Prof. Dr. Enno Bünz
Chair for Saxon History
Department of History, University of Leipzig

Within the scope of this partial project two PhD projects are planned.

1. Construction of the Cathedral and Fabrica Ecclesie. Investigations in Construction Financing and Organization Based on Archival Sources of the Late Medieval and Early Modern Period.

The project investigates relevant archival sources about the history of the construction and the restoration of the west choir and its decoration from medieval and early modern times. The Latin term “fabrica ecclesie”, not only refers to the Dombauhütte (cathedral building workshop) itself, but also properties and incomes for constructional maintenance. Thereof extensive written sources material is preserved, for example account books from as early as 1485.

In order to interpret relevant information, it is necessary to investigate in the construction financing of the Naumburg Cathedral, the administration of fabric ecclesie and the management of account books. Such a study benefits from researches about the fabric ecclesie in Cologne, Xanten, Strasbourg and Wesel.

So far, important information about the construction and the history of the decoration and restoration of the Naumburg west choir have neither been discovered in the mentioned source material nor evaluated. An edition of selected significant sources for conservation sciences and history of art is intended.

2. The Formation of an ecclesiastic City. Cathedral, Cathedral Chapter and the Origin of the clerical Institutions of medieval Naumburg.

The Naumburg Cathedral Chapter was one of the most important clerical institutions of Middle Germany in medieval times. Founded in 968 in Zeitz it was transferred, together with the diocese, in 1030 to Naumburg. To understand the importance of the Naumburg Cathedral it is necessary not only to reflect on the building itself, but more importantly on the people and their workday life, i.e. the Chapter. Therefore various perspectives are required. Together with the surrounding ecclesiastic institutions like monasteries and churches, the cathedral and its chapter form a kind of network, being formally or informally connected with each other. These institutions all play their specific part in the religious, political and economical life in the city of medieval Naumburg. It is highly probable that the analysis and reconstruction of this network within the ecclesiastic city will furthermore highlight the importance of the Naumburg Cathedral to the surrounding city. Research so far has been concentrated solely on the cathedral, especially the west choir. But the investigation of the cathedral chapter and its clerics, who have been the main actors in Naumburg ´s social and religious life, is also required for an explicit and a more accentuated characterisation of the construction of the cathedral.

The extensive spectrum of medieval parish churches, monasteries, hospitals, chapels, donations, altars and benefices in Naumburg provides a colourful picture of the spiritual and religious life in the Middle Ages. Extensive sources like documents, cartularies and account books offer ideal conditions to study Naumburg as an example for the formation of an ecclesiastic city, especially the formation of an episcopal city.