Böhmen und die Eigenkirchen. Zu den Eliten des frühen Mittelalters bis die Mitte des 12. Jahrhunderts
Bohemia and the Proprietary Churches. A Note to the Elites of the Early Middle Ages till the Half of the 12th Century

Summary/Abstract: The phenomena of the proprietary churches is connected with the very beginnings of the Christianity in Moravia and later in Bohemia, too. The founders of the churches of the period of the 9th and 10th century were – as attested by the sources – only the members of Mojmirid and Přemyslid dynasty, the rank of Slavník who founded the church in Libice is still a matter of discusion. From the 11th century on, the increasing number of documents tells us that the other members of elites – magnates or majors – founded their churches. The founders and their posterity definitely had a considerable influence on the function of these churches, appointed priests and decided or co-decided how the incomes of the churches will be used. The conclusion, that by this only their economical interests were served, is however to be rejected. The founders not only strengthened their prestige, but they were also motivated by their belief and hope for salvation. Since the half of the 12th century the number of proprietary churches increased rapidly, the members of the elite (retinues) holding now the hereditary lands started to settle on their properties and built late-romanesque churches next to the court residences. This phase of development (until the end of the phenomena of the proprietary churches during the emancipation of the Bohemian church in the first third of the 13th century) is however not a part of this paper.

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