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 certain properties. This is a summary version in English of Stengel's publication. The second volume was not published until 1958.

The types of document in the list: A. Donations Donations of human and non-human property, where the verb used is 'donare' and transfers of property, 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.

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 become persona 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 to Boniface 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 his Historia 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 3

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

Salzburg, Vivulus over the church of Passau (Patavia), Gowibaldus over the church of Regensburg (Ratisponia), and Erembertus over the Freising church. Straightaway, they were like branches shoots adhering to the true vine in the vineyard of the Lord (John 15,2 ff.), not without the fruit of the souls entrusted to them, and in addition they did as much as they could to exalt their mother church of Fulda for the love of the pious father Boniface with gifts and honours. It happened that each one of them made offerings of charity, as much as he was able, to the bothers at Fulda from his own country annually and incited his citizens to do the same. It thus came about that from the individual regions the faithful conferred many rewards on the church at Fulda for the honour of St Boniface, archbishop and martyr, that the house of the Lord might grow and become greater from day to day.

First, the church at Salzburg offered its mother church at Fulda in its town called Halla a house and saltworks with all the things that belong to them, which generate an annual income of twelve talents (in this case, a weight equal to a pound). The church at Regensburg offered 4 vineyards and 4 royal homesteads with gardens and appurtenances and families, from which every year they have to transfer to the church at Fulda for the brothers who serve God and the blessed Boniface great fish called 'hsen' (of the sturgeon family) and from the oil of trees as much as two horses can carry in lagenae (jars). Similarly, the church at Passau, while Vivulus was still alive, used to send an offering of oil and fish every year. When he died, this offering was discontinued gradually, through negligence or lack of interest or the length of the journey. The church at Freising, of which Erembertus was the bishop, which is situated beside the Alps and mountains of Italy, every year sent an offering of large cheeses called 'berckese' (Bergkse=mountain cheese) to the brothers of Fulda.

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 6

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 754 23. 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 ten serfs 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. 7

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 19 serfs. 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 772 59 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 8

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 775 74 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

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 Franconia750-779 93 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 750-779 106 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 10

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 750-779 123 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 750-779 138 Ruthardt, a Swabian nobleman (Comes de Alamannia) , transfers his propery at Eschenz 750779 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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