Suben Abbey

The origins of Stift Suben date back to around 1050, when an existing castle was converted into a collegiate church for secular clerics by Tuta, daughter of Heinrich von Formbach. This early collegiate church was devastated during the Investiture Controversy by supporters of Emperor Henry IV. A new foundation took place between 1126 and 1142 by Bishop Altmann of Trent, who stipulated that the clerics should live according to the Rule of Saint Augustine. The Archdiocese of Salzburg was granted the right to appoint the provost. As early as 1146, Pope Eugene III placed the monastery under his protection and confirmed its possessions. In 1236, the monastery was granted the right to freely elect its provost, although this right was not exercised for the first time until 1474. The monastery maintained contact with other monasteries through prayer fraternities and, in the early 16th century, received important pastoral duties in numerous parishes of the Innviertel from Bishop Wiguleus Fröschl of Passau. From 1140, the Counts of Schaunberg exercised patronage over the monastery, until, after the death of the last Schaunberger in 1559, the monastery became an independent Hofmark with its own court judge. In the late 16th century, disciplinary problems arose, which were only resolved under Provost Michael Hering. Under Provost Ernest Theophil Scharrer, the Archconfraternity