1 centre of christianity in netherlands (650–1579)
1.1 prince-bishops
1.2 clerical buildings
1.3 city of utrecht
1.4 end of independence
centre of christianity in netherlands (650–1579)
the dom tower seen downtown. remaining section of cathedral of saint martin not connected tower since collapse of nave in 1674 due storm.
by mid-7th century, english , irish missionaries set out convert frisians. pope appointed leader, willibrordus, bishop of frisians. tenure of willibrordus considered beginning of bishopric of utrecht. in 723, frankish leader charles martel bestowed fortress in utrecht , surrounding lands base of bishops. on utrecht became 1 of influential seats of power roman catholic church in netherlands. archbishops of utrecht based @ uneasy northern border of carolingian empire. in addition, city of utrecht had competition nearby trading centre dorestad. after fall of dorestad around 850, utrecht became 1 of important cities in netherlands. importance of utrecht centre of christianity illustrated election of utrecht-born adriaan florenszoon boeyens pope in 1522 (the last non-italian pope before john paul ii).
prince-bishops
when frankish rulers established system of feudalism, bishops of utrecht came exercise worldly power prince-bishops. territory of bishopric not included modern province of utrecht (nedersticht, lower sticht ), extended northeast. feudal conflict of middle ages heavily affected utrecht. prince-bishopric involved in continuous conflicts counts of holland , dukes of guelders. veluwe region seized guelders, large areas in modern province of overijssel remained oversticht.
clerical buildings
several churches , monasteries built inside, or close to, city of utrecht. dominant of these cathedral of saint martin, inside old roman fortress. construction of present gothic building begun in 1254 after earlier romanesque construction had been badly damaged fire. choir , transept finished 1320 , followed ambitious dom tower. last part constructed central nave, 1420. time, however, age of great cathedrals had come end , declining finances prevented ambitious project being finished, construction of central nave being suspended before planned flying buttresses finished. besides cathedral there 4 collegiate churches in utrecht: st. salvator s church (demolished in 16th century), on dom square, dating 8th century. saint john (janskerk), originating in 1040; saint peter, building started in 1039 , saint mary s church building started around 1090 (demolished in 19th century, cloister survives). besides these churches city housed st. paul s abbey, 15th-century beguinage of st. nicholas, , 14th-century chapter house of teutonic knights.
besides these buildings belonged bishopric; additional 4 parish churches constructed in city: jacobikerk (dedicated saint james), founded in 11th century, current gothic church dating 14th century; buurkerk (neighbourhood-church) of 11th-century parish in centre of city; nicolaichurch (dedicated saint nicholas), 12th century , 13th-century geertekerk (dedicated saint gertrude of nivelles).
city of utrecht
the location on banks of river rhine allowed utrecht become important trade centre in northern netherlands. growing town utrecht granted city rights henry v in 1122. when main flow of rhine moved south, old bed, still flowed through heart of town became ever more canalized; , wharf system built inner city harbour system. on wharfs storage facilities (werfkelders) built, on top of main street, including houses constructed. wharfs , cellars accessible platform @ water level stairs descending street level form unique structure. relations between bishop, controlled many lands outside of city, , citizens of utrecht not easy. bishop, example dammed kromme rijn @ wijk bij duurstede protect estates flooding. threatened shipping city , led city of utrecht commission canal ensure access town shipping trade: vaartse rijn, connecting utrecht hollandse ijssel @ ijsselstein.
the end of independence
in 1528 bishop lost secular power on both neder- , oversticht – included city of utrecht – charles v, holy roman emperor. charles v combined seventeen provinces (the current benelux , northern parts of france) personal union. ended prince-bishopric of utrecht, secular rule lordship of utrecht, religious power remaining bishop, although charles v had gained right appoint new bishops. in 1559 bishopric of utrecht raised archbishopric make religious centre of northern ecclesiastical province in seventeen provinces.
the transition independence relatively minor part of larger union not accepted. quell uprisings charles v struggled exert power on citizens of city, had struggled gain level of independence bishops , not willing cede new lord. heavily fortified castle vredenburg built house large garrison main task maintain control on city. castle last less 50 years before demolished in uprising in stages of dutch revolt.
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