Spieskappel
Title
Spieskappel
Also Known As
Capella, Cappele, Kappel am Spies, Mönchskappel, Unterkappel
Dates
Founded 1130; dissolved early 16th c.
Dedication
Mary; John the Baptist
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Spieskappel was founded 1130-43 by the knights Engelbold and Engelbert von Dörenberg. It consisted of a women's monastery (Oberkappel) and a men's community (Unterkappel) on the same site. Much of the men's monastery was badly damaged in a fire in 1301.
The women's monastery was dissolved ca. 1500, while the men's monastery was suppressed in 1527 during the Reformation. In the 17th century, the monastic complex was demolished. Parts of the complex wall and the church were preserved. The monastery church of Spieskappel is now a Protestant parish church.
The women's monastery was dissolved ca. 1500, while the men's monastery was suppressed in 1527 during the Reformation. In the 17th century, the monastic complex was demolished. Parts of the complex wall and the church were preserved. The monastery church of Spieskappel is now a Protestant parish church.
Heads of Community
Priors
Noth (or Nood), 1143-1147
Abbots
Arnold, fl. 1170
Nikolaus I, 1196-1204
Dietrich I, 1221-1226
Heinrich I, 1231-1233
Giselbert, ca. 1240-1259
Heinrich II von Lindenborn, fl. 1263
Rudolf, 1263-?
Johann I von Urff, 1264-1271
Rudolf, 1271-1273
Ludwig I, fl. 1275
Gerlach, 1282-1283
Johann II, 1292-1299
Konrad I, 1307-1310
Ludwig II, 1312-1313
Herrmann von Kirchberg, 1323-1332
Ludwig III, 1335-1336
Heinrich III, 1344-1348
Heinrich IV, 1351-1372
Ludwig III, 1379-1383
Dietrich II Roese, 1384-1394
Eckard Bischop, 1396-1414
Dietrich III, 1414-?
Johann III Rotzmul, 1424-1440
Konrad II, 1450-1472
Werner, 1482-1485
Johann Zuttel (Zuddel), 1488-1517
Nikolaus II Berg, 1520-1527
Johann IV Werner, 1527-1530
Noth (or Nood), 1143-1147
Abbots
Arnold, fl. 1170
Nikolaus I, 1196-1204
Dietrich I, 1221-1226
Heinrich I, 1231-1233
Giselbert, ca. 1240-1259
Heinrich II von Lindenborn, fl. 1263
Rudolf, 1263-?
Johann I von Urff, 1264-1271
Rudolf, 1271-1273
Ludwig I, fl. 1275
Gerlach, 1282-1283
Johann II, 1292-1299
Konrad I, 1307-1310
Ludwig II, 1312-1313
Herrmann von Kirchberg, 1323-1332
Ludwig III, 1335-1336
Heinrich III, 1344-1348
Heinrich IV, 1351-1372
Ludwig III, 1379-1383
Dietrich II Roese, 1384-1394
Eckard Bischop, 1396-1414
Dietrich III, 1414-?
Johann III Rotzmul, 1424-1440
Konrad II, 1450-1472
Werner, 1482-1485
Johann Zuttel (Zuddel), 1488-1517
Nikolaus II Berg, 1520-1527
Johann IV Werner, 1527-1530
Status
Priory; later abbey
Archival Sources
Reference
Bibliography
Brauns, Eduard. “Die Klosterkirche Spieskappel in der Schwalm.” Schwälmer Jahrbuch, 1980, 110–13.
List, Gerhard. Gründung und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung des Prämonstratenserstiftes Spieskappel in Hessen. Quellen und Forschungen zur hessischen Geschichte 37. Darmstadt: Hessische Historische Kommission, 1979.
Schmidt, Karl. “Das Prämonstratenserkloster in Spieskappel.” Schwälmer Jahrbuch, 2004, 135–39.
Image Credit
The parish church in Spieskappel, 2009. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Spieskappel,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/335.