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Bavarian State Exhibition 2024: Tassilo, Korbinian & The Bear

To mark the 1,300th anniversary of the diocese, the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte (House of Bavarian History) (external link, opens in a new window) invites visitors of the Diözesanmuseum Freising (Diocesan Museum Freising) on a journey back in time to medieval Bavaria - a Bavaria that extended as far as South Tyrol, Upper Austria, Carinthia and Slovenia back in the 8th century. They are accompanied by Tassilo, Korbinian and a bear - the three main characters of this year's Bavarian state exhibition. 

 

A white museum building.
The Diocesan Museum Freising © Diözesanmuseum Freising; Foto: Thomas Dashuber Fotografie
A glas ceiling
The Diocesan Museum Freising © Diözesanmuseum Freising; Foto: Thomas Dashuber Fotografie

According to tradition, the history of the diocese of Freising began with the arrival of St Korbinian in 724. He was summoned by the son of the duke of Agilolfing, Grimoald, who commissioned him to consolidate the Christian faith there. Although Christianity had become established in the later Bavarian region during Roman times, this tradition was weakened by the consequences of the migration of peoples from the 4th century onwards. In 716 Duke Theodo travelled to Rome and received permission from the Pope to establish bishoprics in Salzburg, Regensburg, Freising and Passau. In addition to Korbinian, other clergymen worked in Bavaria: Erhard and Emmeram in Regensburg and Rupertus in Salzburg. The Agilolfing dukes, who had belonged to the highest European nobility since the 6th century, used the founding of bishoprics and monasteries to strengthen their rule.

Bear on the Loose?

The stuffed body of a bear in a display case
A look at the exhibition © Diözesanmuseum Freising

And what's the story behind the bear? According to legend, Korbinian tamed it on his journey to Rome. In the state exhibition, visitors can get very close to the saint's animal companion in the form of Bruno - Bavaria's most famous bear. He had been the first bear to wander into Bavaria in over 150 years and was controversially shot in 2006 after he had killed several farm animals and was deemed a threat to humans in the surrounding area. The Bavarian State Exhibition marks the first time Bruno is being displayed outside of Munich.  

Tassilo - Duke or King?

An old sword
King's sword from the boat chamber tomb in Haithabu: It could have been created in the court workshops of Duke Tassilo III. ©  Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen Schloss Gottorf, Schleswig

The exhibition culminates in the treasure and fate of Duke Tassilo III (748-788), who founded important monasteries such as Kremsmünster and Frauenchiemsee. Although the Frankish Empire claimed the throne, Tassilo himself ruled like a king: he presided over assemblies of the Bavarian church and enacted laws. With his unconventional way of governing, Tassilo challenged the Frankish king Charlemagne. An exciting film at the end of the exhibition tells the entire story of their rivalry. 

Tassilonian art

Golden chalice in a display case
A look at the exhibiton © Diözesanmuseum Freising

Tassilo's independence from the Frankish Empire also found artistic expression: with its goldsmith's work and illuminations, the "Tassilonian court school" clearly deviated from the Frankish-Carolingian court art. Its most outstanding piece is the Tassilo-Liutpirc chalice from Kremsmünster. It is a work of art, the most beautiful and largest artefact of its kind and time. The magnificent chalice was probably intended for the newly consecrated Salzburg Cathedral in 774, which could have become the central coronation and burial church of the Agilolfing dynasty. After Tassilo's deposition by his rival Charlemagne in 788, his treasures were dispersed.

The Tassilo Liutpirc chalice

A golden chalice
The Tassilo Liutpirc chalice © Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie / V. Iserhardt

The royal chalice donated by the Duke and his wife Liutpirc is the highlight of the exhibition. Christ is at the centre of the pictorial programme on the chalice. It is constructed like a building and symbolises the heavenly Jerusalem. The pictorial medallions act as windows into the divine sphere and show the four evangelists, the Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist. They are in the Italian artistic tradition. Around the images, the chalice is decorated with intertwined vine tendrils and the s-shaped so-called griffins. These decorations come from the Anglo-Saxon-Irish area. On Bavarian soil, the two art movements merged to form the style of Duke Tassilo's court school.

The magnificent chalice has been preserved in Kremsmünster Abbey in Upper Austria for at least 1,000 years and was on display for the first time in Bavaria until 1 July 2024 as part of the state exhibition. But don't worry: a valuable replica from a private collection can still be admired in Freising until November!

Don't miss it: The Korbinian jubilee is only celebrated once a century so make sure to add a visit to Freising to your itinerary this year! As of July, its new city museum has finally opened its doors to visitors as well. 

Tassilo, Korbinian and the Bear (external link, opens in a new window)

A ruler with sword and sceptre, a saint who tames a wild bear ... this is not the stuff of a Hollywood blockbuster, but pure Bavarian history.

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A guest article from the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte (House of Bavarian History)