The Origins of Gandersheim

Abstract

The establishment of the convent of Gandersheim c.852 is often seen as an origin point for its founding family as well, denoting the Liudolfings’ first use of a memorial centre to build up their power and political influence en route to securing the royal title. Consequently, studies of the origins of Gandersheim are often coloured by the later success of the Ottonian dynasty and the monastery’s role as a royal foundation. This chapter instead sets the early history of Gandersheim and its external relationships firmly in its late-Carolingian context. It uses the contemporary works written for the community of Gandersheim by Agius of Corvey to argue that there was considerable ambiguity around the monastery’s relationship to the Liudolfings after the death of the first abbess, Hathumoda.