The Tomb of Heinrich II and the Canonization of Heinrich II and Kunigunde
Kunigunde and the Magic Money Bowl
Pope Clement II
and his tomb in the
Bamberg Cathedral
in the Early Middle Ages
The cathedral that stands in Bamberg (Germany) today was founded by the Emperor Heinrich II and his wife Kunigunde (Cunigundis). They lived in a small house attached to the cathedral, where the sexton lives today. They were a very devout couple and had pledged eternal chastity to one another.
This of course caused great aggrivation to the Evil One, and he hatched a plan to bring Kunigunde into disrepute. The Devil disguised himself in the form of a handsome and strong youth, a certain young duke at the court who had a particular fondness for the Empress, and allowed himself to be seen on three nights entering and leaving the empress' chambers. Soon evil tongues began to wag, and the good Empress became the object of some scandal and gossip.
The murmurings became louder and louder until they brought the Empress into disrepute before the Emperor. Thereupon, Kunigunde called upon God to prove her innocence as he had done for Susanna. In fact, it was at this point that her people first learned of the vow of chastity she had taken, for she called out, "You are my witness, oh Lord that I have never had carnal relations - not with my husband Heinrich nor any other man!", at which point she heard a voice call down to her, "Oh pure virgin! The Virgin Mary has heard your prayer." This gave Kunigunde the confidence to demand she be allowed to prove her innocence by the Ordeal by Fire.
The Empress ordered seven iron plow blades to be heated in the blacksmith's forge until they glowed red, and then had them arranged in a row. Once again protesting her innocence before the eyes of God, she stood and placed her foot upon the first plow blade and carefully walked across all seven blades setting a foot upon each one. She reached the end of the row uninjured and turning to Heinrich II said, "I have no greater share of guilt than all men born of Adam". Her chastity had been proven with great honor and all the Emperor's men threw themselves down before her feet.
Home
Kunigunde and the Plowshare