The "Hirsau Form" of 1075 – Document of a Turning Point in Time

Presumably in 1075, the second founding of the Hirsau Monastery took place – evidenced by a royal document. The source is disputed: Is it a forgery? What significance did it have for the monastic reform? Speaker: Dr. Casimir Bumiller. According to the documentary tradition, the Hirsau Monastery experienced its second act of foundation in 1075 – brought about by the joint actions of the Counts of Calw and Abbot Wilhelm, as evidenced by a document from King Henry IV, which also mentions the Calw Castle. This diploma, which became a template for the reorganization of monastic life in numerous locations of the Holy Roman Empire and is therefore referred to as the "Hirsau Formula," is contested among medieval historians and document researchers: Does it actually originate from the year 1075? Is it a forgery, does the document contain a genuine core, or can it even be considered entirely authentic? What specific significance did it have for the development of communal life and monastic reform in Hirsau and beyond? Dr. Casimir Bumiller (Bollschweil), a recognized expert in the medieval history of Southwest Germany for decades, will address these questions in his lecture.