17. Abbesses in good and bad times

The heyday of the nun culture

The world ordained by god was still well in the 11th and 12th century. Monasteries were at their spiritual, religious and economic climax. The Traunkirchner abbesses acquired property, privileges, exemptions and benefices and thus increased the monastery property. The monastery housed up to 23 nuns in good times. From the abbesses of the 11th and 12th century after the first abbess Ata, a holy Gertrud I, after a Gertrud II, before a Gisula, a Tuta around 1200, a Wilbirg I, a Halka, a Judita, the Abbess Diemund should be emphasized. She achieved the patronage right over the parish in 1181 and the liberation from the bailiwick in 1191.

13th, 14th and 15th century - difficult times

The world was changing. The church, in the feudal economy of the 11th and 12th century, the largest landowner, was in the middle of a struggle for power between the Pope, Emperor, sovereign and nobility. The wealth acquired had to be defended against desires and loss. That cost a lot of money. Traunkirchen was also concerned. Privileges were challenged. The abbesses had to fight for their rights. In order to still be able to pay the maintenance costs and taxes, they sold possessions and farms and converted real estate into inheritable fiefs.

Row of abbesses

After Diemund, a Herburgis around 1200, then a Katharina Hagenbalder, are known.
1246 - 1262 Elisabeth I Pollheimerin already complained about need in the monastery. Her family emblem can still be admired by the holy water pots of the church.
1277 Wilbirg II Stadeckerin let confirm all privileges by Rudolf v. Habsburg again.
1280 Gertrud III Volkersdorferin received jurisdiction confirmed by the governor. She is registered in the Kremsmünster necrology.
1298 was an Osianna abbess.
1305 - 1325 Kunigunde Kirchbergerin renounced in 1305 the rights on the salt mountain of Hallstatt in favor of an annuity in the name of the convent.
1325 - 1334 Elisabeth II Pollheimerin succeeded in incorporating the parish area Traunkirchens and gained therewith a good income.
1334 - 1347 Gertrud IV cared for a sisterhood (prayer community) with St. Florian.
1347 - 1351 Alhaidis Husendorferin enriched the monastery with a manor in Kirchham.
1351 - 1375 Margaretha II Hartheimerin feoffed several inheritable farms, e.g. to the Mühlwanger. The Ischler salt pan was rebuilt.
1375 - 1400 Anna II Ottsdorferin feoffed inheritable hubs, sold the parish of Laakirchen and let the incorporation rights reconfirm by Pope Urban (1378 - 1398).
1402 - 1405 Margaretha II Mühlwangerin brought two Mühlwanger women to the monastery; a Mühlwanger priest died in Traunkirchen in 1420; around 1400 several Mühlwanger became priests in Altmünster; a magistrate of the souvereignty Ort was also a Mühlwanger.
1405 - 1410 Dorothea II Kathringerin followed Margaretha II Mühlwangerin.
1410 - 1425 Clara Utzingerin sistered the convent in 1423 with Admont.
1429 - 1462 Barbara I Stadlerin sold on December 21st, 1448 "her holden, estates, manors and fiefs in Trofaiach including the Salvator chapel and all rights" to Friedrich IV (certificate).
1469 - 1482 Magdalena I Kastnerin from Gmunden, gave off several fiefs, including in Nußdorf. Her leadership of the rental was complaint by the authorities.
1495 Anna III Panichnerin was only elected by 11 nuns. With the support of Count Johannes Herczheimer, she was able to make structural changes in the monastery. His monument can be admired at the entrance to the monastery courtyard.

© E. Rumpf, R. Hofbauer; Translation: XiBIT Infoguide GmbH