Gamelbert of Michaelsbuch
Encyclopedia
The Blessed Gamelbert was a Christian priest, who worked in the 8th century in the area of the present Deggendorf
in Bavaria
in Germany
.
between Mariaposching
and Deggendorf
, for which he had pay a tax known as the Medema. From this was derived the name of Metten
both for the place itself and for the monastery, Metten Abbey
, that was founded there.
The first abbot was Gamelbert's godson Utto
, who directed the construction of the monastery from his hermitage (the present Uttobrunn). In 766 twelve monks arrived from Reichenau Abbey as the first official occupants, although the place was well settled by then
Grave finds from Uttenkofen near Michaelsbuch have been dated to the late 7th or early 8th century and have been associated with the founding family of Metten Abbey.
Deggendorf
Deggendorf is a town in Bavaria, capital of the district Deggendorf.The earliest traces of settlement in the area are found near the Danube, about 8,000 years ago. Both Bronze Age and Celtic era archeological finds indicate continuous habitation through the years...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Life
Gamelbert is said to hav been of noble descent and a lord of Michaelsbuch. In the mid-8th century he acquired from Duke Tassilo III a piece of woodland on the opposite bank of the DanubeDanube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
between Mariaposching
Mariaposching
Mariaposching is a municipality in the district of Straubing-Bogen in Bavaria, Germany....
and Deggendorf
Deggendorf
Deggendorf is a town in Bavaria, capital of the district Deggendorf.The earliest traces of settlement in the area are found near the Danube, about 8,000 years ago. Both Bronze Age and Celtic era archeological finds indicate continuous habitation through the years...
, for which he had pay a tax known as the Medema. From this was derived the name of Metten
Metten
Metten is a municipality in the district of Deggendorf in Bavaria in Germany. The town grew up round Metten Abbey, founded in 766. Metten is also the birthplace of former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sepp Maier....
both for the place itself and for the monastery, Metten Abbey
Metten Abbey
Metten Abbey, or St. Michael's Abbey at Metten is a house of the Benedictine Order in Metten near Deggendorf, situated between the fringes of the Bavarian Forest and the valley of the Danube, in Bavaria in Germany.The abbey was founded in 766 by Gamelbert of Michaelsbuch...
, that was founded there.
The first abbot was Gamelbert's godson Utto
Utto
The Blessed Utto was the first abbot of the Bavarian Metten Abbey of the Benedictine Order. His feast is celebrated on October 3.-Biography:Utto was presumably a monk at the abbey of Reichenau; his place of birth is unknown...
, who directed the construction of the monastery from his hermitage (the present Uttobrunn). In 766 twelve monks arrived from Reichenau Abbey as the first official occupants, although the place was well settled by then
Other
In art, Gamelbert is represented as a priest or as a pilgrim surrounded by birds. His feast is celebrated on 17 January.Grave finds from Uttenkofen near Michaelsbuch have been dated to the late 7th or early 8th century and have been associated with the founding family of Metten Abbey.
Further reading
- Becker, H. 1971. "Gamelbertus von Michaelsbuch." Beiträge zur Geschichte des Bistums Regensburg 5: 7–21.
- Fink, Wilhelm. 1939. "Der selige Gamelbert." In Zwölfhundert Jahre Bistum Regensburg. Regensburg. 223 ff.
- Ponschab, Bernhard. 1910. Die seligen Utto und Gamelbert. Die Geschichte ihrer Verehrung und ihres Lebens. Regensburg.
- Prinz, Friedrich. 1962. "Die Anfänge der Benediktinerabtei Metten." Zeitschrift für bayerische Landesgeschichte 25: 20–32.
External links
A Brief Traditional Account of Gamelbert and Utto- Vita Gamalberti, ed. W. Levison. MGH Scriptores rerum Merov. 7: Passiones vitaeque sanctorum aevi Merovingici (V). http://www.dmgh.de