# Germania Sacra > long-term research project into German church history during the time of the Holy Roman Empire **Wikidata**: [Q1514123](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1514123) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germania_Sacra) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/germania-sacra ## Summary Germania Sacra is a long-term research project dedicated to documenting the history of German church institutions and clergy within the Holy Roman Empire. Managed by the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, it has operated since 1917, publishing foundational studies on ecclesiastical structures and individuals from the Middle Ages through the early modern period. ## Key Facts - Founded in 1917 as a project focused on German church history during the Holy Roman Empire. - Editor is the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony. - Funded by the Max Planck Society (1956-2007) and then the Göttingen Academy (2008 onwards). - Field of work includes church history, the Middle Ages, early modern period, and prosopography. - Operates the Personendatenbank Germania Sacra (database of clergy) and Germania Sacra Online. - Primary sponsors include the Kaiser Wilhelm Society/Max Planck Society and the Göttingen Academy. - Part of the "Akademienprogramm" (Academies Programme) since 2020. - Notable publications include series like "Das Bistum Würzburg 1" and "Das Bistum Bamberg". ## FAQs ### Q: What is Germania Sacra's primary focus? A: It is a long-term research project documenting German church history, specifically institutions and clergy within the Holy Roman Empire. ### Q: Who manages and funds Germania Sacra? A: It is edited by the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Funding came from the Max Planck Society (1956-2007) and the Göttingen Academy (2008 onwards). ### Q: What does Germania Sacra produce? A: It publishes monograph series (like specific bishopric histories) and maintains online databases, notably the Personendatenbank Germania Sacra and Germania Sacra Online. ### Q: How long has Germania Sacra existed? A: The project has been active since its inception in 1917. ## Why It Matters Germania Sacra addresses the immense complexity of documenting the ecclesiastical landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, a period characterized by numerous bishoprics, abbeys, and diverse religious institutions. By meticulously cataloging these structures and the individuals (bishops, canons, abbots) who led them, it provides an indispensable foundation for understanding the religious, political, and social fabric of pre-modern Germany. Its long-term effort and comprehensive databases overcome the fragmentation of historical sources, enabling scholars to trace institutional histories, social networks, and the careers of clergy, profoundly impacting research in medieval and early modern German history and prosopography. ## Notable For - Century-long continuous operation since 1917, demonstrating sustained commitment to documenting German ecclesiastical history. - Creation and maintenance of the Personendatenbank Germania Sacra, a unique database of clergy members from the Holy Roman Empire period. - Comprehensive series of monographs (e.g., *Das Bistum Würzburg 1*, *Das Bistum Bamberg*) providing detailed institutional histories. - Early and significant development of digital resources like Germania Sacra Online, facilitating broad scholarly access. - Pioneering role in prosopographical research within the German historical context. ### ### Body #### Project Scope and Management Germania Sacra is a long-term research project focused on the history of the church within the Holy Roman Empire, covering the Middle Ages and early modern period. It is classified as a science project, book series, and research institute. The project is edited by the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony. Its foundational mission is to document "Die Kirche des alten Reiches und ihre Institutionen" (The Church of the Old Empire and its institutions). #### History and Sponsorship Established in 1917, the project has undergone significant sponsorship changes. From 1956 to 2007, it was sponsored by the Kaiser Wilhelm Society (later the Max Planck Society). Since January 1, 2008, sponsorship has transferred to the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony. Since July 23, 2020, the project has been funded under the "Akademienprogramm" (Academies Programme). #### Outputs and Components The project's core outputs include: * A major book series (monograph series) with titles such as: * Das Bistum Würzburg 1: Die Bischofsreihe bis 1254 (Germania Sacra N. F. 1) * Das Bistum Bamberg (Germania Sacra A. F. Abt. 2: Die Bistümer der Kirchenprovinz Mainz) * Das Bistum Eichstätt 1: Die Bischofsreihe bis 1535 (Germania Sacra N. F. 45) * Das Bistum Halberstadt 1: Das Stift St. Nikolaus in Stendal (Germania Sacra N. F. 49) * Das Bistum Naumburg 2: Das Domstift Naumburg (Germania Sacra. Dritte Folge 19) * The Personendatenbank Germania Sacra, a database of clergy. * Germania Sacra Online – The research portal of clerics and religious institutions before 1810. * Integration into the Database of Monasteries and the Wissens-Aggregator Mittelalter und Frühe Neuzeit. #### Digital Presence and Identifiers The project maintains a website (http://adw-goe.de/forschung/forschungsprojekte-akademienprogramm/germania-sacra/) available in German and English. It has online identifiers including GND (4156851-5), VIAF (176126839), and FactGrid item ID 2009 Russian First Division. Its Open Library subject ID is germania_sacra. Social media presence includes Twitter (GermaniaSacra since 2011), Mastodon (GermaniaSacra@fedihum.org since 2022), and Bluesky (germaniasacra.bsky.social since 2024). It is referenced in AGATE (PR55) and has a library of congress authority ID (nr97031844). ## References 1. [Source](https://rep.adw-goe.de/handle/11858/210) 2. [Source](https://agate.academy/id/PR55)