Secular canoesse indeed a little complicate. So, since the early middle ages in Germany you find a lots of cloisters for women. For this era sometimes it is controversial which of them is nunnery and which canonesse. Both followed usually rules of an order but on the other hand they were founded as 'Eigenkloster', which means they were founded by a noble family for the service to the family. They were important for the religious prevention for the family as for the accommodation of the not-married daughters. Many of them had strong position in the german medieval empire. The abbesses were powerful and often princes by position, also by birth. So Herford, Essen, Quedlinburg were until the 12th century in the hands of the saxon kings. By the way, the richness and the importance of these cloisters you can see in the vaults. Visit Essen: In the 'Dom-Schatz' you can find the crown Otto III. has been crowned with when he was three, later donated to Essen, where one of this aunts was abbesse. http://www.domschatz-essen.de/index.php?id=184 Although canonesses life usually was connected with a rule, there was no strong conclusio as in nunnery. Itīs similar the difference between monk and canon. Canonesse partly had disposal of their dowry. Beside that not all vowed to abdict marring or not to leave the cloister for the rest of their lifes (secular canonesse). Very practical for the families when in need of a bride. So archeduchesse were canonesse in Prag until marriage. http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Margarete_Sophie_Austria_Wuerttemberg_1870_1902.jpg&filetimestamp=20080226152221 After reformation catholic monasteries often were chanced in protestant communities, where the noble women spent a religious life, for example the free secular imperial abbey of Quedlinburg. One of the last princes-abbesses was Anna Amalia of Prussia, sister of King Frederick II. So to be canonesse for a noble woman was an adequate provision, befitting her rank, without the strong limitations of living outside the world like a nun.
--Previous Message-- : : "secular cannoness" Fascinating. : Of some order? : Can you tell us a bit more about that : please. : : : --Previous Message-- : Oh Oh my. Yes The second lady is my : beloved : Princess Sophie Charlotte of Mecklenburg and : future Queen of England, wife to George : III. I believe the cross signified her : status as a secular canoness. : : Thank you so much. All sweet sweet ladies. : :
on April 12, 2012, 7:35 am, in reply to "