Adalbert (archbishop of Magdeburg)

St. Adalbert of Magdeburg (also: Albert, Adelbert, Adalbert I, Albert I, Adalbertus; * about 910 in Lorraine, † June 20 981 in Zscherben ) was the first archbishop of Magdeburg, missionary and historian.

Life

Its origin is controversial. Thus, it was suspected that he might have been the great-grandson of the 906 executed Babenberger Adalbert. This assumption is based on the Leitnamenprinzip. The thesis Theo Kölzers According to the person relying on a spring from the pen Borg Horst, Adalbert is in contrast to be identified as the brother of the newlyweds with Bernhard of Saxe pen founder Berta.

Adalbert initially worked in the office of the Archbishop of Cologne and was from 953 worked in the royal chancery. From 958-961 he lived as a monk in the monastery of St. Maximin in Trier. 961 he was sent on the recommendation of the Archbishop William of Mainz, illegitimate son of Otto I with a Slavic princess, in the capacity of Mission bishop in the kingdom of Kievan Rus. Unsuccessful, only narrowly escaped death, but he returned already 962 back. Despite these unsuccessful missionary journey, he was appointed by the Emperor as abbot of the monastery of Wissembourg beginning 966 and accompanied Otto II 967 to Italy. In the years 966/967 Adalbert is said to have written a continuation of the Chronicle of Regino of Prüm for the years 907-967. This is considered the " only significant Ottonian Annals work of the 10th century ". On 24 December 968 he was appointed by the Emperor as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of newly formed Magdeburg. He succeeded in expanding the Magdeburg cathedral school to the education center of the empire, and thus still einmals to increase the importance of Magdeburg essential. As archbishop he had remained in close contact with the court. Adalbert received numerous certificates of Otto I and Otto II However, Adalbert is no longer emerged in national politics. The structure of the archdiocese should have been his main activity.

981 died Adalbert near Halle, and thus did not live to the destruction of the bishoprics of Brandenburg Havel mountain and in the Slavic uprising of 983. The grave Adalbert is located in Magdeburg Cathedral. Adalbert was canonized later. His Catholic feast day is June 20. The interest of Medieval Studies at the person of Adalbert and his work has remained low. A first basic investigation has Karl Hauck until 1974 before.

Werkausgaben

• Adalberti Continuatio Reginonis. In: sources on the history of the Saxon Empire, edited by Albert Bauer and Reinhold Rau, with a supplement of Bele Freudenberg ( FSGA 8), 5, opposite the fourth a supplement extended edition, Darmstadt 2002, pp. 190-231.