Melrose Abbey, June 2004

Melrose Abbey, located in Melrose, Scotland, was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland. Image File history File links MelroseAbbey01. ... Image File history File links MelroseAbbey01. ... Melrose is a small, historic town in the Scottish Borders. ... Events Completion of the Saint Denis Basilica in Paris Peter Abelard writes the Historia Calamitatum, detailing his relationship with Heloise People of Novgorod rebel against the hereditary prince Vsevolod and depose him Births Amalric I of Jerusalem William of Newburgh, English historian (died 1198) Deaths November 15 - Margrave Leopold III... The Order of Cistercians (OCist) (Latin Cistercenses), otherwise Gimey or White Monks (from the colour of the habit, over which is worn a black scapular or apron) are a Catholic order of monks. ... KIng David I (or Dabíd mac Maíl Coluim), known as the Saint, (1084 – May 24, 1153), king of Scotland, the youngest son of Malcolm Canmore and of Saint Margaret (sister of Edgar Ætheling), was born in 1084. ... Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ...

The east end of the abbey was completed in 1146 — other buildings in the complex were added over the next 50 years. The abbey was built in the form of a St. John's cross (a Gothic style of architecture). A considerable portion of the abbey is now in ruins, though a structure dating from 1590 is maintained as a museum open to the public. Events Saint Bernard of Clairvaux preaches the Second Crusade at Vezelay, Burgundy First written mention of Bryansk. ... See also Gothic art. ... Events March 14 - Battle of Ivry - Henry IV of France again defeats the forces of the Catholic League under the Duc de Mayenne. ...

Alexander II and other Scottish kings and nobles are buried at the abbey. The embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce is also said to rest on the abbey's grounds, having been brought back from the Crusades. In 1812, a stone coffin that some speculated was that of Michael Scot the philosopher and "wizard", was found in an aisle in the abbey's south chancel. Alexander II (August 24, 1198 - July 6, 1249), king of Scotland, son of William I, the Lion, and of Ermengarde of Beaumont, was born at Haddington, East Lothian, in 1198, and succeeded to the kingdom on the death of his father on 4 December 1214. ... Robert I, King of Scots, usually known as Robert the Bruce (July 11, 1274 – June 7, 1329, reigned 1306 – 1329), was, according to a modern biographer (Geoffrey Barrow), a great hero who lived in a minor country. ... This article is about historical Crusades . ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Michael Scot (1175 - ?1232) was a mediaeval mathematician and astrologer. ...

It is known for its many carved decorative details, including likenesses of saints, dragons, gargoyles and plants. On one of the abbey's stairways is an inscription by John Morow, a master mason, that says: "Be halde to ye hende" (Keep in mind, the end, your salvation), which has become the motto of the town of Melrose.

History

There was an earlier monastery dedicated to Saint Aidan built at Melrose in the 6th Century on a site about two miles east of where Melrose abbey now stands. It was destroyed by Kenneth I of Scotland in 839. Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, the Apostle of Northumbria (?-651), is the founder and first bishop of the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in England. ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... Kenneth I the Hardy (c. ... Events Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons. ...

King David I wanted the new abbey to be built on the same site, but the Cistercians insisted that the land was not good enough for farming and instead selected the current site. The abbey became the mother church of the order in Scotland. A motherchurch or mother church in Christianity is used in three forms. ...

A town slowly grew up around the abbey. In 1322 the town was attacked by the army of Edward II, and much of the abbey was destroyed in the process. It was rebuilt with the help of King Robert the Bruce, whose embalmed heart, encased in lead, is said to have been buried at the abbey. Events September 27/September 28 - Battle of Ampfing, often called the last battle of knights, in which Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor defeats Frederick I of Austria Births January 11 - Emperor Komyo of Japan (died 1380) Deaths January 3 - King Philip V of France (born 1293) March 16 - Humphrey de... This article is about the fourteenth century king of England. ... Robert I, King of Scots, usually known as Robert the Bruce (July 11, 1274 – June 7, 1329, reigned 1306 – 1329), was, according to a modern biographer (Geoffrey Barrow), a great hero who lived in a minor country. ...

In 1385 the abbey was burned by the army of Richard II of England as he forced the army of David II of Scotland back to Edinburgh. The abbey was rebuilt over a period of about 100 years — construction was still unfinished when James IV visited in 1504. Events August 14 - Battle of Aljubarrota between the Portuguese under John I of Portugal and the Castilians, under John I of Castile. ... Richard II may refer to: King Richard II of England Richard II, a play by William Shakespeare about the king Richard II of Normandy This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... David II (March 5, 1324 – February 22, 1371) king of Scotland, son of King Robert the Bruce by his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh (d. ... James IV (March 17, 1473 - September 9, 1513) was king of Scotland from 1488 to 1513. ... Events January 1 - French troops surrender Gaeta to the Spanish under Cordoba. ...

In 1544, as English armies raged across Scotland in an effort to persuade Scots to allow the infant Mary Queen of Scots to be promised to the son of Henry VIII, the abbey was again badly damaged and was never fully repaired. This led to its decline as a working monastery. The last abbot was James Stuart (the son of James V), who died in 1559. In 1590, Melrose's last monk died. Events April 11 - Battle of Ceresole - French forces under the Comte dEnghien defeat Imperial forces under the Marques Del Vasto near Turin. ... Mary I of Scotland; known as Mary, Queen of Scots Mary I of Scotland (Mary Stuart or Stewart) (December 8, 1542 – February 8, 1587), better known as Mary, Queen of Scots, was the ruler of Scotland from December 14, 1542 – July 24, 1567. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... James V (April 10, 1512 - December 14, 1542) was king of Scotland (September 9, 1513 - December 14, 1542). ... Events January 15 - Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. ... Events March 14 - Battle of Ivry - Henry IV of France again defeats the forces of the Catholic League under the Duc de Mayenne. ...

The abbey withstood one final assault — some of its walls still show the marks of cannon-fire after having been bombarded by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. Unfinished portrait miniature of Oliver Cromwell by Samuel Cooper, 1657. ... The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ...

In 1610, a portion of the abbey's church was converted into a parish church for the surrounding town, until 1810 when a new church was erected in the town of Melrose. // Events January 7 - Galileo Galilei discovers the Galilean moons of Jupiter. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1996 an archaeological excavation on the site unearthed a conical lead container and an engraved copper plaque that read "The enclosed leaden casket containing a heart was found beneath Chapter House floor, March 1921, by His Majesty's Office of Works". The lead container was not opened, but it is assumed that since there are no records of anyone else's heart being buried at Melrose that it was indeed the heart of Robert I. The container was reburied at Melrose Abbey on June 22, 1998. A plinth was unveiled on June 24 that covers the burial site of the container.

References

http://www.aboutscotland.com/melbruce.html