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Gozbert († 4 April 850 (?) in Rheinau) was Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Gall from 816 until 837 and also Abbot of Rheinau Abbey until 850 (the beginning of his term of office in Rheinau is unknown).

Life und Works

As monk of Saint Gall, Gozbert is documented as deacon in 798, as priest in 811 and as dean between 813 and 816. In the year 816, he was elected abbot. He succeeded in loosening the dependency of the Abbey of Saint Gall from the Bishopric of Konstanz, to whom the town Saint Gall belonged. On 3 June 818, he received immunity from Emperor Louis the Pious that was later confirmed by Louis the German. Moreover, Gozbert was assured of the continuing free election of the abbot in the monastery; a privilege that had cost the founder of the monastery, Otmar, his freedom less than a hundred years before.

Gozbert focused on expanding the monastery estate. His acquisitions and the donations he received were a significant foundation for the future Princely Abbey (Fürstabtei). Gozbert centralised the administration of the monastery property and reformed the documentary management, as the profession of registrar was reckoned as stepping stone to a better position in the monastery. Under Gozbert's regency, Saint Gall became a cultural centre, as many still existing documents from his time affirm. He also paid special attention to the Abbey library.

Gozbert was the recipient (and purchaser?) of the Plan of Saint Gall which was made around 820 in Reichenau. How closely his monastery actually resembled this ideal plan is unknown. What is known, however, is that the building process began with the new construction of the Basilica of Gall (Gallusbasilika) in 830, which was sanctified after 835 in the presence of the Bishops Ulrich I. von Basel, Wolfleoz von Konstanz and Erlebald von Reichenau.

Anno 837, Gozbert resigned from his office as abbot. Possibly, this was due to political uncertainties, in which the monastery had become involved, when the sons of Louis the Pious struggled over his succession.

In the literature, the following career is stated:

„As first abbot, [in Rheinau Abbey] in the middle of the 9. century we encounter Gozbert, who was summoned from Saint Gall by Wolfene. He is followed by Antwart, Wolfen, the restorer of the monastery († 878), Wichram; ..."Abt begegnet uns [im ] um die Mitte des 9. Jahrhunderts der von St. Gallen durch Wolfene berufene Gozbert, ihm folgen Antwart, Wolfen, der Wiederhersteller des Klosters , Wichram; ...“

Gozbert's exact year of death is not known. It is possible that he died in relation to the assumption of office of his successor Anwarth in Rheinau in the year 850.

Reading List

Gozbert in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
Gozbert, in: Helvetia Sacra III/1/2 (1986), S. 1272 f.
Johannes Duft (1964), "Gozbert (Cozpert)", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 6, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, p. 692; (full text online)
Gerold Meyer von Knonau (1879), "Gozbert, Abt von St. Gallen", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 9, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, p. 523

External Links

Abt Gozbert (816–837). Zitiert nach Johannes Duft, im Stadtlexikon der Stadt Wil

Notes and References

Preceded by Wolfleoz	Abt von St. Gallen 816–837	Succeeded by Bernwig

[[Category:Abbots of Saint Gall]]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 Gozbert focused on expanding the monastery estate. His acquisitions and the donations he received were a significant foundation for the future Princely Abbey (Fürstabtei). Gozbert centralised the administration of the monastery property and reformed the documentary management, as the profession of registrar was reckoned as stepping stone to a better position in the monastery. Under Gozbert's regency, Saint Gall became a cultural centre, as many still existing documents from his time affirm. He also paid special attention to the [[Abbey library of Saint Gall|Abbey library]].
-Gozbert was the recipient (and purchaser?) of the [[Plan of Saint Gall]] which was made around 820 in Reichenau. How closely the monastery actually resembled this ideal plan is unknown. What is known, however, is that the building process began with the new construction of the Basilica of Gall (Gallusbasilika) in 830, which was sanctified after 835 in the presence of the Bishops Ulrich I. von Basel, Wolfleoz von Konstanz and Erlebald von Reichenau.
+Gozbert was the recipient (and purchaser?) of the [[Plan of Saint Gall]] which was made around 820 in Reichenau. How closely his monastery actually resembled this ideal plan is unknown. What is known, however, is that the building process began with the new construction of the Basilica of Gall (Gallusbasilika) in 830, which was sanctified after 835 in the presence of the Bishops Ulrich I. von Basel, Wolfleoz von Konstanz and Erlebald von Reichenau.
 Anno 837, Gozbert resigned from his office as abbot. Possibly, this was due to political uncertainties, in which the monastery had become involved, when the sons of Louis the Pious struggled over his succession.