Enger - Stiftskirche Widukind Epitaph

The Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) in the town of Enger in northeastern Westphalia. Here is the epitaph of Widukind, the pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent to Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was first mentioned 777, being the only saxonian leader not coming to Charlemagne´s court in Paderborn. Upto 784 the Saxons battled the Franks opposing christianisation. 785 Widukind surrendered and got baptized in (today french) Attigny. Charlemagne being the godfather. Many legends have developed around Widukind´s life. One tells, that he came to Enger, founded a church and lived here. There is no proof for that. Many historians assume, that Widukind was imprisoned after his baptism, as Charlemagne used to deal with "old opponents" that way. But there is no proof either.

The Widukind-epitaph stands in the center of the choir, behind the winged altar. The base is probably dating back to the time of the early renaissance. It is topped by a carved slab, showing (lifesize) a male person, wearing a crown and holding a sceptre. This carving was done around 1100. In the 1970s archeologists found three skeletons of adult males in the nave. Already in medieval times bones, now shown in the little altar in the back, were believed to be Widukinds, but it came out, they belong to a female person. The epitaph has been a center of pilgrimage for a long time - and lots of graffitis cover the stones.