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121-512: It was founded in 1002 by King (and later Emperor) Heinrich II (Henry II) and consecrated in 1012. With the tombs of Henry II and his spouse Cunigunde , the cathedral contains the remains of the only imperial couple that was canonized. With the tomb of Pope Clement II (1005–1047) it also contains the only papal grave in Germany, and north of the Alps. After the first two cathedrals burned down in

242-485: A choir at each end. The eastern choir is the oldest part of the cathedral, still in pure Romanesque style. The western choir is early Gothic and its vault was built from 1232. The east chancel, elevated due to the presence of a crypt beneath, is dedicated to St. George . This symbolizes the Holy Roman Empire . Of the figures adorning the southern choir screen, the first three apostles pairs are attributed to

363-536: A fief , with Bolesław I recognizing Henry II as his overlord. Henry II refused to allow Bolesław I to keep possession of Meissen, however. Shortly after Bolesław I's departure from Merseburg, an assassination attempt was made against him. Though the attempt failed, Bolesław I was seriously injured. The Polish Duke accused Henry II of instituting the attack, and relations between the two countries were severed. Bolesław I also refused to pay tribute to Germany. Prior to open rebellion in 1004, Boleslaus III, Duke of Bohemia ,

484-758: A Byzantine ally in 1026. Upon assuming the German throne, Henry II revised many policies of his predecessor, Emperor Otto III . Whereas Otto III had promoted a policy of "Restoration of the Roman Empire" ( Renovatio imperii Romanorum ), Henry II sought a policy of "Restoration of the Frankish Kingdom" ( Renovatio regni Francorum ). Compared to the other members of the Ottonian dynasty , Henry II spent relatively little time in Italy, only traveling south of

605-453: A German army and proclaimed himself Duke. The state he regained was a small one, however, as Polish forces would hold Moravia , Silesia , and Lusatia until 1018. During the next part of the offensive, Henry II retook Meissen and, in summer 1005, his army advanced deep into Poland, suffering significant losses along the way. At the Polish city of Poznań , the German forces were ambushed by

726-481: A close when Arduin became ill and sought peace with Henry II. He resigned the office of Margrave of Ivrea to become a monk in a monastery at Fruttuaria . He died on 14 December 1015. His brief "reign" as King of Italy would be the last time a native Italian would reign over Italy until its unification under Victor Emmanuel II in 1861. After Arduin's death Henry ordered the Margravate of Ivrea, which had given

847-458: A daughter of Duke Frederick I of Upper Lorraine ; his descendant Count Berthold II (d. 1151), from about 1100 residing at Andechs , is credited as the progenitor of the comital dynasty. Berthold II had inherited the family's Bavarian territories but also acquired possessions in the adjacent Franconian region, where about 1135 he had the Plassenburg built near Bayreuth and established

968-531: A great-great-grandson of Emperor Otto I , to succeed him after his death in 1024. Conrad was the first of the Salian dynasty of emperors. Henry was born in May 973, the son of Duke Henry II of Bavaria , and Gisela of Burgundy . Through his father, he was the grandson of Duke Henry I of Bavaria , and the great-grandson of King Henry I of Germany . By his mother, he was the grandson of King Conrad I of Burgundy , and

1089-624: A loyal ally of the Empire. However, the protracted German-Polish wars brought the two nations into open warfare for over sixteen years. Henry II inherited several unresolved ecclesiastical disputes from his predecessor Otto III. Issues of particular importance were the reestablishment of the Diocese of Merseburg and the settlement of the Gandersheim Conflict . In May 1017, Empress Cunigunde became seriously ill, while staying at

1210-462: A loyal supporter of Otto III, but Henry II's actions caused Bolesław I to seek new German allies. Of the major candidates seeking to succeed to the German throne, Bolesław I supported Margrave Eckard I of Meissen over Henry. Only after Eckard was assassinated by Saxon nobles in April 1002 did Bolesław I lend his support to Henry II. Bolesław I traveled to Merseburg on 25 July 1002 and paid homage to

1331-649: A period of centralized authority throughout the Holy Roman Empire . He consolidated his power by cultivating personal and political ties with the Catholic Church . He greatly expanded the Ottonian dynasty's custom of employing clerics as counter-weights against secular nobles. Through donations to the Church and the establishment of new dioceses, Henry strengthened imperial rule across the Empire and increased control over ecclesiastical affairs. He stressed service to

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1452-442: A pitched battle, and Henry II was forced to turn back, his army weakened by diseases and suffering heavy losses. Henry II almost executed the treacherous prince of Capua, but he relented at the last moment at Pilgrim's pleading. Instead, Henry II sent him off to Germany in chains and appointed Pandulf V to replace him as prince of Capua. The expedition ultimately achieved little, and Pandulf IV would be reinstated as Prince of Capua as

1573-568: A revolt against imperial rule in Italy in 1002. Before Henry II could arrive, however, Otto III died of fever, leaving no heir. After defeating several contenders to the throne, Henry II was crowned King of Germany on 9 July 1002 as the first in a line of kings to adopt the title Rex Romanorum as an antedate to his coronation in Rome as Imperator Romanorum . On 15 May 1004, he was anointed King of Italy ("Rex Italiae"). In that same year, Henry II joined Duke Jaromír of Bohemia in his struggle against

1694-585: A short-lived imperial state named Merania from 1180 to 1248. They were also self-styled lords of Carniola . The noble family originally resided in southwestern Bavaria at the castle of Ambras near Innsbruck , controlling the road to the March of Verona across the Brenner Pass , at Dießen am Ammersee and Wolfratshausen . One Count Rasso ( Rath ) is documented in Dießen, who allegedly fought against

1815-717: A similar alliance with other Slavic peoples. With his conquest west of the Oder River in 1002, his domain stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Carpathian Mountains . Furthermore, the Polish Duke was connected by kinship to numerous princes of Scandinavia . Henry II answered Bolesław I's rebellion by invading in the summer of 1004, reaching the Ore Mountains in northern Bohemia. He then conquered

1936-583: A successful rebellion against Byzantine control of Apulia . The Byzantine Empire struck back in 1018 under Catepan of Italy Basil Boioannes , delivering a devastating defeat to the joint Lombard-Norman force at the Battle of Cannae . Melus fled to the Papal States following the defeat. With the Byzantine successes in southern Italy, Pope Benedict VIII took an unusual step in 1020, traveling north across

2057-501: Is a funnel-shaped portal of the Lombardian style. The tympanum shows Mary, venerated by St. Peter and St. George on one side and by Kunigunde and Heinrich on the other. Figures cowering in the corners are interpreted to be bishop Ekbert (left), a cleric possibly cathedral provost Poppo of Andechs-Merania (right) and a crusader in the centre, maybe based on one "frater Wortwinus", architect of the 1229–31 work. The main portal, not in

2178-444: Is probably the oldest statue of a horseman created in post-Roman Germany. Numerous carvings ornament the three major portals. The Adamspforte and Marienpforte (or Gnadenpforte ) leading into the eastern towers are each guarded by a carved Romanesque lion, a weathered remainder of Heinrich's original cathedral. The former portal sports figures (replicas) of St. Stephen, Kunigunde, Heinrich II, St. Peter and Adam and Eve . The latter

2299-475: Is the 20th-century Volksaltar with a large wheel chandelier above. This sandstone base, fitted with various bronze plates showing scenes from the life of Jesus, was made in 1974/5 by Klaus Backmund  [ de ] . The northern transept holds a late Gothic (c. 1500) altar dedicated to Mary ( Mühlhausener Altar ). It was previously located in the Protestant parish church of Mühlhausen . In 1781, it

2420-482: Is the former chapter hall beneath which members of the cathedral chapter were also buried (the bronze slabs from their burials have now been moved to the walls). A wooden Gothic altar from c. 1500 is located in the further, late-Gothic part of the room. The name "Nagelkapelle" ("Nail chapel") refers to a nail said to come from the True Cross ; this nail has been venerated at Bamberg since the 14th century. Formerly

2541-485: Is the tomb of Emperor Heinrich II, the founder of the cathedral, and his wife, Empress Kunigunde. It was made by sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider from polished Solnhofen limestone and marble from the Franconian Jura . It took him 14 years to carve: between 1499 and 1513. The tomb, located near the eastern choir, is slightly higher than floor level because below there is a crypt . The tomb rises about 1.7 m above

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2662-573: The Archbishopric of Magdeburg as well as his re-occupation of the marches of Lusatia and Meissen, including the city of Bautzen . The German counter-offensive began three years later in 1010. It was of no significant consequence, beyond some pillaging in Silesia. In 1012, a second peace treaty between Germany and Poland was signed. Bolesław I quickly broke the peace, however, and once again invaded Lusatia. Bolesław I's forces pillaged and burned

2783-523: The Basilica of San Michele Maggiore . Unlike his predecessors, after gaining the Kingdom of Italy Henry II wore two crowns, one for Germany and one for Italy, instead of a common crown representing both realms. After the coronation a dispute arose between some of the residents and Henry's people. It escalated to where the residents attacked the palace where the king was dining. The army encamped outside

2904-650: The King of Italy Arduin in his capital of Ivrea , where he remained until 1015. Henry II arrived in Rome in early 1014, restoring Benedict VIII as pope. On 14 February 1014, the Pope crowned Henry II as Holy Roman Emperor ("Romanorum Imperator") in St. Peter's Basilica . Then, under the presidency of the Emperor and Pope, a synod was held in Rome, appointing five bishops, issuing decrees against simony and promoting chastity within

3025-815: The March of Verona to face Arduin, but Arduin successfully defeated Otto's troops at the Battle of Fabrica in 1003. In 1004 Henry II responded to calls for aid from Italian bishops and led an invasion into Italy against Arduin. Henry II gathered his troops at Augsburg and marched through the Brenner Pass to Trento , Italy. After initial military successes, much of the Italian clergy and some noble families swore allegiance to Henry II, including Archbishop Arnulf II . Joining Henry II in Bergamo , Arnulf II crowned him as King of Italy ("Rex Italiae") on 14 May 1004 in Pavia , in

3146-614: The Principality of Capua . A third army, smaller still, under the command of Patriarch Poppo of Aquileia went through the Apennines to join Henry II in besieging the Byzantine fortress of Troia . Though Patriarch Pilgrim captured Pandulf IV of Capua and extracted oaths of allegiance from both Capua and the Principality of Salerno , all three of Henry II's armies failed to take Troia. The Byzantine troops could not be forced into

3267-701: The funeral procession moved through the Duchy of Bavaria in February 1002, Henry met the procession in Polling , just north of the Alps. To legitimise his claims, Henry demanded Archbishop Heribert of Cologne give him the Imperial Regalia , chief among them being the Holy Lance . Heribert, however, had sent these ahead of the procession, possibly out of distrust of Henry and possibly because he favoured

3388-811: The pagan Slavic Lutici tribe. As a consequence of their military alliance, Henry II halted Christianization efforts among the Slavic peoples. The new alliance with the Western Slavs against Poland was controversial, however. Many German nobles had hoped for continued missionary work and the direct submission of the Elbe Slavs . In addition, many German nobles opposed the war because they had developed family ties with Poland during Otto III's reign. It interfered with Bishop Bruno of Querfurt 's mission to Poland, so he set out for Hungary. In preparation for Henry II's coming military invasion, Bolesław I developed

3509-553: The 11th and 12th centuries, the current structure, a late Romanesque building with four large towers, was built in the 13th century. The cathedral is about 94 m long, 28 m broad, 26 m high, and the four towers are each about 81 m high. It contains many works of art, including the marble tomb of the founder and his wife, the Empress Kunigunde , considered a masterpiece of the sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider , and carved between 1499 and 1513. Another well-known treasure of

3630-540: The 11th century Hungarian king Stephen I . This is based on modern technology which has revealed the original colours used to paint the statue. The sculptor carved only his mark into the sculpture, leaving his identity a mystery. He may also have been involved in the creation of figures on the eastern choir screen (Mary and Elisabeth ) and possibly of the Last Judgment of the Fürstenportal . The Reiter

3751-567: The 13th century on all four sides: the four Cardinal virtues , death of the pope and St. Michael, rivers of Paradise , and John the Baptist (or possibly Christ sitting in judgment over the world). Although many medieval bishops' tombs remain inside the cathedral, most of the later ones where transferred to the Michaelskirche during the 19th-century "purification" of the cathedral. The cathedral first had an organ in 1415. The one that

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3872-533: The Alps into Germany to discusses the state of affairs in southern Italy with the Emperor. Meeting Henry II in Bamberg , the Pope was accompanied by a large number of Italian secular and ecclesiastical leaders, including Melus. Henry II granted Melus the empty title Duke of Apulia for his actions against the Byzantines. But Melus died just a few days later, on 23 April 1020. After settling some controversies with

3993-434: The Alps three times during his twenty-two year reign. He was absent from the Italian peninsula for over a decade between his expulsion of Margrave Arduin of Ivrea in 1004 and his return in 1014 to claim the imperial title, allowing the kingdom to mostly govern itself. Henry II's absence from Italy was primarily due to his continued conflict with Bolesław I Chrobry of Poland. During the reign of Otto III, Bolesław I had been

4114-574: The Angel announcing the Last Judgement. The Veitspforte is a minor entryway, dating to the early Gothic period. It was inspired by the style the Cistercians had brought from France to southern Germany, as at Ebrach Abbey . The portal gives access to the southern transept. The tomb of Pope Clement II (1005–47) is made from silver-grey marble with carved reliefs from the first half of

4235-639: The Antonius or Gertrude Chapel, this was rededicated in 1974 after the Second Vatican Council. It now serves to store the sacramental bread for the Eucharist . It contains a painting ( Rosenkranzgemälde ) attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder (c. 1520). There are many sculptures both inside the cathedral and adorning the exterior. One of the most notable works of art of the cathedral

4356-477: The Archbishops of Bamberg. The first to be buried there in 1998 was Josef Schneider (1955–76). Under the northwestern tower a chapel ( Häupterkapelle ) was created in 1997 to keep the skulls of the two founders, Heinrich and Kunigunde. They are contained within a glass shrine on a stele. Kunigunde's skull was previously kept in a cabinet in the eastern choir, behind the so-called Sonnenloch which gave access to

4477-532: The Byzantine advance, Otto II suddenly died while in Rome, with his infant son Otto III succeeding him. With an infant as ruler and a political crisis to address, the Western Empire was unable to challenge Byzantine dominance. This allowed Basil II to build of his defense forces in preparation for a future Western counterattack. In 1017, aided by Norman mercenaries , the Lombard noble Melus of Bari led

4598-541: The Byzantines as a loyal lieutenant of Otto II. By 978, Pandulf had incorporated all three of the southern Lombard principalities – Benevento, Capua, and Salerno – into the Holy Roman Empire. Pandulf's death in 981, however, weakened Western dominance over the Byzantine Empire in southern Italy. By 982, the entire area once ruled by Pandulf had collapsed. The Byzantines still claimed sovereignty over

4719-429: The Church and promoted monastic reform. For his remarkable personal piety and enthusiastic promotion of the Church, he was canonized by Pope Eugene III in 1146. He is the only medieval German monarch ever to have been honoured as a saint . Henry II's wife was the equally pious Empress Cunigunde , who was canonized in 1200 by Pope Innocent III . As the union produced no children, the German nobles elected Conrad II ,

4840-480: The Emperor being cured by Saint Benedict , the Emperor's death and the weighing of his soul by the archangel Michael. Reportedly they are based on sketches by Wolfgang Katzheimer . Near the tomb, on the northwestern choir column, supported by an Acanthus corbel, stands an equestrian statue known as the Bamberg Horseman ( Bamberger Reiter ). There is no consensus on who this knight on horseback really

4961-611: The Emperor soon agreed to release Mieszko II. At the same time, Henry II entertained Yaroslav , the pretender to the throne of the Kievan Rus' . A son of Kievan Grand Duke Vladimir the Great , he was vice-regent of the Principality of Novgorod at the time of his father's death in 1015. Yaroslav's eldest surviving brother, Sviatopolk I of Kiev , killed three of his other brothers and seized power in Kiev. Henry II's support of Yaroslav

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5082-551: The Emperor's death. Accompanied by Archbishop Arnulf II of Milan , Arduin won the support of the Italian territorial magnates. Arduin, however, had been excommunicated in 997 for the murder of the Bishop of Vercelli . This allowed Arduin's enemies in the Church, led by Archbishop Frederick of Ravenna , to side with the German King Henry II as the rightful ruler of Italy. Henry II sent Duke Otto I of Carinthia , over

5203-644: The German crown. Upon assuming the throne, however, Henry II refused to honour his promise and instead supported the rights of the Bavarians to elect their own duke. With Henry II's support, Count Henry I of Luxembourg became the Duke of Bavaria as Henry V. Betrayed by the King, Margrave Henry allied with Bolesław I of Poland against him. However, his rebellion was soon quashed and the Nordgauian Margrave

5324-539: The House of Andechs were implicated. Saint Hedwig of Andechs (c. 1174 – October 1243) was one of eight children born to Berthold IV, Duke of Merania , Count of Dießen-Andechs and Margrave of Istria . Of her four brothers, two became bishops: Ekbert of Bamberg (1203–1231), and Berthold , Patriarch of Aquileia . Otto succeeded his father as Duke of Dalmatia, and Henry became Margrave of Istria. Of her three sisters, Gertrude of Andechs-Merania (1185 – 28 September 1213)

5445-557: The Imperial army crossed the Oder river and marched across Poland, Henry II's forces killed or captured several thousand Poles, including women and children. But the Imperial army suffered heavy losses throughout the campaign. Bolesław I sent a detachment of Moravian knights under the command of Mieszko II in a diversionary attack against the Empire's Eastern March . The Imperial army retreated from Poland to Merseburg in order to address

5566-503: The Kingdom to govern itself. Henry returned to Germany to take military action against the rebellious Bolesław I of Poland. The untimely death of Emperor Otto III at age 21 in 1002 upset the young Emperor's ambitious renovatio plans, which were never fully implemented. Henry II reversed Otto III's eastern policies, damaging the excellent relationship Germany and Bolesław I of Poland had enjoyed during Otto III's reign. Bolesław I had been

5687-478: The Lombard principalities, and the lack of single leader to prevent their advances into Lombard territory allowed the Byzantines to make inroads further north. While in Byzantine territory, Otto II encountered a large Muslim army brought into the region by Abu al-Qasim , Emir of Sicily , and was soundly defeated in the ensuing battle of Stilo on 14 July 982. The defeat shifted the balance of power in southern Italy into Byzantine favor. While preparing to counterattack

5808-403: The Ottonian emperors so much trouble, dissolved. The peace agreement of 1013 between Henry II and Bolesław I of Poland quickly deteriorated. In 1014, with Henry II absent from Germany, Bolesław I sent his son Mieszko II Lambert to the Duchy of Bohemia in order to persuade the new Bohemian Duke Oldřich into an alliance against Henry II. The mission failed and Oldřich imprisoned Mieszko II. He

5929-635: The Poles, thus effectively incorporating the Duchy of Bohemia into the Holy Roman Empire . Unlike his predecessor Otto III, who had imposed plans on sovereign administration and active political involvement in Italy , Henry spent most of his reign concerned with the renovation of the imperial territories north of the Alps , a policy summed up on his seal as Renovatio regni Francorum , which replaced Otto's Renovatio imperii Romanorum . A series of conflicts with

6050-600: The Polish Duke Bolesław I , who had already conquered a number of countries surrounding him, required Henry II's full attention and years of political and military maneuvering. Henry did, however, lead three expeditions into Italy to enforce his feudal claim ( Honor Imperii ): twice to suppress secessionist revolts and once to address Byzantine attempts to obtain dominance over southern Italy . On 14 February 1014, Pope Benedict VIII crowned Henry Holy Roman Emperor in Rome. The rule of Henry II has been characterized as

6171-620: The Polish army and suffered significant losses. Meeting in Poznań, Henry II and Bolesław I signed a peace treaty . According to its terms, Bolesław I lost Lusatia and Meissen and was forced to give up his claim to the Bohemian throne. The peace lasted only two years as neither party recognized the claims of the other. In 1007, Henry II denounced the Peace of Poznań, resulting in Bolesław I's attack on

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6292-461: The Saxon Margrave Eckard I of Meissen. Henry II's involvement in Italian politics and his coronation as emperor inevitably brought him into conflict with the Byzantine Empire . In 969, Emperor Otto I entered into an alliance with Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimiskes in which both Eastern and Western Empires would jointly-govern southern Italy . Otto I's death in 973 and John I's death in 976 caused this alliance to deteriorate. Otto I's successor in

6413-411: The West, his son Emperor Otto II, and John I's successor in the East, his nephew Basil II , brought the two empires once again into conflict over control of southern Italy. Under Otto I and Otto II, the Lombard leader Pandulf Ironhead expanded Western imperial control over central and southern Italy. Originally appointed by Otto I as Prince of Benevento and Capua in 961, Pandulf waged war against

6534-484: The administration of the empire. Henry II fulfilled his duties in the spirit of humility and service, being convinced that temporal power was given by God for the good of the people. Andechs-Merania The House of Andechs was a feudal line of German princes in the 12th and 13th centuries. The counts of Dießen-Andechs (1100 to 1180) obtained territories in northern Dalmatia on the Adriatic seacoast, where they became Margraves of Istria and ultimately dukes of

6655-451: The assault without making any permanent territorial gains east of the Oder River. During the retreat to Germany, Gero II , margrave of the Eastern March, was ambushed by Polish forces and killed late in 1015. Following the attack on the Eastern March, Bolesław I's forces took the offensive. Bolesław I sent Mieszko II to besiege Meissen in 1017, then under the command of Mieszko II's brother-in-law Margrave Herman I . His attempt at conquering

6776-410: The beginning of the conflict in 1004, the Imperial army simultaneously marched in a pincer movement from the German north, south, and center. Henry II himself commanded the center army, supported by allied Slavic tribes, and moved from Magdeburg to cross the Oder river into Poland. Henry II was soon joined from the south by Bohemian Duke Oldřich and from the north by Duke Bernard II of Saxony . As

6897-400: The bishops of Mainz and Würzburg , the Pope convinced Henry II to return to Italy for a third campaign to counter the growing power of the Byzantine Empire. In 1022, Henry II set out down the Adriatic coast for southern Italy commanding a large force. He sent Archbishop Pilgrim of Cologne ahead with a slightly smaller army along the Tyrrhenian littoral with the objective of subjugating

7018-401: The castle at Žatec and wiped out the Polish army left there. At the same time, Jaromir (the younger brother of the deposed Bohemian Duke Boleslaus III) invaded Bohemia with German military support. At Merseburg, Jaromír promised to hold Bohemia as a vassal under Henry II, definitively incorporating Bohemia into the Holy Roman Empire . Forcing Bolesław I to flee, Jaromír occupied Prague with

7139-411: The castle in Meissen in an act of war. Returning from Italy after reclaiming the Italian throne, Henry II launched a military campaign against Poland in 1004 that would last until 1018, spanning three wars and several smaller campaigns. Returning from his first expedition to Italy, in 1004 Henry II gathered an army to march against Poland. The previous year in 1003, Henry II had formed an alliance with

7260-414: The cathedral chapter and the generosity of the House of Andechs-Merania resulted in a large, "splendid" building (see description below). It was consecrated on 6 May 1237. Heinrich had been canonized in 1146, as was Kunigunde in 1200. In 1499–1513, Tilman Riemenschneider created the tomb of the founders (see below). Many other works of art were added during the Gothic period . During the 17th century,

7381-407: The cathedral is an equestrian statue known as the Bamberg Horseman ( German : Der Bamberger Reiter ). This statue, possibly depicting the Hungarian king Stephen I , most likely dates to the period from 1225 to 1237 and is the first of its kind since antiquity . Heinrich (Henry), son of Heinrich der Zänker became Duke of Bavaria in 995, replacing his banished father. His favourite dwelling

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7502-474: The cathedral, particularly the Romanesque and Gothic ones. Between these two styles is the Transitional style, and this is the style which is characteristic of the nave . The current structure is a late Romanesque building with four big towers. The eastern towers were originally lower, but raised to the western towers' height after 1766 by steep pointed gables, added by architect Johann Jacob Michael Küchel. The western towers are early Gothic. The cathedral has

7623-406: The cathedral. The cathedral square is also fronted by the Renaissance buildings of the Alte Hofhaltung  [ de ] and the Baroque Neue Residenz  [ de ] , the palaces of the bishops from the 15th century to 1602 and from 1602 to 1803, respectively. Originally known as Hofplatz or Burgplatz , after secularization the square was renamed Karolinenplatz in honour of

7744-435: The church was changed in accordance with the Second Vatican Council , e.g. by moving the main altar from the eastern choir to a location in front of the western choir. The cathedral is about 94 m (308 ft) long, 28 m (92 ft) broad, 26 m (85 ft) high, and the four towers are each about 81 m (266 ft) high. Due to its long construction process, several styles were used in different parts of

7865-427: The church, contains the imperial tomb, the Bamberger Reiter , an early 19th-century pulpit and the organ. Two more notable altars are located in the side aisles: The Kirchgattendorfer Altar and the so-called Riemenschneider Altar . The former is dedicated to Mary and dates from the 16th century. It came from the Protestant parish church of Kirchgattendorf in Upper Franconia and was set up here in 1921. The latter

7986-424: The city failed, however, and he was forced to retreat back to Poland. Henry II and Bolesław I then opened peace negotiations and a ceasefire was declared in summer 1017. As negotiations failed by autumn 1017, Henry II again marched his army into Poland. His army reached Głogów , where Bolesław I was entrenched, but it was unable to take the city. Henry II then besieged Niemcza , but was likewise unable to capture

8107-470: The city of Lubusz . In 1013, a third peace treaty was signed at Merseburg, requiring in part that Bolesław I recognize Henry II as his overlord in exchange for receiving the March of Lusatia and the March of Meissen as fiefs . To seal their peace, Bolesław I's son Mieszko II married Richeza of Lotharingia , daughter of the Count Palatine Ezzo of Lotharingia , granddaughter of Emperor Otto II . John XVIII reigned as pope from 1003 until 1009. He

8228-411: The city swiftly moved to protect the king, and in the onslaught the city caught fire and many residents were killed. After receiving the homage of the remaining Italian nobles, Henry returned to Germany in the early summer of 1004 without first traveling to Rome to claim the Imperial crown. This is most likely due to opposition from Pope John XVIII . Henry would not return to Italy for a decade, leaving

8349-433: The city. As his army besieged Niemcza, disease brought about from the winter cold devastated the Imperial forces. His attacks unsuccessful, Henry II was forced to retreat back to Merseburg in Germany. With this defeat, Henry II was ready to end the war and begin serious peace negotiations with Bolesław I. On 30 January 1018, Henry II and Bolesław I signed a fourth peace treaty, known as the Peace of Bautzen . The Polish duke

8470-409: The clergy, and ordering the restitution of Church property. Shortly afterwards, the Emperor moved north again where he established the Diocese of Bobbio . Celebrating Easter in Pavia and Italy, Henry then returned to Germany in mid-May 1014. He left the rule of Rome to the Pope and thereafter rarely intervened in the politics of Italy or the Papal States . In 1015 the conflict with Arduin came to

8591-416: The dioceses of Speyer , Würzburg and Eichstätt . The Baroque alterations were removed in a "purification" in 1828–37 ordered in 1826 by Ludwig I of Bavaria , who saw the cathedral as a national monument. Altars and other sculptures were auctioned off in an attempt to return the church to its original, medieval state. Baroque art was replaced with Romanesque Revival art. During a renovation of 1969–74,

8712-489: The elder Henry in Ingelheim . After escaping, Henry again revolted against Otto II . When this second revolt failed, Otto II deposed Henry as Duke of Bavaria and sent him into exile under the custody of the Bishop of Utrecht in April 978. As a consequence of his revolt, the Emperor stripped the Duchy of Bavaria of its southeastern territories bordering Italy and formed the Duchy of Carinthia . During his father's exile,

8833-435: The elder Henry to be released from custody and to return from exile. The elder Henry claimed regency over Otto III , the three-year-old child of Otto II. After a failed attempt to claim the German throne for himself in 985, the elder Henry relinquished the regency to the child's mother Theophanu . In return for his submission to the child king, Henry was restored as Duke of Bavaria . The younger Henry, now thirteen years old,

8954-433: The end of 1013, Henry II gathered his army at Augsburg to march into Italy. Earlier in 1013, Henry signed a peace treaty with Duke Bolesław of Poland at Merseburg . The peace with Poland gave Henry opportunity to address affairs in Italy. On the march across the Alps, Henry was accompanied by his wife, Queen Cunigunde , and a number of clerics. Upon reaching Pavia other bishops and abbots joined him. Henry's forces trapped

9075-416: The floor. The top is carved with the likeness of Emperor and Empress. Above is a late-Gothic canopy. The carvings round the sides, reflecting the influence of Renaissance art , tell of various episodes in the lives of the imperial couple: The Empress walks across red-hot ploughshares to prove her innocence after being accused of adultery, the payment of the workers who built St. Stephan  [ de ] ,

9196-570: The following year, after which, although recognizing the minor Hermann III as his father's titular successor, Henry II effectively assumed all power over the Duchy himself. In 1003 Henry of Schweinfurt , Margrave of Nordgau in Bavaria , revolted against Henry II's rule. Henry II had promised to install the Margrave as his successor to the Duchy of Bavaria in exchange for supporting his claim to

9317-465: The grave of Pope Clement II. To the left and right are Gothic (late 14th century) choir stalls, richly carved. In the back, the Kreuzaltar dominates the choir. The figures of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalena and John was created from gold-covered basswood in 1652/3 by Justus Glesker  [ de ] , auctioned off during the purification in 1835, bought back in 1915 and erected in 1917. In the front

9438-479: The great-grandson of King Rudolf II of Burgundy . The elder Henry came into conflict with his cousin Holy Roman Emperor Otto II , in 974. The elder Henry and Otto II disputed each other's claims to authority over the Duchy of Swabia : Henry claimed the duchy as his birthright while Otto II maintained his right to name a duke of his choosing. After an initial failed revolt, Otto II imprisoned

9559-673: The imperial estates in Kaufungen . Henry II vowed to found a monastery on the site if she recovered. Upon her recovery in 1018, Henry ordered the construction of the Kaufungen Abbey . After Henry II's death in 1024, Cunigunde retreated to the Abbey, where she remained until her own death in 1040. Sincerely religious, Henry II supported service to the Church (he was celibate ) and promoted various monastic reforms. He also strongly enforced clerical celibacy , perhaps partly in order that

9680-400: The interior art was completely destroyed, damage to the structure was relatively minor. It was quickly rebuilt – by 1087 it was possible to hold a synode here. Bishop Otto had the church rebuilt completely and it was reconsecrated in 1111. This rebuilt church also burned down in 1185. In 1047, the body of Pope Clement II (Bishop of Bamberg, 1040–6) was transferred from Rome to Bamberg and

9801-461: The interior of the cathedral was changed to Baroque style in two waves. The first came under Bishop Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen . The medieval coloured windows were removed. After 1626 the interior was whitened, painting over frescoes. A second wave followed after the end of the Thirty Years' War in 1648–53 under Bishop Melchior Otto Voit von Salzburg . The tomb of Heinrich and Kunigunde

9922-711: The invading Magyars in the early 10th century and established the monastery of Grafrath . By their ancestor Count Palatine Berthold of Reisensburg , a grandson of the Bavarian duke Arnulf the Bad , the Andechser may be affiliated with the Luitpolding dynasty. Berthold appears a fierce enemy of King Otto I of Germany and was blamed as a traitor at the 955 Battle of Lechfeld against the Hungarians. He probably married

10043-459: The new German king. Bolesław I had taken advantage of Germany's internal strife following Otto III's death, occupying important German territories west of the Oder River : the March of Meissen and the March of Lusatia . Bolesław I took control of these territories following the assassination of Margrave Eckard I. Henry II accepted Bolesław I's gains, allowing the Polish Duke to keep Lusatia as

10164-655: The north wall because the sound was best there. Every year about 40 concerts are given in the cathedral. The cloisters and the nearby chapter house by Balthasar Neumann today house the Diözesanmuseum Bamberg  [ de ] (cathedral museum). The Domkranz is a terrace reached by two broad stairways from the Domplatz . From here the Adamspforte and the Gnadenpforte give access to

10285-422: The outside of the cathedral. The eastern crypt was created alongside the current cathedral, c. 1200. The tombs now here were only relocated from the nave in the 19th and 20th centuries. These include bishops from the 11th and 12th centuries and the tomb of King Konrad III (Conrad III) who died at Bamberg in 1152 and was initially buried next to Heinrich and Kunigunde. There is also a well used for baptisms. This

10406-622: The property to and the eastern border of his kingdom still lacked a diocese. Against the opposition of the Bishop of Eichstätt , who lost the northern rim of his territory, and of the Bishop of Würzburg , who lost all of the eastern part of his, the Reichssynode of All Saints' Day 1007 at Frankfurt established the Diocese of Bamberg. The Hochstift was endowed with royal territories, notably around Bamberg and near Villach . Kunigunde contributed Bamberg itself. The first bishop (1007–40)

10527-480: The public land and offices he granted to clerics would not be devised to heirs. He encouraged the reform of the Church, fostered missionary activity, and made several charitable foundations for the poor. Henry II wished to become a monk, and in virtue of his imperial power he ordered the Abbot of Verdun to accept him in his monastery. Thereupon, the Abbot ordered him, in virtue of the vows he had professed, to continue

10648-462: The stonemasons who made the Gnadenpforte (see below). The others and the twelve prophets on the northern screen reflect a later style. The choir stalls with carved chimeras and lions date from the 14th century. The fresco in the apse is much younger. It was created in 1927/8. The west chancel is dedicated to St. Peter symbolizing the Pope . It contains the cathedra (created in 1904) and behind it,

10769-691: The succession of his relative Duke Herman II of Swabia as the next king. In order to force Herman II to relinquish the Holy Lance to him, Henry imprisoned the Archbishop and his brother the Bishop of Würzburg . With neither the symbols of imperial authority, the crown jewels, nor the cooperation of Heribert, Henry was unable to convince the nobles attending Otto III's funeral procession to elect him as king. A few weeks later, at Otto III's funeral in Aachen Cathedral , Henry again attempted to gain

10890-518: The support of the Saxons, Henry arranged for Archbishop Willigis to crown his wife, Cunigunde of Luxembourg as Queen of Germany on 10 August 1002 in Paderborn , in present-day Germany. Henry II spent the next several years consolidating his political power within his borders. Herman II, Duke of Swabia , in particular fiercely contested Henry II's right to the throne. The Swabian Duke believed he

11011-433: The support of the kingdom's nobles and was again rejected. So it was without the support of the kingdom's nobility that Henry took the radical action of having himself anointed and crowned King of Germany ("Rex Romanorum") by Willigis , Archbishop of Mainz on 9 July 1002 at Mainz , in present-day Germany. Henry's action marked the first time a German king was not crowned in Aachen Cathedral since Emperor Otto I began

11132-671: The then Queen of Bavaria, Karoline . Only in 1949, did Domplatz become the official name for the area. Previously, this had been limited to just the immediate surroundings of the cathedral. Bamberg Cathedral (in-game name Regnitz Cathedral) is the Religious Castle Age landmark of the Holy Roman Empire civilization in Age of Empires IV Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor Henry II ( German : Heinrich II ; Italian : Enrico II ; Latin : Henricus ; 6 May 973 – 13 July 1024 AD), also known as Saint Henry , Obl. S. B. ,

11253-572: The town of Kulmbach . He served as vogt of Benediktbeuern Abbey and by marriage with Sophie, daughter of Margrave Poppo II , came into property of lands in the March of Istria and Carniola . In the year 1180, the County of Andechs acquired the town of Innsbruck. Otto II of Andechs was bishop of Bamberg from 1177 to 1196. In 1208, when Philip of Swabia , King of the Germans, was assassinated at Bamberg by Otto VIII of Wittelsbach , members of

11374-510: The tradition in 936 and the first time a German king assumed the throne without election by the German nobility. Under the regal name of "King Henry II", he appeared before the Saxons in mid-July in full regal apparel. There, Henry convinced Bernard I, Duke of Saxony , to support his claims to the throne. In return for his support, Henry guaranteed Bernard's right to rule the Saxons and to represent their interests before him. Shortly after gaining

11495-599: The various duchies of his kingdom – Saxony , Bavaria , Swabia , Upper Lorraine , Lower Lorraine , Franconia . This was done in order to obtain the general consent of his subjects as opposed to traditional election. Henry II's familial ties to the Ottonian dynasty eventually caused the kingdom's nobles to accept him as king. After being defeated at a battle near Strasburg , Herman II submitted to Henry II's authority on 1 October 1002. In exchange for this surrender, Henry II allowed Herman II to remain Duke of Swabia until his death

11616-504: The west as usual due to the two-choir structure of the cathedral but in the centre of the north wall, is called Fürstenportal (princes' portal) and opened only on holy days. It accesses the northern side aisle and was started by late Romanesque artisans (prophets and apostles) but finished by early Gothic workers ( Last Judgment in the tympanum). The statues (replicas) topping the columns are Ecclesia and Synagoga (the originals were moved in 1937). There are also statues here of Abraham and

11737-598: The younger Henry lived in Hildesheim . As a child he was educated in the Christian faith by Bishop Wolfgang of Regensburg , and then studied at the Hildesheim Cathedral . The Emperor himself ensured the younger Henry received an ecclesiastical education in order that by becoming a religious official he would be prevented from participating in the Imperial government. The death of Otto II in 983 allowed

11858-534: Was Eberhard von Abenberg  [ de ] , Heinrich's former chancellor. He took his home in the former Königspfalz . In 1007/1020 the diocese came under the direct authority of the pope, and was thus henceforth outside of the control of the Archbishop of Mainz . King Heinrich (he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor only in 1014) became a canon of the cathedral chapter . Construction of this first cathedral had begun in 1002, with work starting on two crypts. It

11979-559: Was Holy Roman Emperor ("Romanorum Imperator") from 1014. He died without an heir in 1024, and was the last ruler of the Ottonian line . As Duke of Bavaria , appointed in 995, Henry became King of the Romans ("Rex Romanorum") following the sudden death of his second cousin, Emperor Otto III in 1002, was made King of Italy ("Rex Italiae") in 1004, and crowned emperor by Pope Benedict VIII in 1014. The son of Henry II, Duke of Bavaria , and his wife Gisela of Burgundy , Emperor Henry II

12100-468: Was consecrated on Heinrich's birthday, on 6 May 1012. This first cathedral was a cruciform basilica with the main choir in the west and a second to the east, each above a crypt. Two towers were located on the eastern façade. The nave was covered by a flat wooden ceiling. This cathedral was smaller than the current structure (only around 75 m long). This cathedral burned down in the Easter week of 1081. Whilst

12221-524: Was Otto III's true successor, as he had married a daughter of Liudof , eldest son of Emperor Otto I . Armed conflicts between Henry II and Herman II broke out but proved to be inconclusive. This forced the two men to fight each other politically for the support of the Swabian nobles. Unable to decisively defeat Herman in Swabia, Henry II attempted to legitimize his seizing the throne by traveling throughout

12342-666: Was a great-grandson of German king Henry the Fowler and a member of the Bavarian branch of the Ottonian dynasty . Since his father had rebelled against two previous emperors, the younger Henry spent long periods of time in exile, where he turned to Christianity at an early age, first finding refuge with the Bishop of Freising and later during his education at the cathedral school in Hildesheim. He succeeded his father as Duke of Bavaria in 995 as "Henry IV". As duke, he attempted to join his second-cousin, Emperor Otto III, in suppressing

12463-510: Was able to keep the contested marches of Lusatia and Meissen on purely nominal terms of vassalage , with Bolesław I recognizing Henry II as his feudal lord. Henry II also promised to support Bolesław I in the Polish ruler's expedition to Kiev to ensure his son-in-law, Sviatopolk, claimed the Kievan throne. To seal the peace, Bolesław I, then a widower, reinforced his dynastic bonds with the German nobility by marrying Oda of Meissen , daughter of

12584-399: Was assembled in 1926 from various individual figures of different origin, all dating from around 1500. It is named after the statue of St. Sebastian, which is attributed to the workshop of Riemenschneider. The western crypt was filled in with rubble but reopened in 1987–95. It was discovered that it still contained features of Heinrich's original cathedral. It now serves as the burial site for

12705-423: Was at Bamberg and he gave that property (probably in spring 1000) to his wife Kunigunde as a wedding gift. In 1002, Heinrich was elected King of Germany and he started to conduct his government business from Bamberg, giving the town various privileges ( mint , tolls, market rights). Probably late in 1002 the decision was made to establish a diocese at Bamberg. Henry was pious, he and his wife had no children to leave

12826-403: Was built in 1868 gave many problems and had to be rebuilt five years later, but it was kept until 1940 because of its good sound. The organ that is present in the cathedral today was built in 1976 by the organ builder Rieger. There are four angel figures in the corners of the organ case. The organ has four manuals and pedalboard . All the organs during the cathedral's history were built against

12947-560: Was buried in the cathedral. With the destruction of the tomb of Pope Benedict V at Hamburg at the beginning of the 19th century, this became the only papal grave in Germany. All other popes are buried in France or Italy. The current late Romanesque cathedral was erected (with short intermissions) by three men of the house of Andechs-Merania : Otto  [ de ] (bishop from 1177 to 1196), Ekbert of Bamberg (bishop 1203–37) and Poppo  [ de ] (1237–42). The wealth of

13068-466: Was captured, blinded, and imprisoned, where he would remain until his death some thirty years later. Claiming dominion over Bohemia for himself, Bolesław I invaded Bohemia in 1003 and conquered the duchy without any serious opposition. Bohemia had previously been under the influence and protection of Germany, with the Polish invasion further increasing tension between Germany and Poland. Bolesław I openly rebelled against Henry II's rule in 1004, burning down

13189-505: Was deposed in 1004. Henry II then abolished the March of Nordgau, established the Diocese of Bamberg in 1007, and transferred secular authority over the March's former territory to the Diocese in order to prevent further uprisings. The death of Otto III in 1002 and the resulting political turmoil over his successor allowed Italy to fall from German control. Margrave Arduin of Ivrea proclaimed himself King of Italy at Pavia soon after

13310-479: Was elected to succeed him. Upon assuming the chair of St. Peter , however, Benedict VIII was forced to flee Rome by Gregory VI , an antipope , whom John Crescentius installed as the new head of the Catholic Church. Fleeing across the Alps to Germany, Benedict VIII appealed to Henry II for protection. Henry II agreed to restore Benedict VIII to his papal throne in return for his coronation as emperor. Near

13431-403: Was erected in the church Obere Pfarre  [ de ] . It only came to the cathedral in 1937 and is on a permanent loan from the parish. The altar is incomplete (e.g. the predella was never made) and only some parts of it were made by Stoss himself rather than by his workshop. The nave, which connects the eastern and western choir and accounts for about a third of the overall length of

13552-412: Was in direct opposition to not only Sviatopolk but to Bolesław I as well. Years before, Bolesław I had married one of his daughters to Sviatopolk, making the new Kievan Grand Duke a son-in-law to the Polish Duke. Henry II returned to Germany in 1015 after being crowned Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII and prepared for a third invasion of Poland. With three armies at his command, the largest contingent since

13673-660: Was moved, the rood screens were demolished and new high altars set up in both choirs. In 1729–33, Balthasar Neumann , architect of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Würzburg Residence added the chapter house with administration offices for the cathedral chapter. In 1802/3, the Bishopric of Bamberg was secularized and became a part of the Electorate of Bavaria . In 1817, Bamberg became an archdiocese . The province includes

13794-616: Was named his regent over Bavaria. When the elder Henry died in 995, the younger Henry was elected by the Bavarian nobles as the new duke to succeed his father. In 999 Henry married Cunigunde of Luxembourg , a daughter of Count Siegfried of Luxembourg . This marriage granted him an extensive network of contacts in Germany's western territories. In 1001, Emperor Otto III experienced a revolt against his reign in Italy. The Emperor sent word for Henry II to join him with reinforcements from Germany, but then died unexpectedly in January 1002. Otto

13915-494: Was only 21 at the time of his death and had left no children and no instructions for the Imperial succession. In the Ottonian dynasty , succession to the throne had belonged to the Saxon branch, not the Bavarian line of which Henry was a member. Rival candidates for the throne, including Count Ezzo of Lotharingia , Margrave Eckard I of Meissen , and Duke Herman II of Swabia , strongly contested Henry's right to succeed Otto III. As

14036-445: Was ousted in a revolt in 1002. Bolesław I intervened in the Bohemian affair and reinstalled Boleslaus III upon the Bohemian throne in 1003. Boleslaus III soon undermined his own position, however, by ordering a massacre of his leading nobles. Bohemian nobles secretly sent a messenger to Bolesław I, requesting his direct intervention in the crisis. The Polish duke willingly agreed and invited the Bohemian duke to Poland. There, Boleslaus III

14157-483: Was released only after the intervention of the Emperor, who, despite the planned invasion of Poland, loyally acted on behalf of his nominal vassal Bolesław I. As a result, Mieszko II was sent to Henry II's imperial court in Merseburg as a hostage. Henry II probably wanted to force the presence of Bolesław I in Merseburg and make him explain his actions. The plan failed, however, because, under pressure from his relatives,

14278-579: Was replaced and then sold off in 1891. Given to Archbishop Joseph von Schork , he gifted it in 1904 to the cathedral. The southern transept contains a large Nativity altar made of basswood by the artist Veit Stoss in 1520–3. It was originally intended for a church in Nuremberg ( Karmeliterkloster ) but after Reformation came to that city in 1524 the council refused to allow it to be set up. Veit's son Andreas Stoss, who had moved to Bamberg in 1526, managed to have it brought to Bamberg in 1543, where it

14399-521: Was succeeded by Sergius IV from 1009 to 1012. Both John XVIII and Sergius IV, though the nominal Pope, were subservient to the power John Crescentius . As leader of the Crescentii clan and Patrician of Rome , John Crescentius was the effective ruler of the city. John Crescentius' influence prevented Henry II from meeting the Pope on numerous occasions, preventing him from claiming the imperial title. Following Sergius IV's death in 1012, Benedict VIII

14520-470: Was supposed to represent. During the cathedral's long history, the favoured version changed. The Romantics thought he was a German emperor from the Hohenstaufen family. The Nazis thought he was a knight who symbolized German perfection, looking towards the east for new lands to conquer. Pictures of the horseman were displayed in schools, hostels and dwellings. It is now thought that he was probably

14641-413: Was the first wife of Andrew II of Hungary and the mother of St Elizabeth of Hungary ; Mechtilde became Abbess of Kitzingen; while Agnes, a famous beauty, was made the illegitimate third wife of Philip II of France in 1196, on the repudiation of his lawful wife, Ingeborg, but was dismissed in 1200, after Pope Innocent III laid France under an interdict. A history of the House of Andechs was written by

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