Imperial Cathedrals

Imperial Cathedral in its original context means a cathedral built under the reign of an emperor. The special aspect of an Imperial Cathedral is that it has two quires, the usual quire on the end of the nave, and a counterpart where the emperor and his entourage attended the church service; representing the balance between the power of God and the power of the Emperor.

The first example is the Cathedral in Speyer, which was built starting in 1030 by Conrad II as a family vault for the Salian dynasty and was later extended by Henry IV.

Later the three cathedrals on the Rhine in Mainz, Worms and Speyer were all called Imperial Cathedrals. The cathedral in Mainz was also built by Henry IV, and the cathedral in Worms got its status because of its size and glory.

Less well known is that the Salian built basilica in Koenigslutter, under the reign of Lothair III, is an Imperial Cathedral.

The Cathedral in Bamberg, built under reign of Henry II, where the only canonnized married couple has their grave, also has the same status.

Aachen Cathedral and the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew in Frankfurt were also described as imperial cathedrals because they were the coronation cathedrals of emperors and kings.

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