Editing Romanesque architecture (section)

==History==
{{See also|Pre-Romanesque art and architecture}}

===Origins===
Romanesque architecture was the first distinctive style to spread across Europe since the [[Roman Empire]]. With the decline of Rome, [[Roman architecture|Roman building methods]] survived to an extent in Western Europe, where successive [[Merovingian art and architecture|Merovingian]], [[Carolingian architecture|Carolingian]] and [[Ottonian architecture|Ottonian]] architects continued to build large stone buildings such as monastery churches and palaces. In the more northern countries, Roman building styles and techniques had never been adopted except for official buildings, while in Scandinavia they were unknown. Although the round arch continued in use, the engineering skills required to vault large spaces and build large domes were lost. There was a loss of stylistic continuity, particularly apparent in the decline of the formal vocabulary of the [[Architectural orders|Classical Orders]]. In Rome several great [[Constantine I|Constantinian]] [[basilica]]s continued in use as an inspiration to later builders. Some traditions of Roman architecture also survived in [[Byzantine architecture]] with the 6th-century octagonal Byzantine [[Basilica of San Vitale]] in [[Ravenna]] being the inspiration for the greatest building of the [[Early Middle Ages]] in Europe, the [[Emperor Charlemagne]]'s [[Palatine Chapel, Aachen]], Germany, built around the year AD 800.<ref name=HG>Helen Gardner, ''Art through the Ages''.</ref>

Dating shortly after the Palatine Chapel is a remarkable 9th-century Swiss manuscript known as the [[Plan of Saint Gall]] and showing a very detailed plan of a monastic complex, with all its various monastic buildings and their functions labelled. The largest building is the church, the plan of which is distinctly Germanic, having an [[apse]] at both ends, an arrangement not generally seen elsewhere. Another feature of the church is its regular proportion, the square plan of the crossing tower providing a module for the rest of the plan. These features can both be seen at the Proto-Romanesque [[St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim]], 1001–1030.<ref name=HG/>

Architecture of a Romanesque style also developed simultaneously in the north of Italy, parts of France and in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] in the 10th century and prior to the later influence of the [[Abbey of Cluny]]. The style, sometimes called [[First Romanesque]] or [[Lombard architecture|Lombard Romanesque]], is characterised by thick walls, lack of sculpture and the presence of rhythmic ornamental arches known as a [[Lombard band]].

<gallery mode="packed" caption="Origins" heights="240px">
File:Santa Maria del Naranco 2 crop.JPG|[[Santa María del Naranco]], [[Oviedo]], Spain, AD 848. Built as a palace for [[Ramiro I of Asturias]].
File:Santa Maria in Cosmedin-templom belso.jpg|alt=The interior of a narrow and rather dark church that has columns down each side supporting a plain wall with small high windows.|[[Santa Maria in Cosmedin]], Rome (8th&nbsp;– early 12th century) has a basilical plan and reuses ancient Roman columns.
File:Aachener1723aDom.jpg|alt=The interior of a tall octagonal church, rising in three rows of decorated arches. A large candelabra hangs above the central altar.|[[Charlemagne]]'s [[Palatine Chapel, Aachen]], Germany, 9th century, modelled on the Byzantine church of San Vitale, Ravenna
File:Hildesheim-St Michaels Church.interior.01.JPG|alt=The interior of another long narrow church with high windows. The arch leading into the chancel at the far end has alternating red and white stones.|Interior of St. Michael's, Hildesheim, Germany, (1001–1031) with alternating piers and columns and a 13th-century painted wooden ceiling
File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F078941-0014, Hildesheim, Michaeliskirche.jpg|alt=The exterior of the same church shows a short square tower with a pointed metal roof over the crossing, and a small round tower at the end of the transept.|[[St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim]] has similar characteristics to the church in the Plan of Saint Gall.
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===Politics===
[[Charlemagne]] was crowned by [[Pope Leo III]] in [[Old St. Peter's Basilica]] on Christmas Day of 800, with an aim to re-establishing the old [[Roman Empire]]. Charlemagne's political successors continued to rule much of Europe, with a gradual emergence of the separate political states that were eventually to become welded into nations, either by allegiance or defeat, into the [[Kingdom of Germany]] giving rise to the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. The invasion of England by [[William, Duke of Normandy]], in 1066, saw the building of both castles and churches that reinforced the Norman presence. Several significant churches that were built at this time were founded by rulers as seats of temporal and religious power, or places of [[coronation]] and burial. These include the [[Basilica of St Denis|Abbaye-Saint-Denis]], [[Speyer Cathedral]] and [[Westminster Abbey]] (where little of the Pre-Conquest church now remains).

At a time when the remaining architectural structures of the [[Roman Empire]] were falling into decay and much of its learning and technology lost, the building of masonry domes and the carving of decorative architectural details continued unabated, though greatly evolved in style since the fall of Rome, in the enduring [[Byzantine Empire]]. The domed churches of [[Constantinople]] and Eastern Europe were to greatly affect the architecture of certain towns, particularly through trade and through the [[Crusades]]. The most notable single building that demonstrates this is [[St Mark's Basilica]], [[Venice]], but there are many lesser-known examples, particularly in France, such as the church of [[Périgueux Cathedral|Saint-Front]], [[Périgueux]] and [[Angoulême Cathedral]].<ref name=OME>George Holmes, ed. ''The Oxford History of Medieval Europe''.</ref>

Much of Europe was affected by [[feudalism]] in which peasants held tenure from local rulers over the land that they farmed in exchange for [[military service]]. The result of this was that they could be called upon, not only for local and regional spats, but to follow their lord to travel across Europe to the Crusades, if they were required to do so. The [[Crusades]], 1095–1270, brought about a very large movement of people and, with them, ideas and trade skills, particularly those involved in the building of fortifications and the metal working needed for the provision of arms, which was also applied to the fitting and decoration of buildings. The continual movement of people, rulers, nobles, bishops, abbots, craftsmen and peasants, was an important factor in creating a homogeneity in building methods and a recognizable ''Romanesque style'', despite regional differences.

Life became generally less secure after the Carolingian period. This resulted in the building of castles at strategic points, many of them being constructed as strongholds of the Normans, descendants of the Vikings who invaded northern France under [[Rollo]] in 911. Political struggles also resulted in the fortification of many towns, or the rebuilding and strengthening of walls that remained from the Roman period. One of the most notable surviving fortifications is that of the city of [[Carcassonne]]. The enclosure of towns brought about a lack of living space within the walls, and resulted in a style of town house that was tall and narrow, often surrounding communal courtyards, as at [[San Gimignano]] in [[Tuscany]] and [[Bologna]] and [[Pavia]] in [[Lombardy]].<ref name=Toman1>Rolf Toman, pp. 114–17</ref><ref>Copplestone, pp. 188–89</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=vivipavia.it |title=Medieval towers |url=https://www.vivipavia.it/site/en/home/places-of-interest/scheda440.html |website=Vivi Pavia |publisher=Comune di Pavia |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>

In Germany, the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]s built a number of residences, fortified, but essentially palaces rather than castles, at strategic points and on trade routes. The [[Imperial Palace of Goslar]] (heavily restored in the 19th century) was built in the early 11th century by Otto III and Henry III, while the ruined Palace at [[Gelnhausen]] was received by Frederick Barbarossa prior to 1170.<ref name=Toman2>Rolf Toman, pp. 70–73</ref> The movement of people and armies also brought about the building of bridges, some of which have survived, including the 12th-century bridge at [[Besalú]], [[Catalonia]], the 11th-century Puente de la Reina, [[Navarre]] and the Pont-Saint-Bénézet, [[Avignon]].<ref>Rolf Toman, pp. 18, 177, 188</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" caption="Politics" heights="170px" widths="220px">
File:London Tower (1).JPG|alt=A huge square tower of grey stone is seen beyond fortifications on the edge of a river.|The [[Tower of London]] (1078); [[William the Conqueror]] built the central [[White Tower (Tower of London)|White Tower]] as his stronghold and residence
File:Speyer---Cathedral---South-View---(Gentry).jpg|alt=An enormous cathedral, of red stone with green copper roofs, has a two tall towers framing an octagonal dome at each end of the building.|[[Speyer Cathedral]], Germany, begun by [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor]] in 1030, as an expression of imperial power and architectural innovation
File:Erice castle.jpg|alt=A castle with a tall narrow tower and walls topped by battlements stretches along the edge of a cliff covered in trees and palm trees|{{lang|it|Castello di Venere}}, [[Erice]] (12th–13th century), is one of many built by the [[Normans]] in [[Sicily]], Italy.
File:Panorama San Gimignano.jpg|alt=View of a small town on a hilltop surrounded by trees and vineyards. There are eight tall square towers rising from among the densely packed houses.|Many towns, such as [[San Gimignano]], were enclosed with walls, causing crowding and the building of tower houses
</gallery>

===Religion===
Across Europe, the late 11th and 12th centuries saw an unprecedented growth in the number of churches.<ref>"In the years that followed the year 1000, we witnessed the rebuilding of churches all over the universe, but especially in Italy and Gaul." Chronicle of Raoul Glaber, quoted by Jean Hubert, ''Romanesque Art''.</ref> A great number of these buildings, both large and small, remain, some almost intact and in others altered almost beyond recognition in later centuries. They include many very well known churches such as [[Santa Maria in Cosmedin]] in Rome,<ref>famous for the ancient Roman "Mouth of Truth" set into the wall of its narthex</ref> the [[Florence Baptistry|Baptistery in Florence]]<ref>famous for the 15th-century Ghiberti Doors</ref> and [[Basilica of San Zeno, Verona|San Zeno Maggiore]] in Verona.<ref>traditionally the marriage place of [[Romeo and Juliet]]</ref> In France, the famous abbeys of Aux Dames and Les Hommes at Caen and [[Mont Saint-Michel]] date from this period, as well as the abbeys of the pilgrimage route to [[Santiago de Compostela Cathedral|Santiago de Compostela]]. Many cathedrals owe their foundation to this date, with others beginning as abbey churches, and later becoming cathedrals. In England, of the cathedrals of ancient foundation, all were begun in this period with the exception of Salisbury, where the monks relocated from the Norman church at [[Old Sarum]], and several, such as [[Canterbury]], which were rebuilt on the site of Saxon churches.<ref name="JH">John Harvey, ''English Cathedrals''</ref><ref name="ACT">Alec Clifton-Taylor, ''The Cathedrals of England''</ref> In Spain, the most famous church of the period is [[Santiago de Compostela Cathedral|Santiago de Compostela]]. In Germany, the Rhine and its tributaries were the location of many Romanesque abbeys, notably [[Mainz Cathedral|Mainz]], [[Worms Cathedral|Worms]], [[Speyer Cathedral|Speyer]] and [[Bamberg Cathedral|Bamberg]]. In [[Cologne]], then the largest city north of the Alps, a very important [[Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne|group of large city churches]] survived largely intact. As monasticism spread across Europe, Romanesque churches sprang up in Scotland, Scandinavia, Poland, Hungary, Sicily, Serbia and Tunisia. Several important Romanesque churches were built in the [[Crusader kingdom]]s.<ref name=Toman>Rolf Toman, ''Romanesque''.</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |title = Architecture
 |publisher = National Tourism Organisation of Serbia
 |url = http://t1.sw4i.com/cms/item/info/en/architecture.html
 |access-date = 2007-09-28
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20070522174032/http://t1.sw4i.com/cms/item/info/en/architecture.html
 |archive-date = 2007-05-22
}}</ref>

====Monasticism====
The system of monasticism in which the religious become members of an order, with common ties and a common rule, living in a mutually dependent community, rather than as a group of hermits living in proximity but essentially separate, was established by the monk [[Benedict of Nursia|Benedict]] in the 6th century. The [[Benedictines|Benedictine]] monasteries spread from Italy throughout Europe, being always by far the most numerous in England. They were followed by the [[Cluniacs|Cluniac]] order, the [[Cistercians]], [[Carthusian]]s and [[Augustinian Canons]]. During the [[Crusades]], the military orders of the [[Knights Hospitaller]] and the [[Knights Templar]] were founded.

The monasteries, which sometimes also functioned as cathedrals, and the cathedrals that had bodies of secular clergy often living in community, were a major source of power in Europe. Bishops and the abbots of important monasteries lived and functioned like princes. The monasteries were the major seats of learning of all sorts. Benedict had ordered that all the arts were to be taught and practiced in the monasteries. Within the monasteries books were transcribed by hand, and few people outside the monasteries could read or write.<ref name=BF/>

In France, Burgundy was the centre of monasticism. The enormous and powerful monastery at [[Cluny Abbey|Cluny]] was to have lasting effect on the layout of other monasteries and the design of their churches. Very little of the abbey church at Cluny remains; the "Cluny II" rebuilding of 963 onwards has completely vanished, but we have a good idea of the design of "Cluny III" from 1088 to 1130, which until the Renaissance remained the largest building in Europe. However, the church of [[Basilica of St. Sernin, Toulouse|St. Sernin]] at [[Toulouse]], 1080–1120, has remained intact and demonstrates the regularity of Romanesque design with its modular form, its massive appearance and the repetition of the simple arched window motif.<ref name=HG/>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="170" widths="220" caption="Types of churches">
File:Slidredomen, Vestre Slidre.JPG|alt=A little stone church with a little steeple on a wooden belfry sits in a green graveyard overlooking a lake and mountains.|Many parish churches across Europe, such as this in [[Vestre Slidre]], Norway, are of Romanesque foundation.
File:Abbey-of-senanque-provence-gordes.jpg|alt=In a wooded valley is a large church with small windows and a square stone belfry. It is surrounded by ancient buildings arranged around courtyards, and a lavender garden.|The Romanesque [[Sénanque Abbey]] church and surrounding monastic buildings, Gordes, [[Provence]], France
File:Celles JPG00.jpg|alt=The houses of a small town, surrounded by green hillsides, are dominated by a huge church with a large square tower and a spire like a witch's hat.|Collegiate churches such as that of [[Saint Hadelin]], [[Celles, Houyet|Celles]], Belgium, were administered by lay canons.
File:Trier Dom BW 24.JPG|alt=A huge cathedral with numerous towers, both square and round, rises above a town square where people are sitting in the shade of clipped trees.|Many cathedrals such as [[Trier Cathedral]], Germany, date from this period, with many later additions.
</gallery>

====Pilgrimage and Crusade====
One of the effects of the [[Crusades]], which were intended to wrest the Holy Places of the Levant from [[Islam]]ic control, was to excite a great deal of religious fervour, which in turn inspired great building programs. The Nobility of Europe, upon safe return, thanked [[God]] by the building of a new church or the enhancement of an old one. Likewise, those who did not return from the Crusades could be suitably commemorated by their family in a work of stone and mortar.

The Crusades resulted in the transfer of, among other things, a great number of [[Relic|Holy Relics]] of [[saint]]s and [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]]. Many churches, like [[Périgueux|Saint-Front, Périgueux]], had their own home grown saint while others, most notably [[Santiago de Compostela]], claimed the remains and the patronage of a powerful saint, in this case one of the [[Twelve Apostles]]. [[Santiago de Compostela]], located in the [[Kingdom of Galicia]] (present day [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], Spain) became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Europe. Most of the pilgrims travelled the [[Way of St. James]] on foot, many of them barefooted as a sign of penance. They moved along one of the four main routes that passed through France, congregating for the journey at [[Jumièges]], Paris, [[Vézelay]], [[Cluny]], [[Arles]] and [[St. Gall]] in Switzerland. They crossed two passes in the [[Pyrenees]] and converged into a single stream to traverse north-western Spain. Along the route they were urged on by those pilgrims returning from the journey. On each of the routes abbeys such as those at [[Moissac]], [[Toulouse]], [[Roncesvalles]], [[Conques]], [[Limoges]] and [[Burgos]] catered for the flow of people and grew wealthy from the passing trade. [[Saint-Benoît-du-Sault]], in the Berry province, is typical of the churches that were founded on the pilgrim route.<ref name=BF/><ref Name=HG/>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="147" width="200" caption="Pilgrimage and crusade">
File:Jerusalem Holy Sepulchre BW 23.JPG|alt=The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, a major pilgrimage site from the 4th century onwards, its rotunda inspired the construction of many Romanesque circular churches.|The [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]], [[Jerusalem]], a major pilgrimage site from the 4th century onwards. Its rotunda inspired the construction of many Romanesque circular churches.
File:Krak des chevaliers15(js).jpg|Like many castles built by [[Crusades|crusader]] knights, the inner fortress of [[Krak des Chevaliers]], [[Syria]], was mainly constructed in this period, with the outer walls being later.
File:Abbatiale de Conques.jpg|The Abbey of Saint Foy, [[Conques]], France, was one of many such abbeys to be built along the pilgrimage [[Way of St James]] that led to [[Santiago de Compostela]].
File:Périgueux 3.JPG|alt=The plan of the Church of Saint Front, Périgueux, France, was influenced by Byzantine architecture seen by the Crusaders. The present appearance is largely due to restorer Paul Abadie, mid-19th century|The plan of the [[Périgueux Cathedral|Church of Saint Front]], Périgueux, France, was influenced by [[Byzantine architecture]] seen by the Crusaders. The present appearance is largely due to restorer [[Paul Abadie]], mid-19th century.
File:Toulouse - View on Saint Sernin.jpg|The [[basilica of Saint-Sernin]] in [[Toulouse]] is the archetype of large pilgrimage churches, where pilgrims could walk around the church via the transept and the choir chapels.
</gallery>