Himmelpforten Convent (

Low Saxon Low Saxon (), also known as West Low German () are a group of Low German dialects spoken in parts of the Netherlands, northwestern Germany and southern Denmark (in North Schleswig by parts of the German-speaking minority). It is one of two di ...

: ''Klooster Hemelpoorten'', ; ) was founded as a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...

s following the

Cistercian The Cistercians (), officially the Order of Cistercians (, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, as well as the contri ...

Rule during the 13th century in

Himmelpforten Himmelpforten (Low Saxon: ''Himmelpoorten'') is a municipality west of Hamburg (Germany) in the district of Stade in Lower Saxony. It is located on the creek. Himmelpforten is also part and the seat of the ''Samtgemeinde'' ("collective municipal ...

, in today's

Lower Saxony Lower Saxony is a States of Germany, German state (') in Northern Germany, northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ' of the Germany, Federal Re ...

, Germany. During the 16th century, it was converted into use as a

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

Damsels' Convent. The Himmelpforten Convent was founded before 1255 and finally dissolved in 1647. The convent complex was built between 1300 and 1330. After 1645 the buildings, including the

abbey An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christians, Christian monks and nun ...

, increasingly decayed, until they were little by little demolished. The dilapidated abbey was demolished in 1737 and replaced by today's

St. Mary's Church St. Mary's Church, St. Mary the Virgin's Church, St. Mary Church, Saint Mary Church, or other variations on the name, is a commonly used name for specific churches of various Christian denominations. Notable uses of the term may refer to: Albania ...

which partially covers the foundations of the former abbey.

History

The

convent A convent is an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The term is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...

was founded in the mid-13th century on Westerberg hill in , a location later indicated by St. Andrew's Chapel.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 5. No ISBN. As the

Cistercian Order The Cistercians (), officially the Order of Cistercians (, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, as well as the contri ...

had restricted the incorporation of the growing number of women's monastic communities who followed the Cistercian Rule, and since no existing deed neither records the incorporation of the Himmelpforten Convent, nor the appointment of a Father Abbot, as usual for an affiliated community of women, Porta Coeli most likely never officially joined that Order.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 33. No ISBN. In 1244 and 1245 the Cistercian

general chapter A chapter ( or ') is one of several bodies of clergy in Catholic, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Nordic Lutheran churches or their gatherings. Name The name derives from the habit of convening monks or canons for the reading of a chapter o ...

had determined that a monastery of nuns could be incorporated into the Cistercian Order only if the competent bishop and the competent

cathedral chapter According to both Catholic and Anglican canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics ( chapter) formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese during the vacancy. In ...

exempted the community's

temporalities Temporalities or temporal goods are the secular properties and possessions of the church. The term is most often used to describe those properties (a '' Stift'' in German or ''sticht'' in Dutch) that were used to support a bishop or other religious ...

and

spiritualities Spiritualities is a term, often used in the Middle Ages, that refers to the income sources of a diocese or other ecclesiastical establishment that came from tithes. It also referred to income that came from other religious sources, such as offerings ...

from their control. However, such a wide-ranging exemption from their

sovereignty Sovereignty can generally be defined as supreme authority. Sovereignty entails hierarchy within a state as well as external autonomy for states. In any state, sovereignty is assigned to the person, body or institution that has the ultimate au ...

is exactly what

Bremen Cathedral Bremen Cathedral (), named after St. Peter, is a church situated in the market square in the center of Bremen. The cathedral belongs to the Bremian Evangelical Church, a member of the umbrella organization Evangelical Church in Germany. It ...

chapter and the prince-archbishop did not want, as is described below. The convent's main benefactor, the

Brobergen Brobergen (Low German, Low Saxon: ''Brobargen'') is a village in the German municipality of Kranenburg, Lower Saxony, Kranenburg in the district of Stade (district), Stade, Lower Saxony. The village of 6.06 km² has 220 inhabitants (July 1, 20 ...

family (also spelt Broc(k)bergen, extinct in 1745) intended to make it their proprietary monastery.Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 78. . The , holding

allod Allod, deriving from Frankish language, Frankish ''alōd'' meaning "full ownership" (from ''al'' "full, whole" and ''ōd'' "property, possession"; Medieval Latin ''allod'' or ''allodium''), also known as allodial land or proprietary property, was ...

ial estates, tried to establish the nunnery as their power base out of the immediate prince-archiepiscopal reach,Konrad Elmshäuser, „Die Erzbischöfe als Landesherren“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 159–194, here p. 165. .Adolf E. Hofmeister, „Adel, Bauern und Stände“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 195–240, here p. 195. . an idea also pursued by the Brobergens' kinsman ,Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 27. No ISBN. but failed.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 28. No ISBN. In their aim to establish unrivalled territorial control, the Bremen Cathedral Chapter, led by its then

Provost Provost may refer to: Officials Ecclesiastic * Provost (religion), a high-ranking church official * Prince-provost, a high-ranking church official Government * Provost (civil), an officer of local government, including the equivalent ...

Gerard of Lippe, besides fulfilling religious tasks of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bremen also wielding the secular rule in the much smaller

Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen The Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen () was an Hochstift, ecclesiastical principality (787–1566/1648) of the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church that after its definitive secularization in 1648 became the hereditary Bremen-Verden, Duchy of ...

, together with the prince-archbishop of Bremen, then Gerard's sick granduncle , since 1251 represented by

Coadjutor The term "coadjutor" (literally "co-assister" in Latin) is a title qualifier indicating that the holder shares the office with another person, with powers equal to the other in all but formal order of precedence. These include: * Coadjutor bishop ...

, Prince-Bishop of Paderborn, being Gerard's uncle and Gebhard's nephew, managed to integrate the Porta Coeli convent and its holdings as a temporality within the prince-archiepiscopal sovereign territory. With establishing Porta Coeli as a prince-archiepiscopal outpost to observe and surveil the peasants' ambitions Gerard and Simon of Lippe pursued Prince-Archbishop Gebhard's long-term project of enforcing the reign over the free peasants, e.g. manifesting in Gebhard's earlier subjection of the Stedingers. The integration of Himmelpforten Convent into the prince-archiepiscopal temporalities was fixed in a deed, issued in 1255, on the occasion of moving the convent to then Eylsede/ Eulsete village (literally: Eylo's/Eilhard's seat), later adopting the Low Saxon translation ''tor Hemmelporten'' or ''to der Himilporten'' of the convent's Latin name ''Porta Coeli'' (Gate of Heaven; modern standard German: Himmelpforten).Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 23. No ISBN. Eylsede was most likely chosen because its location adjacent to the

Osten Osten (; ) is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Oste. Osten also means "East" in German. History Osten belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. In 1648 ...

jurisdiction (Gericht Osten; in the

Oste Oste () is a river in northern Lower Saxony, Germany with a length of . It is a left tributary of the Elbe. The Oste flows through the Harburg (district), districts of Harburg, Rotenburg (district), Rotenburg, Stade (district), Stade and Cuxhav ...

Marsh In ecology, a marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than by woody plants.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p More in genera ...

es) and to

Kehdingen Kehdingen is the name of a landscape in the north German district of Stade on the Lower Elbe, the lower reaches of the River Elbe. It extends roughly from the mouth of the Oste in the north to the town of Stade in the south. Kehdingen is one of th ...

, both forming

corporate A corporation or body corporate is an individual or a group of people, such as an association or company, that has been authorized by the state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law as "born out of s ...

bodies of free peasants upholding a certain inner autonomy, claiming and at times gaining seat and franchise at the

diets The Low Countries comprise the coastal Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta region in Western Europe, whose definition usually includes the modern countries of Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and parts of Northern France. Both Belgium and the ...

of the estates of the prince-archbishopric (Stiftsstände) and therefore suspected by the chapter and the prince-archbishop to rival their reign. The deed of 1 May 1255, empowering the convent's Provost Albertus to steward its possessions and waiving the prince-archiepiscopal overlordship, explicitly mentions the donation of

Großenwörden Großenwörden is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany. History Großenwörden belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. On 1 May 1255 the village, then named Wörden, was mentioned in a deed ...

village by Frederick of Haseldorf, later canon at the Hamburg subchapter, who in 1250 on the occasion of joining clergy bestowed part of the

allodial Allodial title constitutes ownership of real property (land, buildings, and fixtures) that is independent of any superior landlord. Allodial title is related to the concept of land held "in allodium", or land ownership by occupancy and defense ...

holdings of his family (extinct in the 1280s) in the

Lamstedt Lamstedt (in High German, in Low Saxon: Loomst) is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Geography The low ridge of the Westerberg an end moraine from the Saale glaciation period lies in the vicinity of Lamstedt ...

Geest Geest (, , ) is a type of landform, slightly raised above the surrounding countryside, that occurs on the plains of Northern Germany, the Northern Netherlands and Denmark. It is a landscape of sandy and gravelly soils formed as a glacial outw ...

and the Oste Marshes on the nunnery.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 6. No ISBN He also donated to other

monasteries A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which m ...

( in Stade, in

Zeven Zeven () is a town in the district of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It has a population of around 14,000. The nearest large towns are Bremerhaven, Bremen and Hamburg. It is situated approximately 22 km northwest of Rotenburg, and 40& ...

, in

Harsefeld Harsefeld (in High German, in Low Saxon: Harsfeld; literally ''horse field'') is a municipality situated south-west of Hamburg (Germany). Harsefeld has a population of c. 12,500 and belongs to the district of Stade, Lower Saxony. Harsefeld is a ...

), but preferred Porta Coeli. The capitular deed also declared that the convent held all its possessions, donated by whom so ever, only by the virtue of the Bremen cathedral chapter, thus denying any exemption from territorial prince-archiepiscopal sovereignty. In his will, Frederick of Haseldorf, meanwhile Prince-Bishop of Dorpat, bequeathed his personal belongings to Porta Coeli Convent, however

Vitslav II, Prince of Rügen Vitslav II (c. 1240 – 1302), variously called Vislav, Vizlav, Wislaw, Wizlaw and Witslaw in English sources () was a Principality of Rügen, prince of Rügen.Vitslav is the most common variant and also the closest in sound to the German ''Wizlaw ...

, captured and withheld the bequest, so that in 1291 the

abbess An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa'') is the female superior of a community of nuns in an abbey. Description In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran and Anglican abbeys, the mod ...

of Porta Coeli waived its claim, likely in return for some form of compensation.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 8. No ISBN The deed of waiver of 17 March 1291 shows the oldest preserved version of the nunnery's seal, since 1955 officially used by the Himmelpforten municipality.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 5. No ISBN. Besides the Brobergens and Haseldorfs further noble families from the Elbe–Weser triangle ( Bremian

ministerialis The ''ministeriales'' (singular: ''ministerialis'') were a legally unfree but socially elite class of knights, administrators, and officials in the High Middle Ages in the Holy Roman Empire, drawn from a mix of servile origins, free commoners, and ...

such as the ) bestowed land and dues on the convent. The

Cistercian nuns Cistercian nuns are female members of the Cistercian Order, a religious order of the Catholic Church. History The Cistercian Order was initially a male order. Cistercian female monasteries began to appear by 1125. The first Cistercian monastery ...

elected a male provost as their legal wardenSabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp. 51–78, here p. 64. as well as their representative at the diets of the prince-archbishopric. The provost and the convent's prioress stewarded its possessions together.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 24. No ISBN. Until the

secularisation In sociology, secularization () is a multilayered concept that generally denotes "a transition from a religious to a more worldly level." There are many types of secularization and most do not lead to atheism or irreligion, nor are they automatica ...

Porta Coeli's provosts were usually simultaneously capitular canons residing in

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...

city. This was because any candidate for provostship had to be confirmed in advance by the Bremen Cathedral Chapter. The provost also wielded the

summary jurisdiction Summary jurisdiction, in the widest sense of the phrase, in English law includes the power asserted by courts of record to deal ''brevi manu'' (directly) with contempts of court without the intervention of a jury. Probably the power was originally ...

in Porta Coeli's temporal judicature precinct. Furthermore the provost held the ''

ius ''Ius'' or ''Jus'' (Latin, plural ''iura'') in ancient Rome was a right to which a citizen (''civis'') was entitled by virtue of his citizenship (''civitas''). The ''iura'' were specified by laws, so ''ius'' sometimes meant law. As one went to ...

collationis'' in the

Hechthausen Hechthausen is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. History Hechthausen belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Brem ...

parish.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 21. No ISBN. Besides the provost there was also a (ad)vocate (), exerting military protection,Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 25. No ISBN. managing the Vorwerke, and exercising police function in the convent's jurisdictions.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 34. No ISBN. Each nun, and later each conventual, had a home of her own, with her personal maid. All feudal estates (Meierhöfe) in Eulsete (Himmelpforten) were let out on

socage Socage () was one of the feudal duties and land tenure forms in the English feudal system. It eventually evolved into the freehold tenure called "free and common socage", which did not involve feudal duties. Farmers held land in exchange for ...

(Meierverhältnis) to farmers, and each comprised less land than a family needed for self-sustenance, so that the farmers, men and women alike, depended on work for the convent as farmhands and maids.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 42. No ISBN. The convent ran a village school, usually staffed with an educated

schoolmaster A schoolmaster, or simply master, is a male school teacher. The usage first occurred in England in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period. At that time, most schools were one-room or two-room schools and had only one or two such teacher ...

, and therefore known for its higher standard than ordinary village schools.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 148. No ISBN. In ecclesiastical respect Porta Coeli formed part of the

archdeaconry An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that of mo ...

connected in

personal union A personal union is a combination of two or more monarchical states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain distinct. A real union, by contrast, involves the constituent states being to some extent in ...

with the Bremen cathedral provost, presiding over the cathedral chapter. His archdeaconry comprised Kehdingen, Vieland and the then vast Oldendorf parish. Before the establishment of Porta Coeli's abbey, which simultaneously served as the local parish church too, Eulsete had formed part of the .Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 22. No ISBN. Thus the new Himmelpforten parish with the affiliate parishes of Großenwörden and formed part of the cathedral provost's archdeaconry too. After having become Regent of

Hadeln Hadeln is a former ("collective municipality") in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was situated in the Land of Hadeln near the mouth of the river Elbe, approximately 15 km east of Cuxhaven. Its seat was in the town Otterndo ...

Magnus, the heir apparent of Saxe-Lauenburg, on 24 November 1498 allied with his father

John V John V may refer to: * Patriarch John V of Alexandria or John the Merciful (died by 620), Patriarch of Alexandria from 606 to 616 * John V of Constantinople, Patriarch from 669 to 675 * Pope John V (685–686), Pope from 685 to his death in 686 ...

and

Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Henry IV (14 June 1463 – 23 June 1514), called the Elder (), a member of the House of Welf, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruling Prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1491 until his death. Life Henry's father, Duke William IV of Brunswick-Lün ...

in order to conquer the Land of Wursten,Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278, here p. 266. . an autonomous peasants' corporation under the loose Bremian prince-archiepiscopal overlordship. For the threat of Wursten Bremen's Prince-Archbishop Johann Rode was prepared, since already on 16 November he and Hamburg's three burgomasters (upcoming, presiding, and outgoing), Johannes Huge, Hermen Langenbeck and Henning Buring had concluded a defensive alliance. Rode appealed at the burghers of Bremen, Hamburg and

Stade Stade (; ), officially the Hanseatic City of Stade (, ) is a city in Lower Saxony in northern Germany. First mentioned in records in 934, it is the seat of the Stade (district), district () which bears its name. It is located roughly to the wes ...

, which considered the areas downstream the rivers

Elbe The Elbe ( ; ; or ''Elv''; Upper Sorbian, Upper and , ) is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Giant Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia (western half of the Czech Republic), then Ge ...

and

Weser The Weser () is a river of Lower Saxony in north-west Germany. It begins at Hannoversch Münden through the confluence of the Werra and Fulda. It passes through the Hanseatic city of Bremen. Its mouth is further north against the ports o ...

their own front yard existential for their free maritime trade connections, so the three

Hanseatic The Hanseatic League was a Middle Ages, medieval commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns in Central Europe, Central and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Growing from a few Northern Germany, North German towns in the ...

cities supported Rode, who further won the Ditmarsians, free peasants under Bremen's loose overlordship.Elke Freifrau von Boeselager, „Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 321–388, here p. 332. . On 1 May 1499 Rode, the Land of Wursten, Hamburg and Bremen concluded a defensive alliance in favour of Wursten in case of another invasion by John XIV of

Oldenburg Oldenburg may also refer to: Places * Mount Oldenburg, Ellsworth Land, Antarctica *Oldenburg (city), an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany **Oldenburg (district), a district historically in Oldenburg Free State and now in Lower Saxony * Ol ...

, who had conquered westerly neighbouring

Butjadingen Butjadingen () is a peninsula and municipality in the Wesermarsch district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Geography Butjadingen is situated on the German North Sea coast. It is bordered on the west and southwest by the Jade River and the east by the ...

in April with the help of the ''Great'' or ''

Black Guard The Black Guard or ''‘Abid al-Bukhari'' (; also known as ''‘Abīd ad-Dīwān'' "slaves of the diwan", ''Jaysh al-‘Abīd'' "the slave army", and ''‘Abid as-Sultan'' "the sultan’s slaves") were the corps of black-African slaves and ''Ha ...

'' of ruthless and violent Dutch and East Frisian mercenaries. Wursten was thus threatened by Oldenburg from the west and by Magnus from the east. In order to avoid war on two fronts Rode tried to ease the relation with Magnus, but in vain. On 1 August Rode, Bremen's cathedral chapter, more prelates from the prince-archbishopric, as well as the cities of Bremen,

Buxtehude Buxtehude (; , ), officially the Hanseatic City of Buxtehude (), is a town on the Este River in Northern Germany, belonging to the district of Stade in Lower Saxony. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and attached to the city's S-Ba ...

, Hamburg, and Stade stipulated to supply 1,300 warriors and equipment to defend Wursten and / or invade Hadeln. Finally on 9 September 1499 Rode waged

feud A feud , also known in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, private war, or mob war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially family, families or clans. Feuds begin ...

against John V and Magnus. The allied forces easily conquered the Land of Hadeln, defeating Magnus and even drove him out of Hadeln.Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 184.Heinz-Joachim Schulze, „Johann III. Rode“, in: ''Neue Deutsche Biographie'' (NDB), vol. 10: pp. 480–481, here p. 480. By 20 November 1499 Magnus hired the ''Great'' or ''Black Guard'', prior operating in Oldenburg, for his purposes.Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278, here p. 267. . They invaded the prince-archbishopric through the neighbouring

Prince-Bishopric of Verden The Prince-Bishopric of Verden (, ''Hochstift Verden'' or ''Stift Verden'') was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire that was located in what is today the state of Lower Saxony in Germany. Verden had been a diocese of the Catho ...

. The Guard southerly by-passed the fortified Buxtehude and Stade, leaving behind a wake of devastation on the countryside and in the monasteries (,

Neukloster Neukloster is a town in the east of the district of Nordwestmecklenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. This town is the administrative center of the bureau Neukloster-Warin, which includes eight more communes. Neukloster is close to th ...

, both localities of today's Buxtehude).Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278, here p. 268. . Still in 1499 the Guard also looted Porta Coeli, which, however, could ransom itself from being set on fire,Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 23. No ISBN. before in mid-January 1500 King John of Denmark finally hired the Guard and guaranteed for its safe conduct to his

Holstein Holstein (; ; ; ; ) is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider (river), Eider. It is the southern half of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost States of Germany, state of Germany. Holstein once existed as the German County of Holstein (; 8 ...

.Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol. 14, pp. 183–185, here p. 185. Under the squandering reign of Prince-Archbishop the indebted ruler in 1541 ceded his revenues from Porta Coeli to his Chancery Secretary Steffen vom Stein for three years in lieu of a repayment. Christopher's financially burdensome prodigal lifestyle fostered the spreading of the

Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...

in the prince-archbishopric. The conversion of the nuns followed the adoption of Lutheranism among the noble families from whom they originated. The convent's aim was to care for noble women, which was to be maintained and thus it became a Lutheran Damsels' Convent.Sabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp. 51–78, here p. 60. "The ancestors primarily dedicated, founded and endowed noble … monasteries with estates so that their descendants … who had no desire or were uncomfortable to get married, could be admitted to them and sustained in them." As far as known today, there were no commoners accepted among the nuns and later Lutheran conventuals. The nuns and conventuals originated - amongst others - from the families Brobergen, von der Brock, von Campe, von der Decken, Drew(e)s, , von Hadeln, Haken, , von Issendorff, , von der Lieth, Marschalck, , von Reimershausen, , , and von Weyhe.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 36. No ISBN. By 1550/1555 the convent's provost, wielding the ''ius nominandi'' in

, Hechthausen and in Horst upon OsteSilvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 37. No ISBN. nominated the first Lutheran preacher for St. Peter's Church in Horst, whom then the competent archdeacon, in personal union the cathedral provost of the Bremen chapter, investedGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 20. No ISBN. according to his ''ius investiendi''. This is taken as evidence that by then the Reformation of the conventuals must have been completed. In 1556 the provost also nominated the first Lutheran preacher for the abbey of Porta Coeli, who was also invested.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 27. No ISBN. In 1581 a fire destroyed farms and convent buildings in Himmelpforten.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 23seq. No ISBN. In the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...

after the

Battle of Lutter The Battle of Lutter (German language, German: ''Lutter am Barenberge'') took place on 27 August 1626 during the Thirty Years' War, south of Salzgitter, in Lower Saxony. A combined Danish-German force led by Christian IV of Denmark was defeated ...

on 17/27 August 1626^O.S./N.S. the Catholic Leaguist forces invaded the Bremian prince-archbishopric, capturing one fortified city after the other.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 31. No ISBN. After the surrender of

on 27 April/7 May 1628^O.S./N.S. the Leaguists occupied all the state, including Himmelpforten. Between 1628 and 1629 most Protestant preachers fled the area. In September 1629 the Imperial Commission of

Restitution Restitution and unjust enrichment is the field of law relating to gains-based recovery. In contrast with damages (the law of compensation), restitution is a claim or remedy requiring a defendant to give up benefits wrongfully obtained. Liability ...

ordered Himmelpforten Convent to hand in a complete register of all its possessions and revenues. Prioress Gerdruth von Campe informed Provost Franz Marschalck, then residing in safe Bremen out of reach for the Leaguist occupants and the Restitution Commission, who on 8/18 October 1629^O.S./N.S. personally delivered the demanded information to the Commission then residing in Verden upon Aller. On 19/29 November^O.S./N.S. the Commission's subdelegates, Jacob Brummer and Wilhelm Schröder, arrived at Himmelpforten Convent in order to sight the situation there. Much of the chattels had been plundered by the Leaguists since their invasion. The livestock then counted four horses, two cows and one calf, 15 fattening pigs, 25 breeding pigs, five piglets and uncounted geese, ducks and chickens.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 32. No ISBN. The subdelegates found the abbey church untouched with all its furnishings, such as altars, religious paintings,

pew A pew () is a long bench seat or enclosed box, used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a synagogue, church, funeral home or sometimes a courtroom. Occasionally, they are also found in live performance venues (such as the Ryman ...

parament Paraments or parements (from Late Latin ''paramentum'', "adornment", ''parare'', "to prepare", "equip") are both the hangings or ornaments of a room of state, and the ecclesiastical vestments. Paraments include the liturgical hangings on and aro ...

chasuble The chasuble () is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian churches that use full vestments, primarily in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. In the Eastern ...

s and other liturgical devices.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 33. No ISBN. They ordered the prioress to deliver all liturgical devices which they appropriated in favour of the Restitution Commission and brought them to Stade. The prioress made the men aware of the fact that the convent had more liturgical devices stored in a house in Stade.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 56. No ISBN. On 22 November/ 2 December 1629^O.S./N.S. all the seized liturgical devices from Himmelpforten and in Stade were handed over to the

Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

Father Matthias Kalkhoven, and disappeared with the Jesuits in April 1632.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 38. No ISBN. Only one

chalice A chalice (from Latin 'cup', taken from the Ancient Greek () 'cup') is a drinking cup raised on a stem with a foot or base. Although it is a technical archaeological term, in modern parlance the word is now used almost exclusively for the ...

from 1422, preserved until today, remained with the convent.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 142. No ISBN. On 23 November/ 3 December 1629^O.S./N.S. the subdelegates returned to Himmelpforten and interrogated the conventuals as to alienations of convent possessions, but without learning anything new. Then the conventuals were ordered to the abbey quire to acknowledge the seizure of the convent by the Restitution Commission. They were told, that those who would convert to Catholicism until

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

1629, would be granted a lifelong annuity, whereas the others would lose their sustenance by

Easter Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...

1630 (i.e. 31 March^N.S.).Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 123. . Provost Marschalck refused to deliver the convent's archive, which Henrich Moller in Hamburg held in pledge for an earlier credit to the convent.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 34. No ISBN.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 36. No ISBN. What happened to the archive is unclear, the credit was obviously never repaid so the archive was never restituted. Marschalck pleaded the Restitution Commission to have mercy on the conventuals who on their entry into the convent had bestowed estates or revenues on it and were without any means if expelled. With the prince-archbishopric plundered and suffering from occupation the conventuals could not hope to find any other refuge. However, the Restitution Commission refused. On 6/16 May 1630^O.S./N.S. the Restitution Commission commissioned Philipp Lütringhausen, Albert Treckel and Chamber Councillor Thomas Runge to evict the conventuals and hand over the convent to the Jesuits in Stade. For 19/29 July^O.S./N.S. these three men, accompanied by Father Kalkhoven, gathered in

Drochtersen Drochtersen () is a municipality in the district of Stade, in Lower Saxony (Germany). It is located 45 km Northwest of Hamburg. It belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy ...

the Kehdingen farmers tithing to the convent, and declared that from then on the tithe would be collected by the Jesuits. On 21/31 July^O.S./N.S. the three men, now coming from Stade, arrived again in Himmelpforten and the day after they requested the conventuals to leave their convent since they all steadfastly held on to the Lutheran faith.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 34seq. No ISBN. The men repeated that as Catholic converts the conventuals would be granted alimony.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 35. No ISBN. The conventuals' pleas to allow them to stay acknowledging their steady service to the benefit of the convent and in respect of their faith, did not help it. On 6 August Provost Marschalck personally intervened again at the three men in favour of the conventuals, but in vain.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 37. No ISBN. Kalkhoven offered each conventual Rixdollar (Rtlr) 75 and two barrels of rye, if they would leave. The conventuals rejected any gifts. The conventuals were then announced to be violently evicted by noon 28 July/7 August^O.S./N.S.. With the administrator regnant, John Frederick, deposed and in exile, the conventuals and the provost were on their own and could not help it. So on 27 July/ 6 August 1630^O.S./N.S. the conventuals finally left.Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 79. . Thereafter the three men formally seized the convent in favour of the new

Jesuit college The Jesuits (Society of Jesus) in the Catholic Church have founded and managed a number of educational institutions, including the notable secondary schools, colleges, and university, universities listed here. Some of these universities are in t ...

founded in Stade in order to Catholicise the local population.Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here pp. 79 and 122seq. . Jesuit Father Kalkhoven literally appropriated the abbatial ring, the kitchen pothook, the keys of the convent, and a sod from the convent garden, representing its landed estates.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 35seq. No ISBN. Kalkhoven also took possession of the Lutheran former abbey church by ceremonially posing his hands over the altar. Already on 26 July/ 5 August 1630^O.S./N.S.

farmers from Himmelpforten had been gathered in order to make them render homage to their new lord, the

Society of Jesus The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 ...

. Kalkhoven then usurped the title of Provost of Himmelpforten. Kalkhoven appointed Erich Raschke as administrator, later expelled by the

Swedes Swedes (), or Swedish people, are an ethnic group native to Sweden, who share a common ancestry, Culture of Sweden, culture, History of Sweden, history, and Swedish language, language. They mostly inhabit Sweden and the other Nordic countries, ...

who took Himmelpforten in early May 1632.Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here pp. 123 and 126. . In the second half of April 1632, after the Swedish victory in the

Battle of Rain The Battle of Rain took place on 15 April 1632 near Rain in Bavaria during the Thirty Years' War. It was fought by a Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, and a Catholic League force led by Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly. The b ...

, the Imperial and Leaguist forces, altogether 23,000 men billeted in the area of Himmelpforten, Stade, Buxtehude, the

Stade Geest The Stade Geest (German: ''Stader Geest''; Northern Low Saxon: ''Stoder Geest'') is a natural region of low, sandy heath (Geest (topography), geest) in the North German Plain. It includes a large part of the Elbe-Weser Triangle between the cities o ...

and the Bremian Elbe Marshes,Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 57. No ISBN. left the prince-archbishopric and with them the foreign Catholic clergy. Now the allied troops of Sweden, the city of Bremen and the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen under Achatius Tott captured the prince-archbishopric and John Frederick resumed his office as its Administrator regnant. Highly indebted as he was after recruiting and arming his troops allied with the Swedes, he brought in a bill to confiscate all the monasteries in the prince-archbishopric. However, on 20 and 28 May 1633^O.S. on the diet in Basdahl the estates of the prince-archbishopric rejected that, but allowed the Administrator regnant to collect the revenues of the monasteries until the Thirty Years' War would end. With John Frederick's death in 1634 the greatest antagonist to the continued existence of the convents had disappeared, since the estates supported them.Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158, here p. 88. By then the conventuals managed to recapture the buildings, however, without the previous revenues then granted to the ruler. After Provost Marschalck had died in June, on 22 November/ 2 December 1638^O.S./N.S. the conventuals elected Casper Schulte their new provost. In 1646 Prioress Gerdruth von Campe started recompleting the set of liturgical devices and donated a new

, and two years later her fellow conventual Anna Voß bestowed a new

paten A paten or diskos is a small plate used for the celebration of the Eucharist (as in a mass). It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the tabernacle in a ciborium. Western usage In many Wes ...

on the convent, both till this day owned by the Lutheran parish. Following the Treaty of Brömsebro on 13/23 August 1645^O.S./N.S. Sweden seized the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, with Swedish troops anyway in the country as concluded by the war alliance between the kingdom and the prince-archbishopric.Beate-Christine Fiedler, „Bremen und Verden als schwedische Provinz (1633/45–1712)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 173–253, here p. 189. . On 27 October/ 9 November 1647^O.S./N.S. Queen

Christina of Sweden Christina (; 18 December ld Style and New Style dates, O.S. 8 December1626 – 19 April 1689), a member of the House of Vasa, was Monarchy of Sweden, Queen of Sweden from 1632 until her abdication in 1654. Her conversion to Catholicism and ...

promised the convent with all its revenues to Count Gustaf Adolf Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt (1619–1656), who on 30 July/ 9 August 1651^O.S./N.S. was invested with the convent as a

fief A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal alle ...

heritable in the male line (Mannlehen). In 1647 there were twelve conventuals,Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 39. No ISBN. and 14 women aspirants held

abeyance Abeyance (from the Old French ' meaning "gaping") describes a state of temporary dormancy or suspension. In law, it can refer to a situation where the ownership of property, titles, or office is not currently Vesting, vested in any specific perso ...

s to a sustenance in the convent.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 40. No ISBN. By the

Peace of Westphalia The Peace of Westphalia (, ) is the collective name for two peace treaties signed in October 1648 in the Westphalian cities of Osnabrück and Münster. They ended the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and brought peace to the Holy Roman Empire ...

in 1648 the prince-archiepiscopal elective monarchy was secularised as the heritable Duchy of Bremen, which was jointly ruled with the new

Principality of Verden Bremen-Verden, formally the Duchies of Bremen and Verden (; ), were two territories and immediate fiefs of the Holy Roman Empire, which emerged and gained imperial immediacy in 1180. By their original constitution they were prince-bishoprics of th ...

, as

Bremen-Verden Bremen-Verden, formally the Duchies of Bremen and Verden (; ), were two territories and immediate fiefs of the Holy Roman Empire, which emerged and gained imperial immediacy in 1180. By their original constitution they were prince-bishoprics of th ...

, since both imperial fiefs were bestowed on the Swedish crown. By the 1650s the previous religious bodies, such as the Lutheran cathedral chapter or the archdeaconries, had been abolished, their revenues mostly confiscated, with only few of them not granted to Swedish war veterans. On 2/12 September 1651^O.S./N.S. the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden appointed the first general superintendent for the new , the state church of Bremen-Verden, presiding over the

consistory Consistory is the anglicized form of the consistorium, a council of the closest advisors of the Roman emperors. It can also refer to: *A papal consistory, a formal meeting of the Sacred College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church *Consistor ...

in Stade. The General Diocese of Bremen-Verden became a subdivision of the

Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover () is a Lutheran church body ''(Landeskirche)'' in the northern German state of Lower Saxony and the city of Bremerhaven covering the territory of the former Kingdom of Hanover. The seat of the Landesbi ...

on its formation in 1864. Since 1936 its locally competent church district, the General Diocese, is succeeded by the Stade Diocese (Sprengel Stade).

Legacy

On 21/31 May 1650^O.S./N.S. Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt's plenipotentiary Johann Friedrich onArensen,The Arensens were nobilitated in 1651. Cf. Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 40. No ISBN. Privy Councillor Nicolaus von Höpken, general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden, and the conventuals concluded a settlement about the latter's future sustenance.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 42. No ISBN. The abeyances were not acknowledged, their aspirants came away empty-handed. The acknowledged conventuals would receive their annuities for all their lives (or until their marriage) and usually lived in the former convent buildings until their death (or marriage). In the fiscal year 1668/1669 still eight conventuals were alive, one married and seven still receiving their annuities.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 46. No ISBN. In today's Himmelpforten a number of

toponyms Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage, and types. ''Toponym'' is the general term for a proper nam ...

recall the former monastery (), such as Klosterfeld, a former field now a scheme of detached houses built in the 1970s, the Klostergraben, a drainage trench now forming the border between Himmelpforten and Burweg, the Klostermoor, a

bog A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and musk ...

on Himmelpforten's eastern border to .Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 124. No ISBN. The secondary schools in Himmelpforten (

Hauptschule A ''Hauptschule'' (, "general school") is a secondary school in Germany, starting after four years of elementary schooling (''Grundschule''), which offers Lower Secondary Education (Level 2) according to the International Standard Classification ...

and

Realschule Real school (, ) is a type of secondary school in Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia (''realna gimnazija''), the Austrian Empire, the German Empire, Denmark and Norway (''realskole''), Sweden (''realskola''), F ...

), founded in 1966, and on 27 November 1975 moved to its present location, have later commonly adopted the Latin name (PCS).Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 154. No ISBN.

Amt Himmelpforten

Since the enfeoffment of Count Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt with the former convent this seigniorial entity with its three Vorwerke, its socage farmers and revenues from dues and fines in its jurisdictions was called the ''Amt Himmelpforten''. The last Convent Scribe Erich Everdt Gröning(k) officiated as administrator of the Amt between 1658 and 1663, in 1663 and 1666 his sons Franz and then Heinrich Gröning became Himmelpforten's first bailiffs (

Amtmann __NOTOC__ The ''Amtmann'' or ''Ammann'' (in Switzerland) was an official in German-speaking countries of Europe and in some of the Nordic countries from the time of the Middle Ages whose office was akin to that of a bailiff A bailiff is a ...

/Amtleute g./pl..Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 45. No ISBN. The term convent continued to be in use, but referred more to the buildings and the pertaining

glebe A glebe (, also known as church furlong, rectory manor or parson's close(s)) is an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest. The land may be owned by the church, or its profits may be reserved to the church. ...

and socage farms than to the wider administrative subdivision, also including neighbouring villages (Breitenwisch, Großenwörden, Horst upon Oste) subject to the former convent's jurisdiction and to dues to be collected. On 11/21 February 1673^O.S./N.S. Michael Grabo, Bremen-Verdian land fiscal, reported to

Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

Henrik Horn Henrik Horn af Marienborg (22 May 1618 – 22 February 1693) was a Swedish nobleman (''friherre''), admiral and member of the Privy Council of Sweden. Biography Henrik Horn was born at Stade in the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, today in Lowe ...

that Bailiff Michael Riedell had removed bricks from dilapidated convent buildings, demolishing even complete structures, in order to sell them.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 66. No ISBN Under the Brandenburgian- Lunenburgian occupation (1675–1679) during the Bremen-Verden Campaign

billeting In European militaries, a billet is a living-quarters to which a soldier is assigned to sleep. In American usage, it refers to a specific personnel position, assignment, or duty station to which a soldier can be assigned. Historically, a billet w ...

(in Himmelpforten mostly

Münster Münster (; ) is an independent city#Germany, independent city (''Kreisfreie Stadt'') in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a ...

troops staying 11 weeksSilvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 58. No ISBN.) and requisitioning goods impoverished the area, with most revenues anyway lacking as they had been already previously deducted for Count Gustaf Mauritz Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt (1651–1700), the conventuals did not get their annuities and the convent buildings reached a stage of progressed dilapidation.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 48seq. No ISBN. In 1676 still two conventuals lived in the convent, two lived with relatives, and all the four still claimed their annuities.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 48. No ISBN. However, the annuities had not been paid since the start of the campaign in 1675, leaving the three conventuals still alive in 1677 without any means.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 49. No ISBN. All the three had then left the convent after it had been plundered by soldiers in the occupying army.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 50. No ISBN. Also the convent house opposite the western façade of the former abbey, now serving as the bailiff's office, called the ''Amtshaus'', was uninhabitable. On 30 March 1677 the competent occupational Lunenburgian government ordered to evacuate the Amtshaus due to dilapidation. The new occupational bailiff Albertus Hartmann blamed the deposed former bailiff Michael Riedell to have alienated convent possessions, when he had built for himself a new house, using also the materials of Catharina von der Kuhla's former house, which this conventual had built on her family's own expenses and had been sold for demolition to Riedell after her death. Hartmann lost his position in 1680 again, when Bremen-Verden was restituted to the Swedish crown, he was succeeded by late Michael Riedell's son Samuel Friedrich Riedell.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 52. No ISBN. In the course of the

Great Reduction In the Great Reduction of 1680, by which the ancient landed nobility lost its power base, the Swedish Crown confiscated lands earlier granted to the nobility. ''Reductions'' () in Sweden and its dominions were the return to the crown of fiefs tha ...

of 1680 in the following year the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden revoked the enfeoffment of seignorial Himmelpforten to the Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt counts, so that Gustaf Mauritz Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt lost the Amt Himmelpforten to the Swedish crown.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 53. No ISBN. In 1681 two conventuals were still alive and received again their annuities. In 1684 the reestablished Bremen-Verden general government ordered a greater repair of the decayed former abbey church, and also the remaining convent buildings were restored to some extent, all carried out by the socage farmers.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 54. No ISBN. At that time the former Vorwerke were not run with the labour of the socage farmers any more, but all leased to tenants. As of 1712, under the Danish occupation in the

Great Northern War In the Great Northern War (1700–1721) a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern Europe, Northern, Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the ant ...

, the plague reached Himmelpforten, killing 84 persons.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 56. No ISBN. The Danes enlarged the Amt Himmelpforten by the Oldendorf jurisdiction (Börde Oldendorf).Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 59. No ISBN. In 1715 they ceded Bremen-Verden to their ally

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

Hanover Hanover ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...

for Rtlr 600,000, which in 1719 again compensated Sweden with Speziestaler 1,000,000 for its loss, thus gaining the Swedish consent. Himmelpforten plan

British-Hanoverian Bremen-Verden retained the Amt Himmelpforten, then ''Royal and Electoral Bailiwick of Himmelpforten'' (i.e. Königliches und Churfürstliches Ampt HimmelpfortenSilvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 62. No ISBN.) as a rather administrative subdivision, but reorganised it according to the Hanoverian Bailiwick Ordinance (Amtsordnung) of 1674.Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol. 33), p. 30. No ISBN. In the subsequent years the government of British-Hanoverian Bremen-Verden demolished and rebuilt all the remaining convent buildings, such as the church (1738), the schoolhouse, the mill, the bailiff's office and the

pastorate A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicis ...

. During the short-lived Westphalian annexation (1810) the territory of the Amt Himmelpforten formed part of the ''Canton of Stade and Himmelpforten'',Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol. 33), p. 77. No ISBN. established on 1 September 1810 and seated in Stade.Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol. 33), p. 86. No ISBN. With effect of 1 January 1811 all the South Elbian German coast and its hinterland was annexed to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and the area of the Amt Himmelpforten formed the ''

Canton Canton may refer to: Administrative divisions * Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries * Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French Arts and entertainment * Canton (band), an It ...

de Himmelpforten'' in the

Bouches-de-l'Elbe Bouches-de-l'Elbe (; , ) was a department of the First French Empire in present-day Germany that survived for three years. It was named after the mouth of the river Elbe. It was formed in 1811, when the region, originally belonging partially to ...

Department.Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol. 33), p. 100. No ISBN. In 1813 after the French annexation the Amt Himmelpforten was restituted, and Bremen-Verden was reestablished too, however, all its grown local peculiarities in administration were levelled when this Hanoverian province became the

High-Bailiwick of Stade The Stade Region emerged in 1823 by an administrative reorganisation of the dominions of the Kingdom of Hanover, a sovereign state, whose then territory is almost completely part of today's German federal state of Lower Saxony. Until 1837 the ''K ...

in 1823. The

Amt Amt is a type of administrative division governing a group of municipalities, today only in Germany, but formerly also common in other countries of Northern Europe. Its size and functions differ by country and the term is roughly equivalent to ...

, having lost its seignorial character through the abolition of feudalism in the 18th and 19th century (In the

Kingdom of Hanover The Kingdom of Hanover () was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Hanover, and j ...

farmers became proprietors of the land they tilled in 1832.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 44. No ISBN.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 72. No ISBN.), became a mere administrative subdivision. In 1834 the Amt Stade-Agathenburg merged in the Amt Himmelpforten which by large existed in this new extension until 1885,Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 61. No ISBN. when the Prussian district organisation was also applied to the

Province of Hanover The Province of Hanover () was a Provinces of Prussia, province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1866 to 1946. During the Austro-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Hanover had attempted to maintain a neutral position, alo ...

. In 1852 the Amt Osten took over the municipalities of Großenwörden and with from the Amt Himmelpforten, also ceding the , which in 1859 became part of the Bremervörde district, now merged in the

Rotenburg District Rotenburg is a district (''Landkreis'') in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is landlocked by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Stade, Harburg, Heidekreis, Verden, Osterholz and Cuxhaven. History In medieval times the region was part o ...

. The remaining area of the former Amt Himmelpforten forms part of the

District of Stade Stade is a district (''Landkreis'') in Lower Saxony, Germany. It has its seat in Stade and is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. History The district of Stade was established in 1932 by merging three smaller precursor districts. Geogra ...

since 1885. Today's

Oldendorf-Himmelpforten Oldendorf-Himmelpforten is a ''Samtgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") in the district of Stade, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was formed on 1 January 2014 by the merger of the former ''Samtgemeinden'' Oldendorf and Himmelpforten. Its seat is i ...

collective municipality pretty much covers the former Amt Himmelpforten in its extent of 1712.

Convent buildings

The Cistercian convent buildings comprised the abbey, the actual convent and outbuildings, erected between 1300 and 1330.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 138. No ISBN. There were an abbey, a priorate, a granary, a threshing barn, a cart shed, a stable, a bakehouse, a mill, nuns' homes and a janitor's house, the latter along the northern wall of the abbey.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 35. No ISBN. The abbey served from the beginning on also as the parish church of the Himmelpforten parish (Kirchspiel Himmelpforten). By 1320 the actual abbey church was completed.Landkreis Stade / Archäologische Denkmalpflege and Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten, ''Zeugen der Geschichte in Himmelpforten. Ein Spaziergang durch die Vergangenheit der Gemeinde'', Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten (ed.), Stade: Seidel, 2006, section 2 The abbey was a typically Cistercian plain building in early Gothic style. As the church of a

mendicant order Mendicant orders are primarily certain Catholic religious orders that have vowed for their male members a lifestyle of poverty, traveling, and living in urban areas for purposes of preaching, evangelization, and ministry, especially to less we ...

the abbey had no spire but a wooden ridge turret.

The abbey comprised seven

bays A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...

with 21 pillars carrying the vaulted ceiling. The abbey's external dimensions measured Bremian ft 141 () in length and ft 46 () in width, whereas its vault ceiling reached a height of ft 44 (). The polygonal

apse In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault (architecture), vault or semi-dome, also known as an ' ...

was also vaulted. The abbey was torn down in 1737, except of part of its northern wall and the northern corner of the apse, which were integrated into the new Lutheran St. Mary's Church completed in 1738.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 139. No ISBN. In 1728 the convent school was demolished due to dilapidation and replaced by a new school.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 68. No ISBN. In the same year the convent building, then called the Amtshaus (bailiff's office), west of the abbey, was demolished and replaced by the new Amtshaus, completed in 1729, now housing the Birkenhof home for the elderly. Already in 1673 in his report Land Fiscal Grabo judged the pastorate dilapidated, its roof leaky and its posts sinking into the ground.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 67. No ISBN. In 1706 Preacher Michael Schreiner complained to the government about the bad state of repair.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 145. No ISBN. In 1732 the old pastorate south of the main street opposite to the abbey was torn down and replaced by a new building, itself again demolished in 1972.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, pp. 148seq. No ISBN. The convent's watermill on the creek close to the main street was demolished in 1739, and a new one was built more downstream. Bricks of cloister format size, stemming from the demolished convent, were found in the western façade of St. Mary's Church, the new mill and private buildings in the convent's vicinity. In 1779 the janitor's house was enforced to become the local jail.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 77. No ISBN. After the jail was relocated to Stade the chairman of the Ortsarmenkasse (local poor relief fund) lived in the janitor's house, later the

court usher An usher is a person who welcomes and shows people where to sit, especially at a church, theatre or when attending a wedding. History The word comes from the Latin ''wikt:ostiarius, ostiarius'' ("porter", "doorman") through Norman French, and ...

, before the building, then the last of the original convent, was demolished in 1877/1878.

Vorwerke

All farmers of Himmelpforten village were subject to

serjeanty Under feudalism in France and England during the Middle Ages, tenure by serjeanty () was a form of tenure in return for a specified duty other than standard knight-service. Etymology The word comes from the French noun , itself from the Latin ...

(Hofdienst, i.e. estate service) in favour of the nunnery. The nunnery ran three Vorwerke, outlying agricultural farm estates employing farmhands and additionally farmers obliged to serjeanty. The Vorwerke were managed by the (ad)vocate (Vogt). Thus the nunnery ran a Vorwerk on Stubbenkamp (on fields now named the Herrlichkeit, i.e. seigniority, which is a part of today's Himmelpforten), the Vorwerk at Horst and a third in Neuland upon Oste, a part of today's Engelschoff.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 22. No ISBN. The Vorwerk farm buildings on Stubbenkamp, a main timber-framed building measuring Bremian ft 236 () times Bremian ft 50 () and a barn measuring Bremian ft 120 () times Bremian ft 50, were demolished in 1717, subsequently the site was let out on

to a farmer. At the Stubbenkamp Vorwerk and at the Diekenbrook plot there were stewponds for the fish as

fasting Fasting is the act of refraining from eating, and sometimes drinking. However, from a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (before "breakfast"), or to the metabolic sta ...

dishes at

lent Lent (, 'Fortieth') is the solemn Christianity, Christian religious moveable feast#Lent, observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring Temptation of Christ, t ...

The former Vorwerk in Neuland comprised five buildings, a residential house, a bakehouse, a pigsty, a granary and a crop barn. It is recalled by the field name Vorwerk in Neuland. The Vorwerk at Horst was in fact located in Breitenwisch on a plot now covered by the Jarck Farm. The outlying former socage farms attached to the Vorwerk at Horst, located at bit more northwest of the Vorwerk now form the village of Horst upon Oste.

Seal

A deed of 17 March 1291 shows the oldest preserved version of the nunnery's

seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, also called "true seal" ** Fur seal ** Eared seal * Seal ( ...

, the model to today's coat of arms used by the municipality of Himmelpforten. The Amt Himmelpforten, however, used an altered variant of that coat of arms showing in the arch instead of the nun the ducal Bremian Saint Peter's crosswise keys.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 57. No ISBN.

Possessions and revenues

Porta Coeli never developed a sustainable farming of its own. Its landed estates and other revenue-yielding assets did not form a closed compound but were dispersed in the central and northeastern part of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (Stade Geest and Bremian Elbe Marshes). Like many other nunneries Porta Coeli lived of feudal leases,

tithe A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Modern tithes are normally voluntary and paid in money, cash, cheques or v ...

s and other dues, earlier often in kind, such as also socage and serjeanty. Porta Coeli let out most of its farmland on socage to farmers, and ran only smaller and closer parts of all its lands through its Vorwerke using labour of farmers subject to serjeanty. The Vorwerke were managed by the (ad)vocate (Vogt). Besides his military task of protecting, his task was to prevent farmers from poaching, pasturing on nunnery's land, forbidden lumbering and peat-cutting and of pursuing culprits, collecting the dues and leases. For the fiscal year 1625/1626 the overall revenues of the convent amounted to Mark 3,014 Shilling 1 and Pfennig 10, its expenses were Mk 3,118:14:7.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 9. No ISBN. For 1626/1627 the corresponding numbers were 3,498.14.7 and 3,617.11.10. By the end of the 17th century the convent's revenues divided into Mk 2,671.28.4 of fix and Mk 1,854.25.3 of variable receipts.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 10. No ISBN. The farmers in Himmelpforten were all subject to

to the convent and had to pay a lease for the land, which they tilled. All of the convent's estates (Meierhöfe) leased under feudal law were heritable under the principle of

ultimogeniture Ultimogeniture, also known as postremogeniture or junior right, is the tradition of inheritance by the last-born of a privileged position in a parent's wealth or office. The tradition has been far rarer historically than primogeniture (sole inhe ...

(Minorat).Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 18. No ISBN. Originally most dues were in kind, later they were monetised, and even partially collected by third parties such as

publican The (Latin ; Greek τελώνης ''telōnēs'') were public contractors in the Roman Republic and Empire. In their official capacity, they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw pub ...

s, sometimes being the collective of tax-payers themselves, such as the tithing farmers of Isensee, Twielenfleth, Uthwege,Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 45. No ISBN. Großenwörden, , Kehdingen or Altes Land, who thus economised their charges. The watermill charged the suckeners with the sixteenth part of the

grist Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding. It can also mean grain that has been ground at a gristmill. Its etymology derives from the verb ''grind.'' Grist can be ground into meal or flour, depending on h ...

as the multure (Low Saxon: Matte) in favour of the convent.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 54. No ISBN. The inhabitants of , , Burweg,

Düdenbüttel Düdenbüttel is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany. History Düdenbüttel belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. Within the prince-archbishopric the village formed part of the Oldendorf ...

, Hammah, , Himmelpforten, Mittelsdorf, , and were thirled to the convent's mill. Only the nuns (later the conventuals), the pastor and the local officials were exempt from the multure. In 1645 the convent's annual revenues amounted to Rixdollar (Rtlr) 3,501. In 1650 the convent's estates earned the second lowest revenues of all Bremian-Verdian monasteries, only

Neuenwalde Convent The Neuenwalde Convent ( N. Low Saxon: ''Klooster Niewohl'', ; Robert Wöbber„Geschichtliches über die Ortschaft Neuenwalde“, on''Internetpräsenz der Ortschaft Neuenwalde'' retrieved on 2 December 2014.) is a Lutheran damsels' convent ...

earned even less.Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 32. No ISBN. Therefore also the convent's share in levying war taxes was rather low, it was 0.012% (or

\tfrac

) of the total revenues from taxes to be levied.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 11. No ISBN. Other charges on the convent were the triannual delivery of 15 cows to the prince-archiepiscopal residential

Vörde Castle Voerde () is a town in the district of Wesel, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, approximately south-east of Wesel, and 20 km north of Duisburg. City structure According to art. 1(3) of the ...

Bremervörde Bremervörde () is a town in the north of the district (''Landkreis'') of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the Oste river near the centre of the "triangle" formed by the rivers Weser and Elbe, roughly equidistant from the ci ...

. Single possessions and revenues, besides the Vorwerke mentioned above (see #Vorwerke) were the following: *the overlordship over Rahden with its mills and meadows, the

of its inhabitants, the Westerberg hill (the original site of the nunnery) with its forests, furthermore a farmstead donated by Gertrud von Bro(c)bergen (Brobergen) in 1344, and more fields in Rahden donated by the Bro(c)bergen in 1304, 1312 and 1348 *the village Eylsede (today's

) with all its revenues and forests *two feudal estates (Meierhöfe) in (a part of today's

Hollnseth Hollnseth is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Hollnseth belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which wa ...

) *half the tithe in Bardesfleth (today's

Grünendeich Grünendeich is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany. It belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was first ruled in personal union b ...

) and some other estates thereGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 7. No ISBN. *three farmsteads in (a part of today's

Hemmoor Hemmoor () is a small town in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the river Oste, approx. 40 km northeast of Bremerhaven, and 25 km south of Brunsbüttel. History Hemmoor belonged to the Prince-Archb ...

), a quarter of the tithe from the fields there, and two

Morgen A Morgen (Mg) is a historical, but still occasionally used, German unit of area used in agriculture. Officially, it is no longer in use, having been supplanted by the hectare. While today it is approximately equivalent to the Prussian ''morgen' ...

of land, donated by Johann von Brockbergen (Brobergen) in 1343 in order to compensate for a damage his father inflicted on the nunneryGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 26. No ISBN. *some estates in (a part of today's Hollern-Twielenfleth) *the summary jurisdiction over Blumenthal (a part of today's Burweg) with all fines, and nine feudal estates thereSilvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 30. No ISBN. *ten feudal estates in Borstel, i.e. Bossel (a part of today's Burweg) *the summary jurisdiction over Breitenwisch (a part of today's Himmelpforten) with all fines *the summary jurisdiction over Burweg with all fines, furthermore some land there, donated in 1358 by Daniel and Gothfridus von Bro(c)bergen (Brobergen) *the tithe of

fixed to 100 bushels (Stade Scheffel of each) of wheat *two feudal estates in

*two feudal estates in Ebersdorf *the

over Engelschoff with all finesGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 12. No ISBN. *the summary jurisdiction over

with all fines, executed by the heritable judge-farmer,Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 31. No ISBN.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 6seq. No ISBN. as well as the tithe of many farmers subject to the nunnery * the tithe in Halstenfleth (a part of today's Hollern-Twielenfleth), on 8 September 1303 bought by the nunnery 200 Mark payable in Stade pennies *one farm in Hammah, however, subject to socage and dues to the (ad)vocate of Vörde (today's

) *the great titheThe great tithe comprised 10% of the field crops, whereas the small tithe amounted to 10% of the livestock and its products. Cf. Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 45. No ISBN. from (since 1968 a locality of Hemmoor) *the great tithe from (since 1968 a locality of Hemmoor) *the summary jurisdiction over Horst upon Oste with all fines, and ten feudal estates there, however under Dutch law (Hollerrecht)Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 47. No ISBN. *the tithe and all the summary jurisdiction with its fines in (a locality of today's Drochtersen) *the tithe of Ickenborstel (a location unknown today), donated in 1360 by the Bro(c)bergen (Brobergen) *the tithe from ten farmers in (a part of today's

) *forests and adjacent meadows in (a locality of today's Oldendorf) *the summary jurisdiction over (a locality of today's Hechthausen) with all fines *great and small tithe from

*leases and great tithes from vast lands in the Lamstedt Geest, once donated by the Brobergen and Marschalck familiesGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 5seq. No ISBN. *the tithe in

Mittelstenahe Mittelstenahe is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. History Mittelstenahe belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. The farmers were tithing to the Himmelpforten Convent, secularised ...

*the summary jurisdiction over Neuland upon Oste (a locality of Engelschoff) with all fines *two feudal estates in

Oerel Oerel is a municipality in the district of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Oerel belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was fir ...

*the tithe from Oldendorf *half the fisheries in the

between Burweg and Großenwörden *one estate in (a locality of today's Buxtehude) *two houses on Bungenstraße, one extramural house near the gate Schiffertor in

*the small tithe in

Stinstedt Stinstedt is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. History Stinstedt belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. The farmers were subject with their small tithe to the Himmelpforten Conven ...

*wheat amounting to 20 bushels of Stade measure (Stade Scheffel of each) from Tetenem (i.e. Altendorf north of

Wischhafen Wischhafen (low German ''Wischhoben'') is a municipality in the district of Stade, in Lower Saxony, Germany. History It belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, whi ...

) *half the tithe from Twielenfleth (a part of today's Hollern-Twielenfleth) and some other estates there *some estates in Urenfleth (a part of today's Cranz) *the tithe from Uthwege (in today's Mittelnkirchen) *one house with tithe in Verlo (a location unknown today) *the tithe from Vruthlem (a location unknown today) * the great tithe of all inhabitants of (a locality of Hemmoor), dues from 1.5 feudal estates, and three farmsteads thereGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 8seq. No ISBN. *feudal estates in (a locality of Engelschoff)Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 19. No ISBN. *six feudal estates in (a locality of today's

Wingst Wingst () is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Wingst belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was ...

)

Leadership

Abbess An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa'') is the female superior of a community of nuns in an abbey. Description In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran and Anglican abbeys, the mod ...

es, prioresses, provosts and (ad)vocates of the nunnery and subsequent convent:

Abbesses and prioresses

At Porta Coeli with a rather few nuns and conventuals, respectively, the term prioress prevailed over abbess for their chairwoman. * Elizabeth/Elisabeth, mentioned 8 September 1303 as abbess * Ghiselen, mentioned in 1343 as Domina, emphasising the prioress' role as feudal overlady * Luitgardis, mentioned in 1358 as prioress * Elisabeth, mentioned in 1399 as prioress * Margarete, mentioned in 1399 as abbess * Mathilde, mentioned in 1473 as prioress and abbess * Lücke von Sandbeck, mentioned in 1528 as abbess * Katherine von der Hude, mentioned in 1562 as prioressGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 28. No ISBN. * Maria von Weyhe (died in 1616), officiated as prioress at least since 1596,Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 29. No ISBN. her epitaph is preserved in today's Lutheran

* Adelheid von der Lieth, titled prioress * Gerdruth von Campe, mentioned in 1629 as prioress and 1646

Provosts

* Albertus, mentioned 1255 * Bertold, mentioned 1 May 1287, 8 September 1303 * John of Bielefeld, mentioned in 1330, 1343 * Wasmot of the Kind family based in Kranenburg upon Oste, mentioned in 1375, 1379 * Heinrich von Osten, mentioned in 1433 * Johannes Kroch/Johann van Kroge, mentioned in 1498 * Johann/Martin Reyff, mentioned in 1528 * Reinhard von Bäuligh/Buligh, mentioned in 1539, 1543 * Franz von der Lieth, per pro for one year in 1548 * Engelbert Gripenstroet/Griepenstroth, since 1550, mentioned in 1557 * Segebade von der Hude, mentioned in 1559, 1562, 1571 * Otto von der Hude (died in 1590), inaugurated into office in 1571, mentioned also in 1572, 1583, 1584, and 1587Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 28seq. No ISBN. * Franz Marschalck (von Bachtenbrock; died on 18/28 June 1638^O.S./N.S.), 1590/1591–1630, and again 1632 to 1638, mentioned in 1591, 1629 in 1630. *Matthias Kalkhoven, usurped position serving as provost between August 1630 and April 1632 **Erich Raschke as administrator, appointed by Kalkhoven * Franz Marschalck, restituted to provostship * Caspar Schulte, 1638 to 1646 (likely) * Detlev von der Kuhla, until the secularisation in 1647 * Daniel onArensen, not elected but appointed by Count Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt **Johann Friedrich onArensen, as of 1650 superintendent per pro for his warfaring brother Daniel

Vögte / (ad)vocates

The (ad)vocates (), exerted military protection, managed the Vorwerke, and exercised police functions in the convent's jurisdictions. Thus they had to prevent farmers from poaching, pasturing on nunnery's land, forbidden lumbering and peat-cutting and to pursue culprits, furthermore they collected the dues and leases. * Adolph Bremer, after the Thirty Years' WarGeorg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p. 30. No ISBN.

Amtleute / bailiffs

The Amt Himmelpforten was presided over by the

(pl. Amtleute; bailiff), later also granted other titles such as Drost (bailiff), Oberamtmann (superior bailiff) or Kreishauptmann (district captain). The list follows Georg von Issendorff.Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 115seq. No ISBN. *Transition from convent to seignorial estate **since 1658: Erich Evert Gröning, Amt scribe, before Gröning had been the convent scribe ** before 1663–1666: Franz Gröning, son of the former, administrator of the Himmelpforten jurisdiction, appointed by Count Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt *1666–1668: Heinrich Gröning, brother of the former *1668–1677: Michael Riedell, deposed by occupying Lunenburg-Celle *1677–1680: Albertus Hartmann, appointed by occupying Lunenburg-Celle *1680–1682: Samuel Friedrich Riedell, son of Michael Riedell, appointed on 4/14 February 1680^O.S./N.S. by Count Gustaf Mauritz Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt, deposed by the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden in early summer *1682–1705: Lotharius Feindt (1644–9 April 1705) *1705–1712: , deposed by the Danish occupiers *1712–1752: (4 January 1678 – 11 April 1754) *1752–1760: (1706–21 September 1760) *1761–1767: Diedrich Bremer (1712–13 August 1767), titled drost *1768–1779: Heinrich Philip Tiling (1706–13 August 1779) *1780–1793: (1718–?), titled Oberamtmann (superior bailiff) *1793–1810: (2 March 1734 – 14 March 1810) *1810–1811: Westphalian annexation, area formed part of the ''Canton of Stade and Himmelpforten'' *1811–1813: French annexation, area formed ''Canton de Himmelpforten'' **1811–1813: Johann Friedrich Meyer, titled Canton's maireSilvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 67. No ISBN. *1814–1818: Claus Carl Eberhard von der Decken (1780–2 October 1818Son of Minister .), titled drost *1818–1836: (1781–?), titled drost, transferred to Osterholz *1836–1849: (9 July 1779 – 8 June 1849), titled Oberamtmann *1849–1867: , deposed by annexing Prussia *1867–1878: (8 July 1836–?), titled Kreishauptmann, before Landrat per pro in

Malmedy Malmedy (; , historically also ; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. On January 1, 2018, Malmedy had a total population of 12,654. The total area is 99.96 km2 which gives a population dens ...

*1878–1885: , titled Kreishauptmann

References

*Elke Freifrau von Boeselager, „Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 321–388. . * Konrad Elmshäuser, „Die Erzbischöfe als Landesherren“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 159–194. . * Beate-Christine Fiedler, „Bremen und Verden als schwedische Provinz (1633/45–1712)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 173–253. . * Sabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp. 51–78. * Adolf E. Hofmeister, „Adel, Bauern und Stände“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 195–240. . * Adolf E. Hofmeister, ''Besiedlung und Verfassung der Stader Elbmarschen im Mittelalter'': 2 parts, Hildesheim: Lax, 1979-1981, (=Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Historische Landesforschung der Universität Göttingen; vols. 12 and 14), part I: 'Die Stader Elbmarschen vor der Kolonisation des 12. Jahrhunderts' (1979), , part II: 'Die Hollerkolonisation und die Landesgemeinden Land Kehdingen und Altes Land' (1981), * Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol. 33). No ISBN. * Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979. No ISBN. * Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824. No ISBN. * * Landkreis Stade / Archäologische Denkmalpflege and Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten, ''Zeugen der Geschichte in Himmelpforten. Ein Spaziergang durch die Vergangenheit der Gemeinde'', Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten (ed.), Stade: Seidel, 2006, section 2 * Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. III: pp. 1–158. . * Heinz-Joachim Schulze, „Himmelpforten“ (article), in: ''Germania Benedictina'': 12 vols., vol. XII: 'Norddeutschland: Die Männer- und Frauenklöster der Zisterzienser in Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg' (1994), Ulrich Faust (compil.), pp. 148–167. * * Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990. No ISBN. * Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; ), vol. II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; ), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008; ), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278. .

External links

*
„Das Kloster Porta Coeli: Historienspektakel in Brobergen an der Oste anläßlich des 750-jährigen Jubiläums der Gründung des Klosters Porta Coeli“
(reenactment of the nuns move from Rahden to Himmelpforten, 1 May 2005), on
''Die Oste, der stille Fluß''
retrieved on 10 September 2014.

Notes

{{reflist, 33em

Convent A convent is an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The term is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...

1250s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire Buildings and structures completed in 1330 Christian monasteries established in the 1330s Christian monasteries established in the 1250s Buildings and structures in Stade (district) 1647 disestablishments in Europe Monasteries in Lower Saxony Cistercian nunneries in Germany Lutheran women's convents Convents in Germany Demolished buildings and structures in Germany Bremen-Verden 1250 establishments in Europe Buildings and structures demolished in 1739