Foundation of Kaltenborn, 1120
April 15 (16), 1120; Halbertstadt: Bishop Reinhard of Halberstadt issues a charter confirming the foundation and endowment of the house of canons at Kaltenborn. Wiprecht and Count Ludwig [of Thuringia], along with their sons, are mentioned as being present at an earlier court session in Botenstede and a gathering in Erfurt, where the foundation of Kaltenborn was initially discussed. Wiprecht is also described as the first advocate of Kaltenborn at the close of the document.
The original is in the archive of the University of Göttingen and is in excellent condition, with the bishop's seal still attached: orig.
Translation
In the name of the holy and indivisible trinity. Reinhard, with divine clemency favoring him, bishop of Halberstadt. Let all the present and future faithful know that the noble man Wichmann, my relative, granted to our cathedral church, at the principal altar of the protomartyr Stephen, for the salvation of his soul as well as those of his beloved wife and all his ancestors, his properties, with all the profits that presently or from this time henceforth could be generated [from them], with this stipulation: namely, that we would institute from the same property, in the place called Kaltenborn, [a house of] the apostolic and common life observing the rule of canons. Moreover, he himself established this, both by his own right and by the right of those provinces in which these properties are located, namely Saxony and Thuringia, in a legitimate court session, when he as count was sitting for a tribunal in Botenstede, with me present along with Counts Ludwig and Wiprecht and their sons, with Counts Sizzo and Berengarius, and with their other compatriots. Moreover, these things were accomplished in full and confirmed indissolubly by the authority of Archbishop Adelbert of Mainz in Erfurt, with me present along with Bishop Bruno of Speyer and all the above-named people; also present were his heirs, and faithfully approving were the cleric Ekbert and the laymen Herman and Gunzelin.
These are the estates: … [some in the bishopric of Halberstadt and county of Count-Palatine Frederick, some in the bishopric of Mainz in Thuringia].
And so, the church of St John the Evangelist in Kaltenborn was originally endowed with these aforesaid properties. The remainder of his possessions he traded with the clients [ministerials] of Mainz and of our church of Halberstadt according to that law, which the better men of the same churches enjoy, and with the relatives and friends to whom he wanted them to go. We establish for the same church every liberty and peace, so that those serving God there may suffer no troubles at all from anyone whatsoever. We also grant to the servants of God living according to the rule in that place the right of free election, such that whomever the brothers of sounder counsel might elect, from the same monastery or from another monastery of the same order according to God, he may be put in place with the bishop's consent. Moreover, the bishop may constitute no one as advocate over this place and all its appurtenances, unless the provost seeks someone. Nor may the same [advocate], contrary to decree, take anything away from the same church, nor hold the advocacy longer than the utility of the church may require and it may be pleasing to the provost. After all these things were offered, as has been said, the same noble man also offered (even more worthily) himself—indeed!—as the sweetest offering to the lord; having left behind everything he possessed, he was made a destitute disciple of the one who was destitute.
If anyone attempts to come against this decree rashly—let it not happen!—and fails to recover his senses after the second and third warning, we will consign him to perpetual anathema. But divine reward will repay those serving the aforesaid place justly and those supporting it with benefices and protection, and the heavenly blessing will multiply [for them] in the present and future. Amen.
This was decreed by the authority of the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, and the lord pope Calixtus [II], just as he established it in our presence by his authority and privilege at the council in Rheims [in 1119], and we establish it and pledge, under threat of anathema, that it will not be changed in any way. Moreover, I, Reinhard, confirmed this charter, which was written down after that, with my own hand and ordered it to be sealed with my seal.
Dated the sixteenth calends of May in the year of the Lord's incarnation 1120, in the eighth indiction year, in the thirteenth year of the episcopacy of Bishop Reinhard. Done in Halberstadt at a full council, on Holy Thursday; the pope is Calixtus II, Adelbert is archbishop of Mainz and legate of the Holy See, Reinhard is bishop of Halberstadt, Thietmar is the first provost of [Kaltenborn], and the first advocate is Wiprecht. Happily, amen.