Monastic Landscapes

The priory of Dalby and the economic landscape – Resources, production and consumption


The text deals with a priory that reaches out far beyond its precinct walls in search of an “economic landscape”, that is a landscape of resources, production and consumption, the way it was organized and how it worked as the economic backbone of the priory.

The starting point has been the so-called Revenue-book of the Dalby priory 1530–31 and the archaeological landscape. As a bridge between different sources, a model developed by the researcher Bond has been used.

The study shows a landscape that in the 16th century offered a large variety of recourses and thus constituted a basis for a mixed economy. Resources that were missing could be purchased in the market or in towns like Malmö, where the priory had at least one town residence.

Archaeological evidence from Dalby shows medieval buildings below the hill and medieval brick manufacturing some 500 metres away that are believed to be connected to the priory. Some 1,5 kilometers from the priory is an area known as Hästhagen, or “horse pasture”. A previous study shows that this may be a deer park attached to the priory. A study of the oldest maps also suggests a connection, and the park could very well have played an important economic role in support of conspicuous consumption. Just outside the park remains of one of the monastic fishponds are believed to be situated. Another pond is thought to have been located south of the priory. The Revenues shows that a huge quantity of fish was brought to the priory from other places and thus the ponds probably were of small economic significance. Instead, the freshwater fish of the monastic ponds could very well have been a part of the conspicuous consumption.

The model shows the shortcomings of the source material, but may be used as a starting point for how to proceed in the search for the monastery's economic landscape. The article proposes a detailed study of existing archaeological documentations, and renewed excavations in order to highlight three themes for better understanding of the economic landscape: production, consumption and surplus.

Summary
Studies on the history of convents in the State of Teutonic Order in Prussia, Royal Prussia and the Province of West Prussia (the 13th – the middle of the 19th centuries)

1. The monastic landscape of the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia in the Middle Ages

The subject of the study is the analysis of the process of establishing and functioning of monasteries (the organisational framework of monasticism) treated as an element of cultural landscape reconstruction, which also includes “monastic landscape”. The situation in the Teutonic Order domain in Prussia along with Gdańsk Pomerania from the 13th to the start of the 16th century was given consideration. The areas, geographically, but also in terms of developing and shaping new forms of monastic life, were considered peripheral in the scale of Latin Europe. As a consequence of that, various forms of monasticism appeared there initially in the phase of Christianisation and then during rural colonisation and urbanisation. In total, in the Middle Ages there were 35 monasteries in existence in Prussia, including Gdańsk Pomerania, to which a nearly equal number of conventual castles of the Teutonic Order need to be added (in the first half of the 15th century, at the peak of organisational structure of the Order, there were 25 monastery conventual castles in Prussia). Among the congregations functioning here there were numerous outposts of mendicants (23). Most houses, namely 7, were owned by conventual Franciscans, 6 belonged to Dominicans, 6 to observant Franciscans, 4 to Augustinian eremites and only 1 to Carmelites. Monk or regular canon convents were 12 in total, including 7 female and 5 male ones. The largest number of them belonged to Cistercian nuns (4). In the 15th century also Brigittines established their convents here (2). The location and potential of mendicant congregations was determined by the time individual monasteries were established at. Dominicans and Franciscans were there the earliest and they established their convents in the largest towns of Gdańsk Pomerania and Prussia, oftentimes in the very same towns (Gdańsk, Chełmno, Toruń). Augustinian eremites who arrived here in the 14th century established their convents in smaller Prussian towns only. Carmelites, on the other hand, who attempted in the 15th century to expand their structures in Prussia, eventually remained with one convent in Gdańsk.
The complicated structure and territorial divisions of Prussia undoubtedly influenced the distribution and the number of monasteries established there. The Teutonic Order’s policy was of particular significance in that respect. These were their decisions and their attitude towards monk congregations determined the conventual landscape in Prussia proper (without Gdańsk Pomerania), in which there was no place for Benedictines, Cistercians or Premonstratensians. The space was filled with numerous convent castles of the Teutonic Order, especially in the land of Chełmno (Ger. Culm), where the monastic life was at first subjugated strictly to authority pragmatics, while in later period it was given low priority altogether. The great expansion of observant Franciscans, who appeared there as late as in the middle of the 15th century, stemmed from the support from the Teutonic Order. The desire to control the functioning of other conventual congregations is also visible in the instance of relations between the Teutonic Order and female convents (Premonstratensians in Zukowo and female Cistercians cloisters in Prussia). Few monasteries were established in estates belonging to Prussian bishops, although one exception may have been established in that respect in Warmia, which was not controlled by the Teutonic Order.

[...]

Książka zawiera studia dotyczące wybranych aspektów życia monastycznego w Prusach Krzyżackich, Królewskich i Zachodnich od XIII do połowy XIX w. Większość opracowań poświęcono działalności zakonów mendykanckich (dominikanów i franciszkanów). Choć poszczególne prace przedstawiają różne zagadnienia szczegółowe i obejmują bardzo długi czas, to w sumie składają się na spójny obraz funkcjonowania instytucji klasztornych na tych terenach, dając świadectwo ich niezwykłej umiejętności przystosowania się do zachodzących zmian.

The study proposes to test and to present the preliminary results on whether a Benedictine and a Cistercian abbey's landscape shaping activities can be compared or confronted in any way, and if so, what information/data can be retrieved from this process. The focus shall be on two royal abbeys founded in medieval Transylvania, in the light of the evolution and management of their central estates mainly from the perspective of water management. The study uses a variety of different sources, aiming at a holistic approach. Firstly, a short introductory part will set out the historic context and the particular characteristics of Transylvania, followed by short summaries of the history of the two abbeys analyzed Cluj-Mănăştur (HU Kolozsmonostor) and Cârţa (HU Kerc) to aid the understanding of their treatment. After the contexts have been set out, an analysis will be conducted on the evolution of their estates concentrating on issues of water management with the incorporated results of field investigations. Finally, the conclusions will sum up the results and the possible research tracks of the investigation. The complexity of the topic goes beyond this present study, since additional field investigation is vital for the understanding of the various landscape changes, which took place both prior to and following the ownership of the land by the monastery. Such long term changes should also be examined and interpreted. However, it could be argued that such a preliminary outline of the possibilities can be rewarding in order to pinpoint the deficiencies of the state of research and sources as well as the need for a multidisciplinary holistic approach for the understanding of historic landscapes

This paper aimed to explore the transformation of the monastic landscape in the southeast of Ireland following the arrival of the Anglo-Normans, by focusing on the monastic foundation in Ferns, examining its physical and territorial development in relation to the Gaelic kingship and the changing political landscape of the region, from the 12th to the 15th century.

SPINDLER, Konrad (ur.). Mensch und Natur im mittelalterlichen Europa : archäologische, historische und naturwissenschaftliche Befunde : Akten der Akademie Friesach "Stadt und Kultur im Mittelalter", Friesach (Kärnten), 1. - 5. September 1997, (Schriftenreihe der Akademie Friesach, Bd. 4). Klagenfurt: Wieser, 1998, str. 261-278

Religieuze instellingen hebben het landschap beinvloed, maar het landschap heeft ook invloed uitgeoefend op hun inplanting en hun activiteiten. Landschappen ondergingen verandering als gevolg van economische strategieen en exploitatie, en dat had op zich opnieuw een impact op de omgeving. De transformatie van het middeleeuwse landschap is over het algemeen het gevolg van humane processen en de aanpassing van de natuurlijke omgeving op die activiteiten. Wat is de stand van zaken in het onderzoek binnen deze thema’s? Op welke manier hebben onderzoekers deze thema’s aangepakt? Waarom en wanneer werd de religieuze instelling gesticht? Hoe was ze georganiseerd? Op welke economie was ze gebaseerd? De klemtoon wordt gelegd op inplanting, bezitsverwerving en land- en goederenbeheer.

La Regola di Benedetto non prescrive come debba essere il paesaggio  circostante il monastero, ma ispira un rapporto con la natura e, di  conseguenza, uno stile di vita destinato a modellare lo spazio interno e  quello esterno ai chiostri. L’atteggiamento dei monaci all’atto di fondare e  abitare i loro monasteri è di adattabilità alla natura e alle condizioni geo fisiche dell’ambiente. Questo approccio spirituale sigilla l’interazione  uomo-ambiente, indica il rifiuto di ogni forma di rigidità e di violenza nei  confronti della natura e favorisce anche un preciso rapporto con gli ospiti  e i pellegrini, basato sull’accoglienza, il dialogo, lo scambio. Durante il seminario del 2021 si intende riesaminare teoricamente il  senso del rapporto dell’uomo (e del monaco) con il territorio e si ambisce  a rispondere a queste domande: il paesaggio monastico esiste? I  valori che ispirano la Regola si riflettono nello stile di inserimento  delle costruzioni benedettine nell’ambiente? E, in questo caso, si  può parlare di contributo del monachesimo all’identità europea?  In linea con la tradizione di Armonie Composte, gli studenti saranno  divisi in gruppi di lavoro ai quali verranno affidati temi, discussioni e  approfondimenti da esporre alla conclusione del seminario. Seguirà,  come di consueto, un momento di condivisione con il pubblico, con la  tavola rotonda di sabato 6 novembre pomeriggio, cui parteciperanno eminenti personalità che discuteranno di quanto l’eredità di Benedetto possa ancora dare indicazioni per l’attualità.

The 8th and 9th centuries AD Po valley (northern Italy) represents an ideal case study area in which to analyse the link between monastic institutions and the rural landscape. In fact, the increase in forest, changes in river courses, the increase in watery environments – such as swamps and marshes – and the abandonment of previous Roman and late antique settlements formed a new landscape in which early medieval rural monasteries became the main actors in the exploitation and administration of the incultus, the wilderness. The proliferation of such monasteries allows us to recognise similar features in the patterns of appropriation and control of the landscape that seem to characterise this particular period and territory.
However, the Carolingian conquest of northern Italy in the second half of the 8th century complicates the picture. It is not easy to recognise Carolingian material evidence in both urban and rural contexts, and archaeological surveys of rural monasteries of the end of the 8th and the 9th century do not shown any changes linked to the presence of the new rulers of northern Italy. That said, especially looking at the written sources, new foundations – or re-foundations – of monastic settlements in the countryside are evident. From the 9th century in particular, it is possible to note a spread of rural monasteries in peripheral, wild and uninhabited areas. How far this process can be defined as “Carolingian” is arguable and will be discussed in this paper. Alongside the most well-known sites like Nonantola (Emilia), Leno (Lombardy) and Pomposa (Veneto), other, ‘minor’ monasteries will be assessed in order to understand a deliberate plan – if there was one – for the exploitation of the wilderness, thereby extending the state of knowledge for future discussion.

From time to time I will post 'bite size' chunks of the material I am preparing for my PhD thesis: works in progress, but content which I feel may be of interest to a wider audience. All will be very much draft versions, not necessarily - probably not - reflecting the final wording that will eventually appear in the Thesis. In-text references are included but a full bibliography is not. This paper is based on a section of the initial literature review and can be viewed at: http://landscapism.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/phd-research-paper-2-study-of-monastic.html

Based on the study of written sources, historic maps and archaeological field work, the present article discusses the reconstruction of a single Pauline monastic landscape situated on the territory of the medieval Szekler land. The monastery was placed on a hilltop in today’s Sâncraiul de Mureş (Marosszentkirály), named by the sources as Szentkirály or Székelyháza. The buildings of the monastery were destroyed by a fire and a part of them was used, in the 17th century, for the rebuilding of the fortification in Târgu Mureş (Marosvásárhely). This was one of the wealthiest Pauline monasteries from medieval Transylvania. The monks received a great number of donations and support from the local noble families. Most of the donations consisted of various types of landed estates, the study of which, offers insight into the land use and economy of this monastery.