House monastery
Open-knowledge reference entry
A house monastery, family monastery or dynastic monastery (German: Hauskloster) is a Christian monastery that has a particular relationship with a noble family.
Often, but not always, what subsequently became the house monastery was founded by the noble family in question. In each case, the family would grant the monastery estates, provide financial support or make other bequests. In doing so they also ensured that family members might be buried and commemorated there. Frequently the chronicles of the abbey would record the donations of the family, but also their histories in general. House monasteries were present in many areas of Europe where nobles held great sway, including Merovingian France, medieval Ireland, and the Holy Roman Empire.
Examples of house monasteries include:
Merovingians:
Basilica of St Denis
Robertians:
Lorsch Abbey
Carolingians:
Prüm Abbey
Abbey of St. Medard
Salians:
Abbey of Echternach
Liudolfinger, Ottonians:
Reichenau Abbey
Gandersheim Abbey
Quedlinburg Abbey
Essen Abbey
Mauritius Abbey
Neuenheerse
Ascanians:
Lehnin Abbey
Hohenstaufens:
Adelberg Abbey
Lorch Abbey
Welfs:
Weingarten Abbey
Habsburgs:
Murbach Abbey
Ottmarsheim Abbey Church
Muri Abbey
Königsfelden
Ezzonids:
Brauweiler Abbey
House of Wettin
Altzella Abbey
House of Zähringen:
Abbey of Saint Peter in the Black Forest (from 1093)
House of Württemberg:
Stiftskirche, Stuttgart (since 1321)
House of Baden:
Lichtenthal Abbey in Baden-Baden (1288–1372),
Stiftskirche in Baden-Baden (Line of Baden-Baden),
Stiftskirche of St. Michael in Pforzheim (line of Baden-Durlach, from 1535),
Evangelical Church in Karlsruhe (grand dukes, from 1807)
House of Fürstenberg (Swabia)
Neudingen Abbey
House of Wittelsbach (Palatine line):
Stiftskirche in Neustadt a.d.
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