The Splendors of the late Carolingians. Hatto I – Archbishop of Mainz (891-913). From Reichenau to the Mouse Tower

Mainz, Bischöfliches Dom- und Diözesanmuseum Mainz
Until 11 August 2013

 

Virtually no figure of the Early Middle Ages has received such mixed reviews as Hatto I, abbot of the Benedictine monasteries of Ellwangen and Reichenau and archbishop of Mainz (891-913). The disparaging image of him which prevails today depicts him as schemer, murderer and cheat. Not less ghastly is the legend surrounding his death: as punishment for his cruelty, he was eaten up by mice at the so-called “Binger Mäuseturm” (Mouse Tower of Bingen).

 

Political advisor in difficult times, donator of outstanding works of art and renovator of the city of Mainz, Hatto will be re-evaluated on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of his death by the Episcopal Cathedral and Diocesan Museum Mainz. Written records will be viewed alongside authentic objects donated by Hatto himself to uncover the historical figure, examined here in the light of late Carolingian works of art. The stone-carved Hatto window (c. 900 A.D.) will be surrounded by a number of further outstanding works, among them the famous Tuotilo ivories from the St. Gall Abbey Library , which will be on view in Germany for the first time during the exhibition.

(c) Dom- und Diözesanmuseum Mainz

 

Opening hours:

From Monday to Friday 10.00 - 17.00

From Saturday to Sunday 11.00 - 18.00

Closed on Mondays

Ticket 7 €, reduced entrance 5 €, group member 5 €

For further practical informations see the website of the museum.

For an english review of the exbition see the website of 'Medieval Histories'.

 

And just as a reminder:

Robert Southey's God’s Judgment on a Wicked Bishop from 1799

The summer and autumn had been so wet,
That in winter the corn was growing yet,
‘T was a piteous sight to see all around
The grain lie rotting on the ground.

Every day the starving poor
Crowded around Bishop Hatto’s door,
For he had a plentiful last-year’s store,
And all the neighbourhood could tell
His granaries were furnish’d well.

At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day
To quiet the poor without delay,
He bade them to his great Barn repair,
And they should have food for the winter there.

Rejoiced such tidings good to hear,
The poor folk flock’d from far and near;
The great Barn was full as it could hold
Of women and children, and young and old.

Then when he saw it could hold no more,
Bishop Hatto he made fast the door;
And while for mercy on Christ they call,
He set fire to the Barn and burnt them all.

“I’faith ‘t is an excellent bonfire!” quoth he,
“And the country is greatly obliged to me,
For ridding it in these times forlorn
Of Rats that only consume the corn.”

So then to his palace returned he,
And he sat down to supper merrily,
And he slept that night like an innocent man;
But Bishop Hatto never slept again.

In the morning as he enter’d the hall
Where his picture hung against the wall,
A sweat like death all over him came,
For the Rats had eaten it out of the frame.

As he look’d there came a man from his farm,
He had a countenance white with alarm.
“My Lord, I open’d your granaries this morn,
And the Rats had eaten all your corn.”

Another came running presently,
And he was pale as pale could be,
“Fly! my Lord Bishop, fly,” quoth he,
“Ten thousand Rats are coming this way, -
The Lord forgive you for yesterday!”

“I’ll go to my tower on the Rhine,” replied he,
“’T is the safest place in Germany;
The walls are high and the shores are steep
And the stream is strong and the water deep.”

Bishop Hatto fearfully hasten’d away,
And he crost the Rhine without delay,
And reach’d his tower, and barr’d with care
All the windows, doors, and loop-holes there.

He laid him down and closed his eyes; -.
But soon a scream made him arise,
He started and saw two eyes of flame
On his pillow from whence the screaming came.

He listen’d and look’d;- it was only the Cat;
And the Bishop he grew more fearful for that,
For she sat screaming, mad with fear
At the Army of Rats that were drawing near.

For they have swam over the river so deep,
And they have climb’d the shores so steep,
1And now by thousands up they crawl
To the holes and windows in the wall.1

Down on his knees the Bishop fell,
And faster and faster his beads did he tell,
As louder and louder drawing near
2The saw of their without he could hear.2

And in at the windows and in at the door,
And through the walls 3by thousands3 they pour,
And down from the ceiling and up through the floor,
From the right and the left, from behind and before,
From within and without, from above and below,
And all at once to the Bishop they go.

They have whetted their teeth against the stones,
And now they pick the Bishop’s bones:
They gnaw’d the flesh from every limb,
For they were sent to do judgment on him!

(Source: The poetical works of Robert Southey. Complete in one volume, Paris 1829, p. 643)

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