Munkeliv Abbey (Norwegian : Munkeliv kloster) was a Benedictine abbey located at Nordnes in Bergen, Norway. It was one of the oldest monasteries in Norway, and also one of the wealthiest and best-documented. There are no visible remains today. [1] [2] [3]
Munkeliv Abbey was founded as a Benedictine abbey by King Eystein I of Norway (Øystein 1 Magnusson, reigned 1103– 1123) in about 1110 and was dedicated to Saint Michael. The abbey was strategically positioned on the dominant height of Nordnes over the then newly established town of Bergen, with a view to encouraging the town's development. Its first centuries were successful and prosperous, but the arrival of the Black Death in the mid-14th century brought about a decline. In addition, the buildings suffered great damage in 1393 when the abbey was attacked by pirates known as the Victual Brothers (vitaliebrødrene). Thanks to its great wealth it managed to survive these catastrophes, but could not avoid a further decline. [4] [5]
In the 1420s it was taken over by the Bridgettines, with the Pope's approval, and was occupied as a double house by both monks and nuns. This was a very disturbed period: the abbey was again damaged by fire in 1455, when it was attacked by Hanseatic merchants pursuing Olav Nilsson, commander of the royal castle in Bergen, who had sought sanctuary in the abbey. Both Olav Nilsson and Leif Thor Olafsson, Bishop of Bergen, died during the attack. During the 1460s, the occupants of Munkeliv were obliged to seek shelter in Hovedøya Abbey in Oslo. The monastery was re-constructed by the Cistercian Order and reoccupied by the Bridgettines in 1480. [6]
When the abbey was suppressed during the Protestant Reformation, the Bishop of Bergen took it over for his residence and used the church as the cathedral of Bergen. The entire building complex however was destroyed by fire in 1536. The monks' herb garden near Puddefjord was later cultivated by the Bergen pharmacist, Løveapoteket, for medicinal plants, until the surrounding areas were built up in the 19th century. [7]
The monastery remains today are beneath the open space known as "the Monastery" (Klosteret) at Nordnes, near numbers 2–6, and nothing is visible. Excavations of the site took place in 1857 and 1860, during which many extremely well crafted structural fragments were recovered. These artifacts are now in the Museum of Cultural History (Kulturhistorisk Museum), part of Bergen Museum. These include the well-known marble head of King Eystein I discovered by Nicolay Nicolaysen, supposedly the oldest-known portrait of a Norwegian. At that time there were still remains of walls above ground up to a height of roughly 2.4 metres, but these were demolished after the excavations. [8]
The church was approximately 32 metres in length and 11 metres wide, consisting of a single aisle the same width as the choir, which ended in an apse at the east end and also a crypt. A west tower was added in the 13th century. The conventual buildings were to the south of the church. Presumably under the Bridgettines, who carried out extensive building alterations, the cloisters were incorporated into the church. [9]
Eysteinn Magnusson was king of Norway from 1103 to 1123 together with his brothers Sigurd the Crusader and Olaf Magnusson, although since Olaf died before adulthood, only Eystein and Sigurd were effective rulers of the country.
Utstein Abbey is Norway's best-preserved medieval monastery. It is located on the southern shore of the island of Klosterøy in Stavanger municipality, Rogaland county. It was built in the late 1200s. Utstein Church is located on the grounds of the abbey.
Bergenhus fortress is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Located at the entrance of Bergen harbour, the castle is one of the oldest and best preserved stone fortifications in Norway.
Erling Ormsson, known as Erling Skakke, was a Norwegian Jarl during the 12th century. He was the father of Magnus V, who reigned as King of Norway from 1161 to 1184.
Eysteinn Erlendsson was Archbishop of Nidaros from 1161 to his death in 1188.
Olav Nilsson Skanke was a Norwegian nobleman, knight and privateer. He was a member of the Riksråd and served as commander of Bergenhus Fortress.
Nicolay Nicolaysen was a Norwegian archaeologist and Norway's first state employed antiquarian. He is perhaps best known for his excavations of the ship burial at Gokstad in 1880.
The Skanke family is a former Norwegian noble family.
Halsnøy Abbey was a house of Augustinian Canons located on the island of Halsnøy on the Hardangerfjord at Kvinnherad in Vestland, Norway.
Selja Abbey was a Benedictine monastery located on the island of Selja in the municipality of Stad, Vestland, Norway. The island of Selja, which has been formerly known as Sellø or Selø, is located 15 minutes by boat from Selje's mainland.
Nidarholm Abbey was a Benedictine monastery located on the island of Munkholmen in Trondheim Fjord on the sea approach to Trondheim, Norway.
St. John's Priory, Bergen was a house of Augustinian Canons located in Bergen, Norway.
Nonneseter Abbey was a Cistercian nunnery in Bergen, Norway. A small part of the former abbey church remains in use as a chapel, the Nonneseter kapell.
Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter was a medieval Norwegian Queen consort and spouse of King Eystein I of Norway.
Events in the year 1455 in Norway.
Events in the year 1393 in Norway.
Elise Eskilsdotter was a Norwegian noble. Elise was the daughter of Eskild Ågesen and Elisabeth Jakobsdatter Hegle. Her father was a knight from Scania. Around 1420, she married the Norwegian nobleman Olav Nilsson who was a member of the noble Skanke family.
Leif Thor Olafsson, also Thorleiv Olavsson was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Viborg (1440–1451) and Bishop of Bjørgvin (1451–1455).
Ragnhild Skoftesdotter was a Norwegian noblewoman and landowner.
Kongsgård is a residence, estate, or farmland that has belonged to or still belongs to the Scandinavian monarchs or royal families.
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