fulda documents of the 8th cent

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Fulda documents of the 8th cent.

Anthony Alcock

The monastery at Fulda was founded in 744 by Sturmius, a disciple of Boniface. Sturmius had been

sent by Boniface to the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino and, after his return, founded the

monastery at Fulda. The land in which this community is situated was given to Boniface by

Carlomann, the eldest son of Charles Martel.

The documents summarized here, apart from the earliest ones which belong to the document known

as the Eberhard Codex, cover a period of approx. 36 years, from 743 to 779. They are mostly

records of donations, transfers and sales to the monastery of Fulda, with a few letters of historical

significance in the life of the monastery. The list presented below is based on the Urkundenbuch

des Klosters Fulda vol. 1 edited by Edmund E. Stengel and published in 1913 (vol 2 did not appear

until 1958). Stengel's list was compiled from a variety of sources and deals with the documents

from the time of Abbot Sturmius. The Eberhard Codex is so called because the copyist of it was a

12th cent. monk named Eberhard: one aim of the document was to establish Fulda's claim to certainproperties. This is a summary version in English of Stengel's publication. The second volume was

not published until 1958.

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The types of document in the list:

A. Donations

Donations of human and non-human property, where the verb used is 'donare' and transfers ofproperty, where the verb used is 'tradidere'. There appears to be little or no difference between these

two types. They make up the bulk of the documents.

The donations made by people other than kings or princes of the Church tend to have a similar

structure:

1. The invocation of the Trinity (e.g.In nomine patris ....)

2. A clause referring to the modesty of the donation but the devotion of the donor:

'They may be small and insignificant, the things that we offer, but our faithful Lord Jesus Christ

does not regard the amount of the donation but the devotion of the donor' (licet parva et exigua

sunt, quae pro immensis peccatibus et debitis offerimus, tamen pius dominus noster Iesus Christus

non quantitatem muneris perspicit sed devotionem offerentis),

or, in some cases, a quotation from Lk 11,41 ' Our Lord and Redeemer, the Son of God, warns,

saying: 'Give alms and behold all things will become clean to you' (Dominus ac redemptor noster

dei filius admonet dicens: Date elimosinam et ecce omnia mundi fiunt vobis)

3. The names of the donors together with the content of the donation. The most common phrases

used to indicate the recipient of the donation involve the church (ecclesia) or monastery(monasterium) of St Boniface, where he himself rests with his sacred body' ( ubi ipse requiescit

corpore sacro). In some cases Sturmius the abbot is also named, as in 52 'the monastery of St

Boniface which is built on the river Fulda in the Bochonian forest, where Sturmius is abbot'

(monasterium sancti Bonifatii quod est constructum super fluvium Fulda in silva Bochonia, ubi

Sturmi abbas fungit officium).

4. A clause that threatens anyone who tries to violate the terms of the bequest with sanctions: the

wrath of God, banishment from all holy shrines and a financial penalty of 5 ounces of gold and 10

pounds of silver.

Some of the donations contain a clause that specifies that the donor can enjoy the benefit of the

property for the rest of hs life e.g. 56, 58 etc.

The wording of the documents where a 'transfer' (traditio) is made seems to be quite unlike that of

the 'donatio' texts. None of them has a penalty clause and they are neither signed nor dated.

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B. Sales

There are only 4 texts that record a sale: 18, 40, 41 and 84. These also contain a penalty clause if the

terms of the sale are violated.

C. Letters

There are 7 letters: 12, 13-14, 15-16, 17, 19 and 20.

12: from Boniface to Optatus the Abbott of Montecassino that 'there may be between us faith of

minds and piety of actions ' (una sit inter nos et fides mentium et pietas actionum). Boniface wanted

to exchange the names of those who had died in both monasteries so that joint prayer for both could

be offered. Boniface's cousin Willibald and his monastic successor Sturmius had both been at

Montecassino.

13-14: two copies of a letter from Boniface to Pope Zachary about various matters. Delivered by

Lull, Abbott of Fulda in Sturmius's absence. Stengel (p.21) believes that 14 is a forgery, an

'Umformung zu einem ausschliesslich fuldischen Aktenstck' (recasting into an exclusively Fulda

document). One striking difference between the two is that 13 contains the name of Lull, who seems

to have becomepersona non grata in the monastery in later times. His name is omitted in 14.

Boniface seems to be asking for the protection of Rome. Some of the matters are to be

communicated orally (viva voce), others in writing (per litteras).

15-16: Stengel (p.27) is no doubt that both copies of this letter are genuine. It is from Zachary toBoniface to say that the monastery from that time was 'under the jurisdiction of our holy church'

(sub iurisdictione sanctae nostrae ecclesiae) and that anyone who tried to violate the terms of this

decision would be anathema.

17: seems to be a reply to 13, granting the monastery of Boniface the protection of the 'holy see'

(sedi apostolicae). The dating of the letter is not without interest: the day before the Nones of

November, in the 32 year of Constantine, 11th years after his consulship, 5th indiction. The

indiction was a 15 year tax cycle used in dating documents, originating in the late 3rd cent. or early

4th cent. The AD dating system was devised in the 6th cent. monk Dionysius Exiguus and was

popularized to some extent by Bede, who used it consistently in hisHistoria Ecclesiastica,

completed around 731.

19 Stengel believes that this document is not genuine. It is a letter from Stephanus II, who seems to

have been designated as successor by Pope Zachary but died before he could take up office. The

subject of the letter is the protection of the Fulda monastery by Rome: the text implies that it is a

reply, as can be seen by the sentence beginning 'Therefore, because you have asked us ... (Igitur

quia postulasti a nobis ... ). The binding nature of this document can be seen by the threat of

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excommunication (anathema) to anyone who tries to 'falsify this letter of our privilege' (hanc nostri

privelegii cartam ... temerare).The date also contains an indiction year.

20 Stengel maintains that the document is not genuine, but was written by a 9th cent. Fulda monk

called Rudolf.. It is a letter from Pippin rex Francorum in reply to a request from Boniface

confirming that the monastery should be 'under the Apostolic See' (subiectum ... apostolicae sedi).

Document no. 10 is the only one of its kind here. Stengel thinks it unlikely that it is is a complete

invention. He points out that the first part is closely connected with the Life of Boniface by

Willibald. The following is a copy of the Latin text (from Stengel, with slightly different spelling in

some cases) and translation of it.

Cunctis nostris fidelibus notissmimum est qualiter praeclarissimus patronus noster et totius Galliae atque

Germaniae apostolus sanctus Bonifatius cum ab errore gentilitatis Boioariam convertisset, divisit eam in

quattuor episcopatus et quattuor ex discipulis suis ordinavit pastores ad regendum populum dei, Iohannem

Salzburgensi ecclesiae, Vivulum Pataviensi ecclesiae, Gowibaldum Ratisponensi ecclesiae, et Ermbertum

Frisingensi ecclesiae praeponens. Qui statim velut palmites verae viti adhaerentes in vinea domini non sine

fructu animarum sibi commissarum comparuerunt sed et insuper quantum potuerunt ipsam Fuldensem

ecclesiam matrem suam pro amore pii patris Bonifatii donis et honoribus extulerunt. Unde contigit ut

quisque eorum pro posse suo caritatis oblationes Fuldensibus fratribus de sua patria annuatim persolveret

ac suos cives ut idem facerent incitaret. Sicque factum est ut de singulis regionibus plurima praedia quique

fideles Fuldensi ecclesiae pro honore sancti Bonifatii archiepiscopi et martyris conferret cresceretque et

augmentaretur domus domini de die in diem.

Obtulit ergo primum Salzburgensis ecclesia matri suae Fuldensi ecclesiae in oppido suo Halla nuncupato

domum et fontem salis cum conpertinentiis et utensilibus suis, unde singulis annis XII talenta persolvi

possunt. Obtulit etiam Ratisponensis ecclesia IIII vineas et IIII regales mansus cum curtilibus et

conpertinentiis ac familiis suis, unde singulis annis transmittere debent ad Fuldensem ecclesiam fratribus

deo et beato Bonifatio servientibus piscem magnum 'hsen' nuncupatum et de oleo arborum, quantum equi

duo inn lagenis deferrent. Simili modo de oleo et de pisce solebat Pataviensis ecclesia, id est, dum viveret

Vivulus episcopus, fratribus Fuldensis monasterii singulis annis in oblationem transmittere. Quo defuncto

paulatim per negligentiam et incuriam seu per viae longinquitatem subtractum est. Frisingensis vero

ecclesia, cui praeerat Erembertus episcopus, quae iuxta Alpes et montana Italiae sita est, singulis annis

caseos grandes 'berckese' vocatos Fuldensibus fratribus in oblationem transmittebat.

All our faithful know how our most illustrious patron and Apostle of the whole of Gaul and Germany, St

Boniface, after he had converted Bavaria (Boioaria) from the error of paganism, divided it into four

bishoprics and ordained four of his disciples as pastors to rule the people of God, Johannes over church of

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Summary of the contents

The German names are mostly taken from Stengel's summary that prefaces the Latin text.

1 Donation of Pippin, the first Carolingian king (678-714). Forgery of Codex Eberhard. (714-741)

2 Same

3 Gregory III grants school rights to the unfinished monastery: Eberhard forgery (731-741). There

is no text given for these first three documents.

4 Donation by Carlomann (Charles Martel, the first de facto ruler of Francia) to Boniface of

Eichloha (in Bochonia), with a radius of 4 miles to found a monastery. There is no document of

donation, but a certain amount of evidence that one was made, in particular the text of Eigil, where

he says at the end that the king ordered a deed of transfer (charta traditionis) to be drawn up, which

he signed with his own hand (propria manu) 743-?

5 and 6 Description of the borders of the land granted to Boniface and Boniface's documentation of

the bequest, which was to remain without interference or usurpation (absque ulla impeditione vel

usurpatione aliorum) 743-747

7 Carlomann (probably the brother of Pippin, who is called rex in the document) transfers the estate

of Gerstungen.744-747

8 Carlomann and Pippin confirm bequests (744-747). Anyone who violates this bequest is guilty of

lse-majest (regiae maiestatis reus)9 Carlomann and Pippin transfer property. Possibly a forgery of Eberhard 747-777

10 Property (salt works, vineyards etc.) and interest from property from various bishops conscerated

by Boniface 744-747

11 Adalberct and his wife Ermensina donate land in Mainz 751

12 Request from Boniface to Abbot of Monte Cassino for alliance between the two monasteries

751

13-14 Letters from Boniface to Pope Zachary about Fulda and his wish to receive papal protection.

Pallium also mentioned 751

15-16 Reply. Henceforth jurisdiction Rome 751

17 Zachary to Boniface, addressed as 'co-bishop', answering a number of questions and granting

the requested privilege 751

18 Sale of vineyard to Boniface by Adalbert for 15 lb silver in Mainz and gift of one outside Mainz.

752

19 Letter from Pope Stephen II to Abbott Sturmius granting monastery exemption from

ecclesiastical jurisdiction and direct dependency on Rome as well as ability to administer property

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and tithes 753

20 Letter from Pippin confirming exemption letter of Zachary for Fulda 753

21 Pippin donates Bramforst to Boniface 754

22 Eggiolt donates his legacy, including church, in Dromersheim, except for a vineyard and 13

servants and a portion of the forest at Bieber 75423. Odagrus donates a vineyard at Wackernheim 754

24 Rantulf donates a vineyard at Bodenheim 754

25 Count Leidrat donates a vineyard at Dienheim 754

26 Nordpraht donates a vineyard at Wackernheim 754

27.Adalberhat donates two vineyards at Wackernheim 756

28 Herimot donates vineyard at Dienheim 756

29 Rincholf and Agilo sell Wino a house in Mainz. Price involves cash and goods 756.

30 Rathari donates vineyard in Mainz 756

31 Rathari donates a second vineyard in Mainz 756

32 Manolt donates his inherited property to Jchsen 758

33 Rathari donates a property in Mainz 759

34-36 Donations by Pippin 760: Deiningen (34), Lauringen, Deiningen and Holzkirchen (35) and

ttingen (36)

37 Bernhari, his wife Walthaid and sister Hiltilauc donate two properties in Mainz, one vineyard in

the city and four outside, together with the property in Saulheim, except for a vineyard and tenserfs mancipia who are named 762

38 Waluram donates a mansa and thirty iurnales, on condition that the mancipia in a neghbouring

vineyard are still able to use the land.763

39 Hahbert and his wife (Hruadlang) donate property to Fulda 763

40 Count Leidrat sells all of his property, inside and outside the castle at Bingen with twenty-two

serfs as well as property at Dromersheim, to Bishop Lull for 37 pounds of gold and silver. It is

known from the Life of Sturmius that he was banished from the monastery for some time, and this

sale was made during that banishment 763

41 Count Leidrat sells a property at Mainz for 3lb of gold and silver to Bishop Lull. 763

42 Eggiolt donates two farms at Bossweiler together with his land at Ascae and Wiebelskirchen to

Abbot Sturmi for the soul of his brother Liutwin. Worms 765.

43 Pippin donates the estate of Umstadt. 766 Written at Orlans.

44 Donation of a vineyard at Wackernheim by the cleric Hariberctus 766

45-47 are probably forgeries. They all involve donations of property or tax-gathering privileges by

Pippin.

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48 Donation by Rathari and his wife Asperin of their property near Kestert (Mainz). 754-768

49 Ota, dedicated to God (deo sacrata), donates an estate with three serfs at Bingen 754-768

50 Folcrad and Agilolf donate half of their inherited property at Friedelshelm, Deidesheim and

Gnnheim 770 (Worms)

51 Egi and his wife Sighilt (Uta) donate their property at Mnnerstadt and Halsheim, including 19serfs. 770

52 Haguno, Hartnand, Rathat, Gebahart, Ratheri and Hludwin donate two vineyards at Zornheim

and Mommenheim for the soul (pro remedio animae) of Haguno 771 (Mainz)

53 Count Baugulf donates his property at Gnnheim, of which Waning 'enjoys the benefit',

including the serf Ello and his family 771

54 Lanbert donates a vineyard at Bodenheim 771

55 Fruotwin donates two vineyards at Pfeddersheim and the serf Haribert 771

56 Donation by the priest Burgarad of a virgate (approx. 17 hectares) on condition that he continued

to benefit from the use of it for the rest of his life. Land situated at Herschfeld (variously named)

together with other property 772

57 Noble prelate Alwalah donates property at about a dozen places together with serfs on condition

of lifelong usufruct, as above. It has been necessary to reconstruct the document. Contains useful

topographical information. 772

58 Hrodolt donates his estate at Dromersheim, Slzheim and Weinheim with six serfs on condition

of lifelong usufruct 77259 Odagrus donates his house and half his property at Wackernheim and at Saulheim, with a third

of his serfs for himself, his wife Hruodswind and daughter Lantswind 772

60 List of 41 serfs at Wakcernheim and Saulheim donated by Odagrus 772

61 Donation of property at Dromersheim by Harmunt 772

62 Charlemagne issues notice that Sturmius has made a legal claim to the estate at Umstadt

granted to the monastery by Pippin against someone called Dagaleich 773

63 Hruodbald donates farm, house and vineyard at Roxheim on his death 773

64 Adalfrid and his wife Songart donates two farms with a house in Mainz, their third share of two

vineyards (Bretzenberg and Mainz), a farm at Bretzenberg and a vineyard at Laubenheim, with five

unnamed serfs 773

65 Neriperaht and his wife Ratburg donate their property at Nordheim with five serfs on their death.

66 Otacar and his wife Hruodswind donate property belonging to the wife: a farm, a vineyard, 45

acres at Saulheim, with a farm and house, a vineyard and meadow at Wackernheim and 4 serfs 774

67 Charlemagne, at the request of Sturmius, grants the monks the right to choose their abbot,

provided they adhere to the rule of Benedict and are true to the king 774

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68 Charlemagne, at the request of Sturmius, grants immunity 774

69 Donation by Arugis and his wife Gomahlit, with stipulation of lifelong usufruct, of the work of

two serfs at Mainz 775

70 Wighelm and his wife Fridugart donate a farm and two vineyards at Bodenheim. 775

73 Charlemagne donates the monastery of Holzkirchen, founded by Throand 77574 Charlemagne allocates to the monastery a document concerning one of his possessions at

Umstadt 775

75 Ruduch donates his property at Westhausen with his serf Otgar on his death 776

76 Rahilt donates vineyards at Dienheim 776

77 Charlemagne donates his property at Hammelburg, Eschenbach, Diebach and Erthal 777

78 Charlemagne donates his property at Hameln 777

79 Charlemagne donates Kriegersberg and Tirbach 777

(Stengel has printed the texts of 77-79 in columns next to each other that the similarities and differences of the texts

can be seen at a glance)

80 Burgrat, dedicated to God (deo sacrata), donates twenty acres in Mainz, with lifelong usufruct.

777

81 Hruodthrud donates her property, especially a vineyard in Mainz, two serfs (one with a family),

each one with a vineyard and all their clothing, together with a farm at Dittelsheim, with lifelong

usufruct 777

82 Elizabeth and Geilrat donate vineyards and fields at Wackernheim and Saulheim 777

83 Description of the borders (in Latin, with some of the names in German) named in the

appointment of Sturmius by certain nobles of the king to the fiscal estate of Hammelburg before 21

witnesses 773

84 Imma sells the property she had acquired from Walthar at Ehnheim, Walf, Ergersheim and in

Strasbourg to her son for 600 solidi (contained 12 denarii, rather like the old English shilling) 778

85 Arndeo donates his property at Mittelsdorf and Stockheim, a farm, thirty acres and nine serfs,

with lifelong usufruct 778

86 Count Cuniberctus donates his property as Hochdorf, Grningen, Ingersheim, Vaihingen,Stangenbach, Wlfingen, Adelsheim, Wchlingen, Benningen, Alt-Lautern, Saulheim, with the

provision that none of this property be donated to lay people and that Cuniberctus enjoy lifelong

usufruct. Witnessed by Charlemagne. 779

87 Landswind donates, with lifelong usufruct, three farms, 200 acres and a vineyard in Mainz and,

inside the city wall, the farm of Berahtoloh with two other farms and 30 serfs on behalf of himself

and his sisters Geilrat and Elizabeth 779

88 Geilrat and Elizabeth donate land, serfs and three vineyards 779

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89 Benedict, a priest, donates for himself and his mother a vineyard, a fram and serfs with lifelong

usufruct 779

90 Charlemagne donates property held by Otaker 750-779

91 Sigeboto and Duto transfer property at Risgelbach 750-779

92 Sanderat and his wife Gebesvint transfer 42 serfs in Upper Franconia750-77993 Marcvart and his wife Perthilt transfer 'a church and whatever property I have in four villages'

(ecclesiam unam et quicquid in quattuor villis proprietatis habui) 50-779

94 Sindolt transfers property at Steinach 750-779

95 Ilbinc transfers property at Knetzgau and elsewhere 750-779

96 Wintrunc transfers property at Volkfeld 750-779

97 Marcwart from Taubergau transfers property at Oberstetten and elsewhere 750-779

98 Hiltebraht and Lismuth transfer property at Ostheim, Altheirm and Herbolzheim 750-779

99 Adelger from Gollachgau transfers property at Lemberheim and Wingarteiba 750-779

100 Charlemagne transfers monastery at Holzkirchen cum omnibus suis appendiciis (with all its

appurtenances) 750-779

101 Hiltolf and Brunhart transfer property at Hettingen 750-779

102 Willirih and his wife Burgunt transfer property at Mckmhl and elsewhere 750-779

103 Truthilt transfers goods at Mckmhl 750-779

104 Adalhart transfers property at Ruchsen in Mckmhl 750-779

105 Argoz and his wife Lipgart transfer good at Blidenstat 750-779106 Argoz transfers property at Rossdorf and Sehlen 750-779

107 Count Ruthart transfers the small villa (villula/wilare) Rutharteshusen at the estuary of the

Liutera 750-779

108 Adelburch transfers property at Londorf 750-779

109 Bidanc transfers property at Walsdorf, Meinratsheim and his share of Wollmr 750-779

110 Adelolt transfers a 'Bifang' (area of land) named after him at Albshausen 750-779

111 Adelmann and his wife Uodalswint transfer property at Lare 750-779

112 Rudun transfers her property at Radenhausen 750-779

113 Rudun transfers her property at Holzhausen, Biberaffa, Ebsdorf, Londorf, Hocheim,

Heleldungen and elsewhere 750-779

114 Bodelunc transfers part of his property at Aumenau 750-779

115 Nenthere and his wife Hadalouch transfer property at Ebsdorf and Rossdorf 750-779

116 Arcgoz and his wife transfer a third of their property at Blidenstat, Holzhausen and elsewhere

750-779

117 Adalbirc transfers her property on the Ohm 750-779

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118 Dithart transfers property at Ebsdorf 750-779

119 Altrat donates property Rossdorf and elsewhere 750-779

120 The widowed Countess Adaltrud transfers property at Selters and eslewhere 750-779

121 Arahgoz transfers property at Mardorf and elsewhere 750-779

122 Nordunc and his wife transfer property at Tricasten and Bilstat 750-779123 Ditwic and Salaman transfer property at Lengefeld 750-779

124 Adalhere and his wife transfer property at Bishofstadt 750-779

125 Count Grumpraht transfers property in the three villages of Remda 750-779

126 Rihgart transfers her 58 serfs in Thuringia 750-779

127 Hadebraht transfers goods at Pferdingleben, Trchtelborn, Colrestat and Seebach 750-779

128 Waltho and Dithelm transfer property at Sondra and Vargula 750-779

129 Reginold transfers property in Vargula, formerly known as Hocheim.750-779

130 Grimber transfers property as Calrestete 750-779

131 Druogo and his wife transfer property at Gumerstat 750-779

132 Nanthart transfers property at Heringen 750-779

133 Ymmo transfers property at Dllstadt and Grfen- or Burg-Tonna 750-779

134 Ditmar transfers property at Wenkheim and Halsheim 750-779

135 Helmbolt transfers his property at Marlishausen 750-779

136 Balderich transfers his property at Dllstadt 750-779

137 Heriwart transfers property at Achelstdt and Etzleben 750-779138 Ruthardt, a Swabian nobleman (Comes de Alamannia) , transfers his propery at Eschenz 750-

779

139 Walpracht transfers a Hufe (approx. 30 acres) and an arable field with the springs on it

140 Charlemagne donates Sooden on the Werra, with salinas, market and customs and regulates the

taxes paid by the farms and serfs belonging to them 768-779

141 Charlemagne donates Salzforst to Sturmius personally 768-779

142 Hadaburg and her sister Huoca donate, with lifelong usufruct, their property at Hammelburg,

including 22 serfs 777-779

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