Freising
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Freising (List of European cities with alternative names) is a city in Bavaria, Germany, capital of the district Freising. Geographical location Template:Coor dm. Population 40,000.
The city is located north of Munich at the Isar river, near the Franz Josef Strauß International Airport.
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History
Even though archaeological finds show that the area was settled in the Bronze Age, no proof has been found yet to suggest a continuous settlement until the 8th century Frigisinga. Saint Corbinian settled at a shrine that already existed at Freising in 724. He was the forerunner of the diocese of Freising, established after his death by Saint Boniface; according to his vita by Arbeo ordered a bear to carry his luggage over the Alps. The saddled bear is still the symbol of the city, displayed in the coat of arms, though the seat of the diocese was moved to Munich in 1821. Freising remains seat of diocese administration until today.
764-783 Bishop Arbeo founded a library and scriptorium at the Abbey. The settlement started to become a religious center. In 996 Freising received city rights from Emperor Otto III. After the foundation of Munich just 40 km south around 1150 Freising starts to lose its economic significance. 1159 construction of the cathedral at its current location. 1803 the Catholic Church loses most of its properties and rule over the city. Freising is now ruled by the kings of Bavaria.
Cultural significance
Freising is one of the oldest settlements in Bavaria gaining importance by becoming a major religious center of Bavaria in the early middle ages. It was and still is the center of an important diocese. Some important historical documents have been created from 900 to 1200 in its monastery.
- Freising manuscripts written in Slovenian, being the first written recording of a Slavic language
- Chronicle or history of the two cities by Otto of Freising
The above and other scripts from that time can be found in the Bayrische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian state library) in Munich today.
Famous citizens
- Otto of Freising (1112 - 1158), bishop.
External links
- http://www.freising.de
- http://www.weihenstephan.org/~dioemuse/
- Bavarian state library (http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/)de:Freising