The Gandersheim Conflict, Part 1

A significant controversy during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Otto III while he was still under the regency of his mother, Theophanu, was the conflict over Gandersheim Abbey in 987. Gandersheim in Lower Saxony was only 25 years old but had been richly endowed by its founders, with relics of Popes Anastasius I and Innocent I. It housed secular canonesses. Its location put it under the jurisdiction of the bishops of Hildesheim.

The controversy when Sophia, a daughter of Otto II and therefore Otto III's aunt, wanted to become invested as a canoness there. Because she was from a royal family, she did not want the ceremony to be facilitated by the bishop of Hildesheim, Osdag. She preferred the Archbishop of Mainz, Willigis, who was also chancellor of Germany.

Willigis decided this was an opportunity to claim the jurisdiction over Gandersheim for Mainz. Technically, the abbey had been founded in the territory of Hildesheim, but had moved to Gandersheim which was across the border and inside the archdiocese of Mainz.

Theophanu mediated between the two and the disagreement was settled by having both Willigis and Osdag perform the investiture of Sophia. But the issue was not over.

The young Otto III was being tutored by Bernward of Hildesheim. In 993, Bernward became Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim. Everyone seemed on friendly terms, but according to one historian, Thangmar, Sophia was not friendly to the bishops of Hildesheim, even when Bernward succeeded Osdag. She had her fellow canonesses treat him coldly when he visited the abbey. When Pope Sylvester II (who, as Gerbert of Aurillac had been Otto's other tutor) gave his old colleague Bernward authority over Gandersheim, Bernward was blocked from entering the abbey by soldiers who were organized by Sophia.

A fire in 973 had destroyed part of the abbey. It was supposed to be reconsecrated on 14 September 1000, and Sophia, acting in place of the seriously ill abbess, asked Archbishop Willigis to perform the ceremony. The date was set and announced, Bernward was invited, and on 14 September Bernward showed up, thinking he would reconsecrate the abbey. Willigis, however, had postponed the date until a week later when he knew Bernward would be otherwise occupied at court. Bernward, therefore, found no preparations ready for the ceremony.

Bernward celebrated a Mass and publicly blamed Sophia for not being able to consecrate the abbey. The Mass turned into a riot. One week later, he got his revenge on Willigis and the plan to exclude him. I'll tell you the rest next time.