Search

This paper discusses the early years of the Westphalian bishopric of Osnabrueck (today: Federal State of Lower Saxony). Following the results of Kölzer's edition of Louis the Pious' diplomas it attempts to show that the early Carolingian diplomas due to their falsification without any exception do not allow any reasonable reconstruction of Osnabrueck's first decades. The lack of any historiography prior to the years of bishop Benno II (1068-1088) and the very few references to Osnabrueck's bishops outside of the bishopric during the 9th century do not allow a reconstruction of an episcopal succession either. Recent archaeological excavations in and around the cathedral building and the adjacent cloister add some new light on building activities since the late 8th century. So, the recent study of Mehdorn on missionaries and missionary bishops in Saxony up to the middle of the 9th century offers a reliable explanatory model even for the Osnabrueck case: The supposed first bishops Wiho and Meingoz obviously did not exist at all, since their only mentions derive from falsifications of the 11th century. Gefwin (since 829 or slightly earlier) appears to have been the first missionary bishop acting ,in' Osnabrueck and Gauzbert (845-c.859) obviously is the first bishop ,of' Osnabrueck who in 848 obtained the first diploma of immunity by Louis the German. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]