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The Brunswick Cathedral, in the City of Braunschweig (Brunswick), Germany, is a large Lutheran church dedicated to Saint Blaise and was built by Henry the Lion from 1173 to 1195. While commonly called a cathedral, it is not actually a seat of a bishop.
The construction was disrupted several times during the various exiles of Henry, so he and his consort Matilda, Duchess of Saxony were both buried in an unfinished church. The limestone statues on the tomb in the nave are an idealised representation made one generation after their death, between 1230 and 1240. The cathedral was consecrated on December 29, 1226, dedicated to Saints Blaise, John the Baptist and Thomas Becket. It turned Protestant in 1543 after the City of Brunswick in opposition to Duke Henry V of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel had joined the Schmalkaldic League.
Among the most important pieces on display in the church are a wooden crucifix by Master Imervard (second half of the 12th century) and one of very few huge bronze candlesticks with seven arms, from around 1170-1180.
The Cathedral is also the burial place of Caroline of Brunswick, Queen Consort of George IV of the United Kingdom. Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg is also buried here.
The bells of St Blaise. |
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| The paintings at walls and ceilings were found under a thick layer of paint around 70 years ago. Old pictures show that the whole church was decorated with paintings. |
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 | John the Baptist | The 5-legged altar is a contribution
of Henry the Lion. The fifth leg is a
tube and contains documents and
things from that time. | St Blaise |
A selection of 3 epitaphs which are mounted at the walls of the cathedral.
 |  | | The epitaph of
Elisabeth von der Schulenburg, nee Dageforde
passed away on 25 February 1604, aged 60 years.
She was the wife of Joachim von der Schulenburg. |
The epitaph of
General Major Caspar von Völker
born in Lüneburg on 21 January 1655
passed away in Brunswick on 10 September 1730
aged 75 years.
His wife
Annen Catharinen von Völker, nee Giselern
born in Osterwick on 19 June 1655
passed away in brunswick on 1 April 1732
aged 76 years. | |  |  |
 |  | | The epitaph of
Philippus Ludovicus (Philip Ludwig)
Provost from Wendhausen
Master of Wendhausen, Schöningen, Riddagshausen
passed away on
XVII November MDCCXVIII (17 November 1718)
aged LXXXV years (85 years)
Another name is also mentioned:
Conrad Detlef de Dehn |
The grave of Henry the Lion and his wife Mathilde . . .
. . . and their coffins
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The right coffin belongs to Henry the Lion, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, and the left coffin to Mathilde, Duchess of Saxony.
The reliefs of: Countess Gertrud, passed away 1077
She was the founder of the first collegiate church.
Count Ekkbert, passed away 1090
Countess Gertrud, passed away 1117
She was the sister of Ekkbert II, the great-grandmother of Henry the Lion
and the founder of St Aegidien, another church in Brunswick. are laid out in the coffin which is located in the background.
The crypt of the Welf family
The crypt of the Welf family contains 21 coffins of
considerable members of the family.
Also Henry the Lion was a Welf. | |  |
 | | 1. Ferdinand Albrecht I
Duke of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern
born on 22 May 1636 in Braunschweig
died on 23 April 1687 in Bevern.
2. His wife Christine (1648 - 1702)
daughter of Count Friedrich von Hessen-Eschwege |
15. Ludwig Ernst (1718 - 1788)
Duke of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern
Field-marshal in the armies of the Holy Roman Empire
and the Republic of the Seven Netherlands.
16. Friedrich Franz (1732 - 1758)
Son of Ferdinand Albrecht II
killed in action at the battle of Hochkirch. | |  |
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 | | Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, later Queen Caroline
born on 17 May 1768 in Braunschweig
died on 7 August 1821 in London, England.
She was the wife of George IV of the United Kingdom. |
Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
The Black Duke
born on 9 October 1771 in Brunswick
killed in action on 16 June 1815 at Quatre Bras (Waterloo) | |  |
Some pictures are not of good quality. I didn't use the flash light. I was afraid to disturb those people who came for other reasons into the church. Unfortunately needs the auto focus light for a proper work. Sorry for this.
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