Cologne (Weiher)
Title
Cologne (Weiher)
Also Known As
Piscina, Silva B. M. Virginis
Dates
Founded by 1198; transferred to Augustinians, 1327
Dedication
Catherine; John the Evangelist
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
The Weiher monastery was founded ca. 1198 by a widow called Richmudis. In addition to Richmudis and her three daughters, the house's earliest sisters likely came from the Premonstratensian house at Dortmund. It was a wealthy foundation.
Until 1327 the community was under the patronage of Knechsteden. After that it appears to have been an Augustinian community unaffiliated with the Premonstratensian Order.
In 1475, the monastery was razed during a siege and the sisters moved to the Kloster St. Cäcilien, Cologne.
Until 1327 the community was under the patronage of Knechsteden. After that it appears to have been an Augustinian community unaffiliated with the Premonstratensian Order.
In 1475, the monastery was razed during a siege and the sisters moved to the Kloster St. Cäcilien, Cologne.
Heads of Community
Magistrae
Richmudis, 1198-1199
Blithildis, 1229-1246
Elisabeth I, fl. later 13th c.
Durichin, fl. later 13th c.
Clementia, 1299-1317
Elisabeth II, 1319-1347
Richmudis, 1198-1199
Blithildis, 1229-1246
Elisabeth I, fl. later 13th c.
Durichin, fl. later 13th c.
Clementia, 1299-1317
Elisabeth II, 1319-1347
Status
Women's community
Archival Sources
Köln, Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln
Best. 1 (Haupturkundenarchiv (HUA)), U 1/313A (1269)
Best. 1 (Haupturkundenarchiv (HUA)), U 1/851 (1315)
Best. 1 (Haupturkundenarchiv (HUA)), U 1/913 (1317)
Best. 215 (Gereon), U 1/17 (1231)
Best. 266 (Ursula), U 1/21A (1229)
Best. 270 (1176-1474; Finding Aid)
Best. 295 (Geistliche Abteilung - GA), 228 (1176-1462)
Best. 1 (Haupturkundenarchiv (HUA)), U 1/313A (1269)
Best. 1 (Haupturkundenarchiv (HUA)), U 1/851 (1315)
Best. 1 (Haupturkundenarchiv (HUA)), U 1/913 (1317)
Best. 215 (Gereon), U 1/17 (1231)
Best. 266 (Ursula), U 1/21A (1229)
Best. 270 (1176-1474; Finding Aid)
Best. 295 (Geistliche Abteilung - GA), 228 (1176-1462)
Reference
Bibliography
Bernicke, Petra. “Die Verlagerung der Klöster Maria zum Weiher und St. Mechtern in die Stadt Köln: Untersuchungen zur Translation zweier Frauenkonvente im Kontext der Burgunderkriege.” Analecta Coloniensia 7/8 (2008 2007): 181–96.
“Couvent de Weyer.” Mercure du Département de la Roer 4 (1813): 259–63. https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10540022?page=264,265.
Gückel, Irene. Das Kloster Maria zum Weiher vor Köln (1198-1474) und sein Fortleben in St. Cäcilien bis zur Säkularisation. Kölner Schriften zur Geschichte und Kultur 19. Cologne: Janus, 1993.
———. “Der Gebrauch von Siegeln im Augustinerinnenkloster Maria zum Weiher (1198-1474) und St. Cäcilien (1475-1802) in Köln.” In Aus Überrest und Tradition. Festschrift für Anna-Dorothee von den Brincken, 279–308. Lauf a. d. Pegnitz, 1999.
Jost, J.B.D. “Das Weiherkloster bei Köln.” Rheinische Geschichtsblätter 1 (1895): 93–95, 129–32, 149–53, 190–92, 240–55. https://books.google.com/books?id=DpUtAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA93.
Michel, Nicolaus. “Das alte freiherrliche Kanonissenstift St. Cäcilien in Koln.” Ph.D. Thesis, Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 1914. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b2605329.
Podlech, E. “Weiher, vor Köln.” In Die wichtigeren Stifte, Abteien und Klöster in der alten Erzdiözese Köln., 3:151–55. Breslau: Verlag von Goerlich & Coch, 1912. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/msu.31293008488201?urlappend=%3Bseq=163.
Image Credit
The "Porte Weyer" as shown on a map of Köln, 1807. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Cologne (Weiher),” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/572.