Frauenbreitungen
Title
Frauenbreitungen
Also Known As
Frawenbreitungen, Frowinbreytingen, Frowinbreytingin, Konigeßbreytingen, Konigisbreitingen, Konigs Breytungen, Regis Breitingen, Regis Breitunga, Regis Briedignensis, Regisbreytingen, Vrowen Breytingen, Vrowenbreitingen
Dates
Founded ca. 1130; Benedictine from 1514; dissolved 1548
Dedication
Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Frauenbreitungen was established as a Premonstratensian double house ca. 1150 on the site of an existing hospital. After the mid-13th century, it was home only to sisters.
The monastery became Benedictine in 1514, and was badly damaged during the Peasants' War in 1525. In 1548, Frauenbreitungen was suppressed on the order of the count of Henneberg. The tower of the former abbey church is incorporated into the current parish church of St Marien, which largely dates to the early 17th century.
The monastery became Benedictine in 1514, and was badly damaged during the Peasants' War in 1525. In 1548, Frauenbreitungen was suppressed on the order of the count of Henneberg. The tower of the former abbey church is incorporated into the current parish church of St Marien, which largely dates to the early 17th century.
Heads of Community
Magistrae
Lukarde, fl. 1303
Cunigunde, fl. 1380s
Elisabeth, fl. 1402
Jutta, fl. 1406
Katherine Schilling, fl. 1410s-20s
Adelheid von Pfersdorf, fl. 1431
Katherine von Brende, fl. 1439
Else Kenndelin, fl. 1469
Walpurgis von Viernau, fl. 1481-1483
Priors
Gumpert, fl. 1303
Reinhard, fl. 1315-1320
Konrad von Werthers, fl. 1350-1360s
Johann, fl. 1380s
Johann von Katz, fl. 1402
Johann Swallung, fl. 1441
Friedrich Gemeite, fl. 1469-1477
Franz Berkach, fl. 1483
Veit Kurtz, fl. 1500?
Lukarde, fl. 1303
Cunigunde, fl. 1380s
Elisabeth, fl. 1402
Jutta, fl. 1406
Katherine Schilling, fl. 1410s-20s
Adelheid von Pfersdorf, fl. 1431
Katherine von Brende, fl. 1439
Else Kenndelin, fl. 1469
Walpurgis von Viernau, fl. 1481-1483
Priors
Gumpert, fl. 1303
Reinhard, fl. 1315-1320
Konrad von Werthers, fl. 1350-1360s
Johann, fl. 1380s
Johann von Katz, fl. 1402
Johann Swallung, fl. 1441
Friedrich Gemeite, fl. 1469-1477
Franz Berkach, fl. 1483
Veit Kurtz, fl. 1500?
Status
Women's community
Archival Sources
Meinigen, Staatsarchiv Meiningen
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Sektion I, no. 2048 (1454/55); no. 4198 (1454)
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Sektion IV, no. 14 (15th-16th c.); no. 15 (1492)
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Sektion VII, no. 83 (1494)
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Urkunden, no. 17 (1168); no. 67 (1303); no. 105 (1312); no. 136 (1317); no. 146 (1320); no. 166 (1322); no. 407 (1351); no. 408 (1351); no. 464 (1356); no. 509 (1361); no. 551 (1366); no. 616 (1380); no. 621 (1381); no. 622 (1381); no. 685 (1388); no. 736 (1402); no. 756 (1406); no. 762 (1406); no. 831 (1417); no. 832 (1417); no. 871 (1422); no. 964 (1429); no. 992 (1431); no. 1055 (1436); no. 1082 (1439); no. 1085 (1439); no. 1278 (1455); no. 1455 (1473); no. 1652 (1487); no. 1672 (1487); no. 1762 (1494); no. 1893 (1502)
Hennebergische Urkunden und Kopiare, Urkunden, no. 117 (1315)
Hennebergische Urkunden und Kopiare, Urkundennachträge, no. 207 (1397); no. 220 (1402); no. 574 (1441); no. 975 (1469); no. 1050 (1473); no. 1051 (1473); no. 1052 (1473); no. 1092 (1477); no. 1205 (1483); no. 1247 (1485); no. 1673 (1508); no. 1740 (1514)
Weimar, Hauptstaatsarchiv Weimar
Ernestinisches Gesamtarchiv, Reg. Kk, no. 468 (1481)
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Sektion I, no. 2048 (1454/55); no. 4198 (1454)
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Sektion IV, no. 14 (15th-16th c.); no. 15 (1492)
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Sektion VII, no. 83 (1494)
Gemeinschaftlich Hennebergisches Archiv, Urkunden, no. 17 (1168); no. 67 (1303); no. 105 (1312); no. 136 (1317); no. 146 (1320); no. 166 (1322); no. 407 (1351); no. 408 (1351); no. 464 (1356); no. 509 (1361); no. 551 (1366); no. 616 (1380); no. 621 (1381); no. 622 (1381); no. 685 (1388); no. 736 (1402); no. 756 (1406); no. 762 (1406); no. 831 (1417); no. 832 (1417); no. 871 (1422); no. 964 (1429); no. 992 (1431); no. 1055 (1436); no. 1082 (1439); no. 1085 (1439); no. 1278 (1455); no. 1455 (1473); no. 1652 (1487); no. 1672 (1487); no. 1762 (1494); no. 1893 (1502)
Hennebergische Urkunden und Kopiare, Urkunden, no. 117 (1315)
Hennebergische Urkunden und Kopiare, Urkundennachträge, no. 207 (1397); no. 220 (1402); no. 574 (1441); no. 975 (1469); no. 1050 (1473); no. 1051 (1473); no. 1052 (1473); no. 1092 (1477); no. 1205 (1483); no. 1247 (1485); no. 1673 (1508); no. 1740 (1514)
Weimar, Hauptstaatsarchiv Weimar
Ernestinisches Gesamtarchiv, Reg. Kk, no. 468 (1481)
Reference
Bibliography
Büttner, Heinrich. “Die älteste Geschichte der Abtei und des Stiftes zu Breitungen an der Werra.” Mitteilungen des Instituts für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung 47 (1933): 385–413.
Hoffmann, P. “Das Prämonstratenserstift in Frauenbreitungen.” In Breitunger Heimatbuch : Alten-, Frauen- und Herrenbreitungen in Wort und Bild, edited by Wilhelm Uehling, 26–37. Breitungen: Selbstverl. des Festausschusses, 1933.
Image Credit
Exterior of the church of St Marien, 2008. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Frauenbreitungen,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/535.