian gatehouse) is the oldest complete structure on the island, probably built under the order of Louis the German - and one of the oldest profane buildings in Bavaria. There as been a dispute, when a dendrological study found out, that the beams of the roof are from the 10th century. Meanwhile this is settled, as the original roof probably burnt down, when the Hungarians raided the island - and got rebuilt after that. There is a St. Nicolaus-chapel on the groundfloor and like in many carolingian gatehouses/westworks a chapel dedicated to St. Michael on the first floor.

Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria, had founded a monastery in 782 on Herrenchiemsee, but mid of the 9th century the nuns moved to smaller island Frauenchimsee, where Louis the German, son of Louis the Pious and so Charlemagne´s grandson had founded a nunnery. His daughter Irmgard (of Chiemsee) was the first Abbess here in 857. During the Hungarian raids of the 10th century, the monastery got looted and severely damaged. The convent recovered and the buildings got repaired or rebuilt. Here is abbey church, a three-nave-basilica, erected probably after the Hungarian invasion, on Carolingian foundations within the 11th or 12th centu ry. The building stayed unchanged to 15th century, when Gothic and later Baroque elements were added. The architecture of the Romanesque portal is pretty unique, as the tympanum is "framed" by a very large and unusual structure. Gottfried Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") dates the "frame" into the 12th century, while the tympanum may be older, what would mean, that it was part of the Carolingian church. Today protected by iron bars is the base of the right pillar, forming the portal´s frame. While on the left was a huge lion´s head, here is the head of a bearded man. His mouth is wide open, he seems to scream of pain, as the pillar pierces his skull. This may indeed be an "echo" of the Hungarian raids. It was not unusual to display human heads on poles for scaring enemies. Here a head is displayed "below" a pole - and maybe the two heads on the pillar could be interpreted similar.

Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria, had founded a monastery in 782 on Herrenchiemsee, but mid of the 9th century the nuns moved to smaller island Frauenchimsee, where Louis the German, son of Louis the Pious and so Charlemagne´s grandson had founded a nunnery. His daughter Irmgard (of Chiemsee) was the first Abbess here in 857. During the Hungarian raids of the 10th century, the monastery got looted and severely damaged. The convent recovered and the buildings got repaired or rebuilt. Here is abbey church, a three-nave-basilica, erected probably after the Hungarian invasion, on Carolingian foundations within the 11th or 12th century. The building stayed unchanged to 15th century, when Gothic and later Baroque elements were added. The architecture of the Romanesque portal is pretty unique, as the tympanum is "framed" by a very large and unusual structure. Gottfried Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") dates the "frame" into the 12th century, while the tympanum may be older, what would mean, that it was part of the Carolingian church. Here is a detail of the pillar head of the right side of that "frame". This is very similar to the left side: A tower on top and two heads with bulging eyes below.

Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria, had founded a monastery in 782 on Herrenchiemsee, but mid of the 9th century the nuns moved to smaller island Frauenchimsee, where Louis the German, son of Louis the Pious and so Charlemagne´s grandson had founded a nunnery. His daughter Irmgard (of Chiemsee) was the first Abbess here in 857. During the Hungarian raids of the 10th century, the monastery got looted and severely damaged. The convent recovered and the buildings got repaired or rebuilt. Here is abbey church, a three-nave-basilica, erected probably after the Hungarian invasion, on Carolingian foundations within the 11th or 12th century. The building stayed unchanged to 15th century, when Gothic and later Baroque elements were added. The architecture of the Romanesque portal is pretty unique, as the tympanum is "framed" by a very large and unusual structure. Gottfried Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") dates the "frame" into the 12th century, while the tympanum may be older, what would mean, that it was part of the Carolingian church. Here are details of the pillar head of the left side of that "frame". On top a tower, similar to a large chess piece. Below two heads. An old, bearded man and a young one. Both with bulging eyes.

Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria, had founded a monastery in 782 on Herrenchiemsee, but mid of the 9th century the nuns moved to smaller island Frauenchimsee, where Louis the German, son of Louis the Pious and so Charlemagne´s grandson had founded a nunnery. His daughter Irmgard (of Chiemsee) was the first Abbess here in 857. Irmgard died in 866 and got beatified in 1928. During the Hungarian raids of the 10th century, the monastery got looted and severely damaged. The convent recovered and the buildings got repaired or rebuilt. Here is abbey church, a three-nave-basilica, erected probably after the Hungarian invasion, on Carolingian foundations within the 11th or 12th century. The building stayed unchanged to 15th century, when Gothic and later Baroque elements were added. The architecture of the Romanesque portal is pretty unique. Gottfried Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") dates the "frame" into the 12th century, while the tympanum may be older. So this carvings may have been part of the Carolingian church. Here is the tympanum. It has an "archaic style" (G. Weber). It is obvious, that the carver who did the archivolt had a higher artistic ability than the creator of the tympanum.

Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria, had founded a monastery in 782 on Herrenchiemsee, but mid of the 9th century the nuns moved to smaller island Frauenchimsee, where Louis the German, son of Louis the Pious and so Charlemagne´s grandson had founded a nunnery. His daughter Irmgard (of Chiemsee) was the first Abbess here in 857. Irmgard died in 866 and got beatified in 1928. During the Hungarian raids of the 10th century, the monastery got looted and severely damaged. The convent recovered and the buildings got repaired or rebuilt. Here is abbey church, a three-nave-basilica, erected probably after the Hungarian invasion, on Carolingian foundations within the 11th or 12th century. The building stayed unchanged to 15th century, when Gothic and later Baroque elements were added. The architecture of the Romanesque portal is pretty unique. Gottfried Weber ("Die Romanik in Oberbayern") dates the "frame" into the 12th century, while the tympanum may be older. So this carving may have been a part of the Carolingian church. But nothing is really sure. The sign to the left tells the visitor, it is not allowed to take shots inside the church. That is sure!,