View source for Himmelpforten Convent

{{Short description|Convent in Lower Saxony, Germany}}
{{about|the former convent in Lower Saxony|the priory in the Harz Mountains|Himmelpforten Monastery (Harz)}}
{{Infobox monastery
| name                 = Himmelpforten Convent
| native_name          = Kloster Himmelpforten
| native_name_lang     = de
| image                = 
| alt                  = 
| caption              = 
| full                 = 
| other_names          = {{native name|la|Conventus Porta Coeli}}<br>{{native name|nds|Klooster Hemelpoorten}}<br>{{native name|de|Kloster Himmelpforten}}
| order                = [[Cistercian]]<ref>However, informally, since the Order restricted the incorporation of the growing number of women's communities following the Cistercian Rule.</ref><br>Lutheran [[Stift#Stift as endowment for unmarried Protestant women|Damsels' Convent]]
| established          = before 1255
| disestablished       = 1630, and again<br>1647
| reestablished        = 1634
| mother               = 
| dedication           = [[Ezekiel#Christianity|Gate of Heaven]]
| diocese              = [[Archdiocese of Bremen]]
| churches             = Abbey, {{Interlanguage link|St. Mary's Church, Großenwörden|nds|3=Marienkark (Grootweurn)}}, and {{Interlanguage link|St. Peter's Church, Horst upon Oste|nds|3=Petrus-Kark (Host)}} 
| founder              = 
| abbot                = 
| prior                = 
| archbishop           = 
| bishop               = 
| archdeacon           = 
| people               = 
| status               = 
| functional_status    = defunct
| heritage_designation = 
| designated_date      = 
| architect            = 
| style                = [[early Gothic architecture|early Gothic]] 
| groundbreaking       = 1300
| completed_date       = 1330
| construction_cost    = 
| location             = [[Himmelpforten]]
| map_type             = Germany Lower Saxony
| map_caption          = Location within Lower Saxony
| coordinates          = {{Coord|53.614494|9.304755|region:DE-NI_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| oscoor               = 
| remains              = northern wall of the [[St. Mary's Church, Himmelpforten|present Lutheran church]]
| public_access        = 
| other_info           = 
}}
'''Himmelpforten Convent''' ([[Low Saxon dialect|Low Saxon]]: ''Klooster Hemelpoorten'', {{langx|de|link=no|Kloster Himmelpforten}}; {{langx|la|Conventus Porta Coeli}}) was founded as a [[monastery]] of [[nun]]s following the [[Cistercian]] Rule during the 13th century in [[Himmelpforten]], in today's [[Lower Saxony]], Germany. During the 16th century, it was converted into use as a [[Lutheran]] [[Stift#Stift as endowment for unmarried Protestant women|Damsels' Convent]]. The Himmelpforten Convent was founded before 1255 and finally dissolved in 1647.<ref>Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824, vol.&nbsp;1: p.&nbsp;120. No ISBN.</ref> The convent complex was built between 1300 and 1330. After 1645 the buildings, including the [[abbey]], increasingly decayed, until they were little by little demolished. The dilapidated abbey was demolished in 1737 and replaced by today's [[St. Mary's Church, Himmelpforten|St. Mary's Church]] which partially covers the foundations of the former abbey.

==History==
The [[convent]] was founded in the mid-13th century on [[Westerberg (Lamstedt)|Westerberg hill]] in {{Interlanguage link|Rahden, Lower Saxony|nds|3=Rahden|lt=Rahden}}, a location later indicated by St. Andrew's Chapel.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 5">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;5. No ISBN.</ref> As the [[Cistercian Order]] had restricted the incorporation of the growing number of women's monastic communities who followed the Cistercian Rule, and since no existing deed neither records the incorporation of the Himmelpforten Convent, nor the appointment of a Father Abbot, as usual for an affiliated community of women, Porta Coeli most likely never officially joined that Order.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 33">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;33. No ISBN.</ref>

In 1244 and 1245 the Cistercian [[general chapter]] had determined that a monastery of nuns could be incorporated into the Cistercian Order only if the competent bishop and the competent [[cathedral chapter]] [[exemption (church)|exempted]] the community's [[Temporality (ecclesiastical)|temporalities]] and [[spiritualities]] from their control.<ref>Gerd Ahlers, ''Weibliches Zisterziensertum im Mittelalter und seine Klöster in Niedersachsen'', Berlin: Lukas-Verlag, 2002, (=Studien zur Geschichte, Kunst und Kultur der Zisterzienser; vol.&nbsp;13), partially simultaneously Berlin, Free Univ., Diss., 1997, p.&nbsp;49. {{ISBN|3-931836-47-9}}.</ref> However, such a wide-ranging exemption from their [[sovereignty]] is exactly what [[Bremen Cathedral]] chapter and the [[prince-archbishop]] did not want, as is described below.

The convent's main benefactor, the [[Brobergen]] family (also spelt Broc(k)bergen, extinct in 1745<ref>Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824, vol.&nbsp;1: p.&nbsp;300. No ISBN.</ref>) intended to make it their [[proprietary church|proprietary monastery]].<ref name="Nistal 2008 78">Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp. 1–158, here p.&nbsp;78. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.</ref> The {{Interlanguage link|Brobergen family|de|3=Brobergen (Adelsgeschlecht)|lt=Brobergens}}, holding [[allod]]ial estates, tried to establish the nunnery as their power base out of the immediate prince-archiepiscopal reach,<ref name="Elmshäuser 1995 165">Konrad Elmshäuser, „Die Erzbischöfe als Landesherren“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp. 159–194, here p.&nbsp;165. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.</ref><ref name="Hofmeister 1995 195">Adolf E. Hofmeister, „Adel, Bauern und Stände“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp. 195–240, here p.&nbsp;195. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.</ref> an idea also pursued by the Brobergens' kinsman {{Interlanguage link|Frederick of Haseldorf|de|3=Friedrich von Haseldorf}},<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 27">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;27. No ISBN.</ref> but failed.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 28">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;28. No ISBN.</ref><ref>Adding up to the conflict was the fact that the Archdiocese of Bremen, upholding the claim of the merged Hamburg Archdiocese, tried to enforce its claim as [[Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolis]] over the new Baltic dioceses, whose incumbent bishops again, originating from the Bremian prince-archbishopric, strove for the erection of a Baltic metropolis, succeeding in 1253/1255 with the elevation of [[Archbishopric of Riga|Riga to an archdiocese]], with Dorpat as its [[suffragan]].</ref>

In their aim to establish unrivalled territorial control, the Bremen Cathedral Chapter, led by its then [[Provost (religion)|Provost]] [[Gerard of Lippe]],<ref>Being a son of [[Bernard III, Lord of Lippe]] he was promoted by his granduncle Prince-Archbishop Gebhard to be elected provost, striving to succeed him, he gained support among the enfranchised capitular canons and acted as rivalling archbishop, however, he succumbed to Count [[Hildebold of Wunstorf]], the other rivalling archbishop, in a feud and was most likely killed in action in 1259.</ref> besides fulfilling religious tasks of the [[Archdiocese of Bremen|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bremen]] also wielding the secular rule in the much smaller [[Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen]], together with the [[Archbishops of Bremen|prince-archbishop of Bremen]], then Gerard's sick granduncle {{Interlanguage link|Gebhard of Lippe|de|3=Gerhard II. zur Lippe}}, since 1251 represented by [[Coadjutor]] {{Interlanguage link|Simon of Lippe|de|3=Simon I. von Lippe}}, [[Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn|Prince-Bishop of Paderborn]], being Gerard's uncle and Gebhard's nephew, managed to integrate the Porta Coeli convent and its holdings as a temporality within the prince-archiepiscopal sovereign territory.<ref name="Elmshäuser 1995 165"/><ref name="Hofmeister 1995 195"/>

With establishing Porta Coeli as a prince-archiepiscopal outpost to observe and surveil the peasants' ambitions Gerard and Simon of Lippe pursued Prince-Archbishop Gebhard's long-term project of enforcing the reign over the free peasants,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 28"/> e.g. manifesting in Gebhard's earlier [[Stedingen#Gerhard II|subjection of the Stedingers]]. The integration of Himmelpforten Convent into the prince-archiepiscopal temporalities was fixed in a deed, issued in 1255, on the occasion of moving the convent to then Eylsede/ Eulsete village (literally: Eylo's/Eilhard's seat), later adopting the Low Saxon translation ''tor Hemmelporten'' or ''to der Himilporten'' of the convent's Latin name ''Porta Coeli'' (Gate of Heaven;<ref>Cf. the Christian imagery of [[Mary of Nazareth]] as the Gate of Heaven refers to [[Ezekiel#Christianity|Ezekiel]]'s "closed gate" ({{Bibleverse||Ezekiel|44:2–3|HE}}).</ref> modern standard German: Himmelpforten).<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 23">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;23. No ISBN.</ref>

Eylsede was most likely chosen because its location adjacent to the [[Osten]] jurisdiction (Gericht Osten; in the [[Oste]] [[Marsh]]es) and to [[Kehdingen]],<ref>Bernd Ulrich Hucker, „Freiheit und Herrschaft bei den Kehdingern“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 61 (2001/2002), pp. 101–108, here pp. 104seq.</ref><ref>Whereas Hucker points out that Porta Coeli was also to uphold the prince-archiepiscopal rule over Kehdingen, Hofmeister argues this was unlikely since at that time the impassable Kehdingen moorland (Kehdinger Moor) made Himmelpforten an unsuited place to access Kehdingen. Cf. Adolf E. Hofmeister, ''Besiedlung und Verfassung der Stader Elbmarschen im Mittelalter'': 2 parts, Hildesheim: Lax, 1979-1981, (=Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Historische Landesforschung der Universität Göttingen; vols. 12 and 14), part II: 'Die Hollerkolonisation und die Landesgemeinden Land Kehdingen und Altes Land' (1981), p. 344. {{ISBN|3-7848-3644-5}}.</ref> both forming [[corporation|corporate]] bodies of free peasants upholding a certain inner autonomy, claiming and at times gaining seat and franchise at the [[Diet (assembly)|diets]] of the [[Estates of the realm|estates of the prince-archbishopric]] (Stiftsstände) and therefore suspected by the chapter and the prince-archbishop to rival their reign.<ref name="Elmshäuser 1995 165"/>

The deed of 1&nbsp;May 1255, empowering the convent's Provost Albertus to steward its possessions and waiving the prince-archiepiscopal overlordship,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 28"/> explicitly mentions the donation of [[Großenwörden]] village by Frederick of Haseldorf, later [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Hamburg#Chapter and canonry|canon at the Hamburg subchapter]], who in 1250 on the occasion of joining clergy bestowed part of the [[allodial]] holdings of his family (extinct in the 1280s) in the [[Lamstedt]] [[Geest]] and the Oste Marshes on the nunnery.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 28"/><ref name="Issendorff 1979 6">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;6. No ISBN</ref> He also donated to other [[monastery|monasteries]] ({{Interlanguage link|Our Lady's Monastery, Stade|de|3=Kloster St. Marien (Stade)|lt=Our Lady's Monastery}} in Stade, {{Interlanguage link|Zeven Monastery|de|3=Kloster Zeven}} in [[Zeven]], {{Interlanguage link|Harsefeld Archabbey|de|3=Kloster Harsefeld}} in [[Harsefeld]]), but preferred Porta Coeli.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 27"/> The capitular deed also declared that the convent held all its possessions, donated by whom so ever, only by the virtue of the Bremen cathedral chapter, thus denying any exemption from territorial prince-archiepiscopal sovereignty.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/>

In his will, Frederick of Haseldorf, meanwhile [[Bishopric of Dorpat#The Bishops of Dorpat|Prince-Bishop of Dorpat]], bequeathed his personal belongings to Porta Coeli Convent, however [[Vitslav II, Prince of Rügen]], captured and withheld the bequest, so that in 1291 the [[abbess]] of Porta Coeli waived its claim, likely in return for some form of compensation.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;8. No ISBN</ref> The deed of waiver of 17&nbsp;March 1291 shows the oldest preserved version of the nunnery's seal,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/> since 1955 officially used by the Himmelpforten municipality.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 5">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;5. No ISBN.</ref>

Besides the Brobergens and Haseldorfs further noble families from the [[Elbe–Weser triangle]] ([[Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen|Bremian]] [[ministerialis]] such as the {{Interlanguage link|Marschalck family|de|3=Marschalck von Bachtenbrock}}) bestowed land and dues on the convent.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 28"/> The [[Cistercian nuns]] elected a male provost as their legal warden<ref name="Graf 2002 64">Sabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp. 51–78, here p.&nbsp;64.</ref> as well as their representative at the diets of the prince-archbishopric.<ref>Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824, vol.&nbsp;1: pp. 278seq. No ISBN.</ref> The provost and the convent's [[prioress]] stewarded its possessions together.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 24">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;24. No ISBN.</ref> Until the [[secularization|secularisation]] Porta Coeli's provosts were usually simultaneously capitular [[Canon (priest)|canons]] residing in [[Bremen]] city. This was because any candidate for provostship had to be confirmed in advance by the Bremen Cathedral Chapter.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 24"/>

The provost also wielded the [[summary jurisdiction]] in Porta Coeli's temporal judicature precinct.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 24"/> Furthermore the provost held the ''[[ius]] collationis''<ref>The privilege of auditing the accounts for correctness, accurateness and their [[collation]].</ref> in the [[Hechthausen]] parish.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 21">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;21. No ISBN.</ref> Besides the provost there was also a [[Advocatus|(ad)vocate]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Vogt}}), exerting military protection,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 25">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;25. No ISBN.</ref> managing the [[Folwark|Vorwerke]], and exercising police function in the convent's jurisdictions.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;34. No ISBN.</ref> Each nun, and later each conventual, had a home of her own, with her personal maid.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> All feudal estates (Meierhöfe) in Eulsete (Himmelpforten) were let out on [[socage]] (Meierverhältnis) to farmers, and each comprised less land than a family needed for self-sustenance, so that the farmers, men and women alike, depended on work for the convent as farmhands and maids.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 42">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;42. No ISBN.</ref> The convent ran a village school, usually staffed with an educated [[schoolmaster]], and therefore known for its higher standard than ordinary village schools.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 148">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;148. No ISBN.</ref>

In ecclesiastical respect Porta Coeli formed part of the [[archdeaconry]] connected in [[personal union]] with the Bremen cathedral provost, presiding over the cathedral chapter.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 5"/> His archdeaconry comprised Kehdingen, Vieland<ref>Today the area of Vieland is mostly covered by Bremen's South borough with today's quarters of Huchting, Neustadt, Neustädter Hafen, Obervieland, Seehausen, Strom and Woltmershausen.</ref> and the then vast [[Oldendorf, Stade|Oldendorf]] parish.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 5"/> Before the establishment of Porta Coeli's abbey, which simultaneously served as the local parish church too, Eulsete had formed part of the {{Interlanguage link|St. Martin's Church, Oldendorf|nds|3=Martinskark (Olendörp)|lt=St.&nbsp;Martin's parish in Oldendorf}}.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 22">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;22. No ISBN.</ref> Thus the new Himmelpforten parish with the affiliate parishes of Großenwörden and {{Interlanguage link|Horst upon Oste|nds|3=Host (Burweg)}} formed part of the cathedral provost's archdeaconry too.

After having become Regent of [[Land of Hadeln|Hadeln]] [[Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg|Magnus, the heir apparent of Saxe-Lauenburg]], on 24&nbsp;November 1498 allied with his father [[John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg|John V]] and [[Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg]] in order to conquer the [[Land Wursten|Land of Wursten]],<ref name="Schütz 1995 266">Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp. 263–278, here p.&nbsp;266. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.</ref> an autonomous peasants' corporation under the loose Bremian prince-archiepiscopal overlordship. For the threat of Wursten Bremen's Prince-Archbishop [[Johann Rode von Wale|Johann Rode]] was prepared, since already on 16&nbsp;November he and [[List of mayors of Hamburg#1293–1860|Hamburg's three burgomasters]] (upcoming, presiding, and outgoing), Johannes Huge, Hermen Langenbeck and Henning Buring had concluded a defensive alliance.<ref name="Schütz 1995 266"/>

Rode appealed at the [[Citizen|burghers]] of Bremen, Hamburg and [[Stade]], which considered the areas downstream the rivers [[Elbe]] and [[Weser]] their own front yard existential for their free maritime trade connections, so the three [[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic]] cities supported Rode, who further won the [[Ditmarsh|Ditmarsians]], free peasants under Bremen's loose overlordship.<ref name="Boeselager 1995 332">Elke Freifrau von Boeselager, „Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp. 321–388, here p.&nbsp;332. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.</ref> On 1&nbsp;May 1499 Rode, the Land of Wursten, Hamburg and Bremen concluded a defensive alliance in favour of Wursten in case of another invasion by [[John V, Count of Oldenburg|John XIV]] of [[County of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]], who had conquered westerly neighbouring [[Butjadingen]] in April with the help of the ''Great'' or ''[[Black Guard (1488–1500)|Black Guard]]'' of ruthless and violent Dutch and East Frisian mercenaries.<ref name="Schütz 1995 266"/>

Wursten was thus threatened by Oldenburg from the west and by Magnus from the east. In order to avoid war on two fronts Rode tried to ease the relation with Magnus, but in vain.<ref name="Schütz 1995 266"/> On 1&nbsp;August Rode, Bremen's cathedral chapter, more prelates from the prince-archbishopric, as well as the cities of Bremen, [[Buxtehude]], Hamburg, and Stade stipulated to supply 1,300 warriors and equipment to defend Wursten and / or invade Hadeln.<ref name="Schütz 1995 266"/> Finally on 9&nbsp;September 1499 Rode waged [[feud]] against John&nbsp;V and Magnus.<ref name="Schütz 1995 267"/> The allied forces easily conquered the Land of Hadeln, defeating Magnus and even drove him out of Hadeln.<ref name="Krause 1881 184">Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol.&nbsp;14, pp. 183–185, here p.&nbsp;184.</ref><ref name="Schulze 1974 480">Heinz-Joachim Schulze, „Johann III. Rode“, in: ''Neue Deutsche Biographie'' (NDB), vol.&nbsp;10: pp. 480–481, here p.&nbsp;480.</ref>

By 20&nbsp;November 1499 Magnus hired the ''Great'' or ''Black Guard'', prior operating in Oldenburg, for his purposes.<ref name="Schütz 1995 267">Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp. 263–278, here p.&nbsp;267. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.</ref><ref name="Krause 1881 184"/> They invaded the prince-archbishopric through the neighbouring [[Prince-Bishopric of Verden]].<ref>Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol.&nbsp;14, pp. 183–185, here pp. 184seq.</ref><ref>Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp. 263–278, here pp. 267seq.</ref> The Guard southerly by-passed the fortified Buxtehude and Stade, leaving behind a wake of devastation on the countryside and in the monasteries ({{Interlanguage link|Altkloster|nds|3=Ooldklooster}}, [[Neukloster Abbey|Neukloster]], both localities of today's Buxtehude).<ref name="Schütz 1995 268">Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp. 263–278, here p.&nbsp;268. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.</ref> Still in 1499 the Guard also looted Porta Coeli, which, however, could ransom itself from being set on fire,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 23">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;23. No ISBN.</ref> before in mid-January 1500 King [[John, King of Denmark|John of Denmark]] finally hired the Guard and guaranteed for its safe conduct to his [[Duchy of Holstein|Holstein]].<ref name="Krause 1881 185">Karl Ernst Hermann Krause, „Johann III., Erzbischof von Bremen“, in: ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB), vol.&nbsp;14, pp. 183–185, here p.&nbsp;185.</ref>

Under the squandering reign of Prince-Archbishop {{Interlanguage link|Christopher of Brunswick and Lunenburg (Wolfenbüttel)|de|3=Christoph von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel|lt=Christopher the Spendthrift}} the indebted ruler in 1541 ceded his revenues from Porta Coeli to his Chancery Secretary Steffen vom Stein for three years in lieu of a repayment.<ref>Karl Schleif, ''Regierung und Verwaltung des Erzstifts Bremen'', Hamburg: no publ., 1972, (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vol. 1), p.&nbsp;234, also Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 1968. No ISBN.</ref> Christopher's financially burdensome prodigal lifestyle fostered the spreading of the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] in the prince-archbishopric. The conversion of the nuns followed the adoption of Lutheranism among the noble families from whom they originated.<ref>Heinz-Joachim Schulze, „Himmelpforten“ (article), in: ''Germania Benedictina'': 12 vols., vol.&nbsp;XII: 'Norddeutschland: Die Männer- und Frauenklöster der Zisterzienser in Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg' (1994), Ulrich Faust (compil.), pp. 148–167, here p.&nbsp;154.</ref>

The convent's aim was to care for noble women,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 33"/><ref>Christine Kleinjung, „Nonnen und Personal, Familien und Stifter: Zisterzienserinnenkonvente und ihre soziale Umwelt“, in: ''Norm und Realität: Kontinuität und Wandel der Zisterzienser im Mittelalter'' (proceedings of the international conference «Norm und Realität. Kontinuität und Wandel der Zisterzienser im Mittelalter» held from 14 to 16&nbsp;March 2007 in Mainz), Franz J. Felten and Werner Rösener (eds.), Berlin: Lit-Verlag, 2009, (=Vita regularis: Ordnungen und Deutungen religiösen Lebens im Mittelalter; vol.&nbsp;42), pp. 225–263, here p.&nbsp;232. {{ISBN|978-3-643-10408-3}}.</ref> which was to be maintained and thus it became a Lutheran [[Stift#Stift as endowment for unmarried Protestant women|Damsels' Convent]].<ref name="Graf 2002 60">Sabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp. 51–78, here p.&nbsp;60.</ref> "The ancestors primarily dedicated, founded and endowed noble … monasteries with estates so that their descendants … who had no desire or were uncomfortable to get married, could be admitted to them and sustained in them."<ref>In the German original: „… Adeliche […] Clöster … [wehren] von den … Vorfahren dazu vornemblich gewidtmet, gestiftet und mit gütern dotiret […], damit ihre nach Kommen …, die zu heirathen keine Lust hatten oder dazu unbequem wehren, darinnen aufgenommen und erhalten werden könnten …“<!-- sic! original orthography --> Submission of 1650 by male relatives of Himmelpforten conventuals explaining the original purpose of the nunneries and petitioning at the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden in favour of considering the aspirants to expectancies. Here quoted after Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;43. No ISBN.</ref> As far as known today, there were no commoners accepted among the nuns and later Lutheran conventuals.<ref name="Graf 2002 60"/> The nuns and conventuals originated - amongst others - from the families Brobergen, von der Brock, von Campe, [[von der Decken family|von der Decken]], Drew(e)s, {{Interlanguage link|Gruben family|de|3=Gruben (Adelsgeschlecht)#Gruben (Kehdingen)|lt=von Gruben}}, von Hadeln, Haken, {{Interlanguage link|Hude family|de|3= Hude (Adelsgeschlecht)|lt=von der Hude}}, von Issendorff, {{Interlanguage link|Kuhla family|nds|3=von de Kuhla|lt=von der Kuhla}}, von der Lieth, Marschalck, {{Interlanguage link|Platen family|de|3=Platen (brandenburgisches Adelsgeschlecht)|lt=Plate}}, von Reimershausen, {{Interlanguage link|Rönne family|de|3=Rönne (Adelsgeschlecht)|lt=Rönne}}, {{Interlanguage link|Voss families|de|3=Voss (niedersächsische Adelsgeschlechter)|lt=Voss}}, and von Weyhe.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 36">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;36. No ISBN.</ref><ref>Especially in northwestern Germany, where about 200 to 300 different surnames of non-noble families include the word ''[[von]]'', elsewhere usually considered a [[nobiliary particle]], the surnames of many noble families do not include this particle. Cf. [http://home.foni.net/~adelsforschung/faq1.htm "Adelszeichen und Adel: Kennzeichnet das 'von' in jedem Fall eine Adelsfamilie?"] (Nobiliary particle and nobility: Does the "von" indicate a noble family in every case?), Institut Deutsche Adelsforschung (''Institute of German nobility research''), retrieved on 8 January 2013.</ref>

By 1550/1555 the convent's provost, wielding the ''ius nominandi''<ref>The privilege to nominate a candidate for a pastorate.</ref> in [[Großenwörden]], Hechthausen and in Horst upon Oste<ref name="Nistal 2008 78"/><ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 37">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;37. No ISBN.</ref> nominated the first Lutheran preacher for St. Peter's Church in Horst,<ref name="Nistal 2008 78"/> whom then the competent archdeacon, in personal union the cathedral provost of the Bremen chapter, invested<ref name="Issendorff 1979 20">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;20. No ISBN.</ref> according to his ''ius investiendi''.<ref>The privilege to [[investiture|invest]] a priest.</ref> This is taken as evidence that by then the Reformation of the conventuals must have been completed.<ref name="Nistal 2008 78"/> In 1556 the provost also nominated the first Lutheran preacher for the abbey of Porta Coeli, who was also invested.<ref name="Nistal 2008 78"/><ref name="Issendorff 1979 27">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;27. No ISBN.</ref> In 1581 a fire destroyed farms and convent buildings in Himmelpforten.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 23seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 23seq. No ISBN.</ref>

In the [[Thirty Years' War]] after the [[Battle of Lutter]] on 17/27&nbsp;August 1626<sup>[[Old Style and New Style dates|O.S./N.S.]]</sup> the [[Catholic League (German)|Catholic Leaguist]] forces invaded the Bremian prince-archbishopric, capturing one fortified city after the other.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;31. No ISBN.</ref> After the surrender of [[Stade]] on 27&nbsp;April/7&nbsp;May 1628<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the Leaguists occupied all the state, including Himmelpforten.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/> Between 1628 and 1629 most Protestant preachers fled the area.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/> In September 1629 the Imperial Commission of [[Edict of Restitution|Restitution]] ordered Himmelpforten Convent to hand in a complete register of all its possessions and revenues.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/> Prioress Gerdruth von Campe informed Provost Franz Marschalck, then residing in safe Bremen out of reach for the Leaguist occupants and the Restitution Commission, who on 8/18&nbsp;October 1629<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> personally delivered the demanded information to the Commission then residing in [[Verden an der Aller|Verden upon Aller]].<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/>

On 19/29&nbsp;November<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the Commission's subdelegates, Jacob Brummer and Wilhelm Schröder, arrived at Himmelpforten Convent in order to sight the situation there.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/> Much of the chattels had been plundered by the Leaguists since their invasion.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/> The livestock then counted four horses, two cows and one calf, 15 fattening pigs, 25 breeding pigs, five piglets and uncounted geese, ducks and chickens.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 32">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;32. No ISBN.</ref>

The subdelegates found the abbey church untouched with all its furnishings, such as altars, religious paintings, [[pew]]s, [[parament]]s, [[chasuble]]s and other liturgical devices.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 33">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;33. No ISBN.</ref> They ordered the prioress to deliver all liturgical devices which they appropriated in favour of the Restitution Commission and brought them to Stade.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 33"/> The prioress made the men aware of the fact that the convent had more liturgical devices stored in a house in Stade.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 56">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;56. No ISBN.</ref> On 22&nbsp;November/ 2&nbsp;December 1629<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> all the seized liturgical devices from Himmelpforten and in Stade were handed over to the [[Jesuit]] Father Matthias Kalkhoven, and disappeared with the Jesuits in April 1632.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 33"/><ref name="Issendorff 1979 38">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;38. No ISBN.</ref>

Only one [[chalice]] from 1422, preserved until today, remained with the convent.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 142">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p. 142. No ISBN.</ref> On 23&nbsp;November/ 3&nbsp;December 1629<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the subdelegates returned to Himmelpforten and interrogated the conventuals as to alienations of convent possessions, but without learning anything new.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 33"/> Then the conventuals were ordered to the abbey [[Quire (architecture)|quire]] to acknowledge the seizure of the convent by the Restitution Commission.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 33"/> They were told, that those who would convert to Catholicism until [[Christmas]] 1629, would be granted a lifelong annuity, whereas the others would lose their sustenance by [[Easter]] 1630 (i.e. 31 March<sup>N.S.</sup>).<ref name="Issendorff 1979 33"/><ref name="Nistal 2008 123">Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp. 1–158, here p.&nbsp;123. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.</ref>

Provost Marschalck refused to deliver the convent's archive, which Henrich Moller in Hamburg held in pledge for an earlier credit to the convent.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 34">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;34. No ISBN.</ref><ref name="Issendorff 1979 36">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;36. No ISBN.</ref> What happened to the archive is unclear, the credit was obviously never repaid so the archive was never restituted.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 24"/> Marschalck pleaded the Restitution Commission to have mercy on the conventuals who on their entry into the convent had bestowed estates or revenues on it and were without any means if expelled.<ref name="Nistal 2008 123"/><ref name="Issendorff 1979 34"/> With the prince-archbishopric plundered and suffering from occupation the conventuals could not hope to find any other refuge.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 34"/> However, the Restitution Commission refused.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 33"/>

On 6/16&nbsp;May 1630<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the Restitution Commission commissioned Philipp Lütringhausen, Albert Treckel and Chamber Councillor Thomas Runge to evict the conventuals and hand over the convent to the Jesuits in Stade.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 34"/> For 19/29&nbsp;July<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> these three men, accompanied by Father Kalkhoven, gathered in [[Drochtersen]] the Kehdingen farmers tithing to the convent, and declared that from then on the tithe would be collected by the Jesuits.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 34"/> On 21/31&nbsp;July<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the three men, now coming from Stade, arrived again in Himmelpforten and the day after they requested the conventuals to leave their convent since they all steadfastly held on to the Lutheran faith.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 34seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 34seq. No ISBN.</ref><ref name="Nistal 2008 79"/> The men repeated that as Catholic converts the conventuals would be granted alimony.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 35">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;35. No ISBN.</ref>

The conventuals' pleas to allow them to stay acknowledging their steady service to the benefit of the convent and in respect of their faith, did not help it.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 35"/> On 6&nbsp;August Provost Marschalck personally intervened again at the three men in favour of the conventuals, but in vain.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 37">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;37. No ISBN.</ref> Kalkhoven offered each conventual [[Reichsthaler|Rixdollar (Rtlr)]] 75 and two barrels of rye, if they would leave.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 37"/> The conventuals rejected any gifts.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 37"/> The conventuals were then announced to be violently evicted by noon 28&nbsp;July/7&nbsp;August<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup>.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 37"/> With the [[Diocesan administrator#Administrators of prince-bishoprics|administrator regnant]], [[John Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince-Bishop|John Frederick]], deposed and in exile, the conventuals and the provost were on their own and could not help it.<ref name="Nistal 2008 123"/> So on 27&nbsp;July/ 6&nbsp;August 1630<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the conventuals finally left.<ref name="Nistal 2008 79">Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp. 1–158, here p.&nbsp;79. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.</ref><ref name="Issendorff 1979 37"/>

Thereafter the three men formally seized the convent in favour of the new [[Jesuit college]] founded in Stade in order to [[Counter-Reformation|Catholicise]] the local population.<ref name="Nistal 2008 79 and 122seq.">Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp. 1–158, here pp.&nbsp;79 and 122seq. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.</ref> Jesuit Father Kalkhoven literally appropriated the [[Ecclesiastical ring|abbatial ring]], the kitchen pothook, the keys of the convent, and a sod from the convent garden, representing its landed estates.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 35seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 35seq. No ISBN.</ref> Kalkhoven also took possession of the Lutheran former abbey church by ceremonially posing his hands over the altar.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 35"/> Already on 26&nbsp;July/ 5&nbsp;August 1630<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> [[socage]] farmers from Himmelpforten had been gathered in order to make them render [[Homage (feudal)|homage]] to their new lord, the [[Society of Jesus]].<ref name="Issendorff 1979 37"/> Kalkhoven then usurped the title of Provost of Himmelpforten.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 38"/> Kalkhoven appointed Erich Raschke as administrator, later expelled by the [[Swedish Empire|Swedes]] who took Himmelpforten in early May 1632.<ref name="Nistal 2008 123/126">Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp. 1–158, here pp.&nbsp;123 and 126. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.</ref>

In the second half of April 1632, after the Swedish victory in the [[Battle of Rain]], the Imperial and Leaguist forces, altogether 23,000 men billeted in the area of Himmelpforten, Stade, Buxtehude, the [[Stade Geest]] and the [[Elbe Marshes#Lower Saxon Elbe marshes|Bremian Elbe Marshes]],<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 57">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;57. No ISBN.</ref> left the prince-archbishopric and with them the foreign Catholic clergy.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 38"/> Now the allied troops of Sweden, the city of Bremen and the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen under [[Åke Henriksson Tott|Achatius Tott]] captured the prince-archbishopric<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 57"/> and John Frederick resumed his office as its Administrator regnant. Highly indebted as he was after recruiting and arming his troops allied with the Swedes, he brought in a bill to confiscate all the monasteries in the prince-archbishopric.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 38"/><ref name="Nistal 2008 79"/> However, on 20 and 28&nbsp;May 1633<sup>O.S.</sup> on the diet in [[Basdahl]] the estates of the prince-archbishopric rejected that, but allowed the Administrator regnant to collect the revenues of the monasteries until the Thirty Years' War would end.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 38"/>

With John Frederick's death in 1634 the greatest antagonist to the continued existence of the convents had disappeared, since the estates supported them.<ref name="Nistal 2008 88">Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp.&nbsp;1–158, here p.&nbsp;88.</ref> By then the conventuals managed to recapture the buildings,<ref name="Nistal 2008 79"/> however, without the previous revenues then granted to the ruler. After Provost Marschalck had died in June, on 22&nbsp;November/ 2&nbsp;December 1638<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the conventuals elected Casper Schulte their new provost.<ref>Karl Schleif, ''Regierung und Verwaltung des Erzstifts Bremen'', Hamburg: no publ., 1972, (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vol. 1), p.&nbsp;196, also Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 1968. No ISBN.</ref> In 1646 Prioress Gerdruth von Campe started recompleting the set of liturgical devices and donated a new [[chalice]], and two years later her fellow conventual Anna Voß bestowed a new [[paten]] on the convent, both till this day owned by the Lutheran parish.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 38"/>

Following the [[Treaty of Brömsebro (1645)|Treaty of Brömsebro]] on 13/23 August 1645<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> Sweden seized the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, with Swedish troops anyway in the country as concluded by the war alliance between the kingdom and the prince-archbishopric.<ref name="Fiedler 2008 189">Beate-Christine Fiedler, „Bremen und Verden als schwedische Provinz (1633/45–1712)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp. 173–253, here p.&nbsp;189. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.</ref> On 27&nbsp;October/ 9&nbsp;November 1647<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> Queen [[Christina of Sweden]] promised the convent with all its revenues to Count [[Gustaf Adolf Lewenhaupt|Gustaf Adolf Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt]] (1619–1656),<ref name="Fiedler 2008 189"/> who on 30&nbsp;July/ 9&nbsp;August 1651<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> was invested with the convent as a [[fief]] heritable in the male line (Mannlehen).<ref name="Nistal 2008 79"/> In 1647 there were twelve conventuals,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 39">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;39. No ISBN.</ref> and 14 women aspirants held [[abeyance]]s to a sustenance in the convent.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 40">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;40. No ISBN.</ref>

By the [[Peace of Westphalia]] in 1648 the prince-archiepiscopal elective monarchy was secularised as the heritable Duchy of Bremen, which was jointly ruled with the new [[Principality of Verden]], as [[Bremen-Verden]], since both imperial fiefs were bestowed on the Swedish crown.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 57"/> By the 1650s the previous religious bodies, such as the Lutheran cathedral chapter or the archdeaconries, had been abolished, their revenues mostly confiscated, with only few of them not granted to Swedish war veterans.<ref name="Fiedler 2008 189"/> On 2/12 September 1651<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden appointed the first [[Superintendent (ecclesiastical)#Superintendents in Germany|general superintendent]] for the new {{Interlanguage link|General Diocese of Bremen-Verden|de|3=Generaldiözese Bremen-Verden}}, the state church of Bremen-Verden, presiding over the [[consistory (Protestantism)|consistory]] in Stade. The General Diocese of Bremen-Verden became a subdivision of the [[Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover]] on its formation in 1864. Since 1936 its locally competent church district, the General Diocese, is succeeded by the Stade Diocese (Sprengel Stade).

==Legacy==
On 21/31 May 1650<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt's plenipotentiary Johann Friedrich [von] Arensen,<ref name="Arensens nobilitated">The Arensens were nobilitated in 1651. Cf. Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;40. No ISBN.</ref> Privy Councillor Nicolaus von Höpken, general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden, and the conventuals concluded a settlement about the latter's future sustenance.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 42">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;42. No ISBN.</ref> The abeyances were not acknowledged, their aspirants came away empty-handed.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 42"/> The acknowledged conventuals would receive their annuities for all their lives (or until their marriage) and usually lived in the former convent buildings until their death (or marriage). In the fiscal year 1668/1669 still eight conventuals were alive, one married and seven still receiving their annuities.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 46">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;46. No ISBN.</ref>

In today's Himmelpforten a number of [[Toponymy|toponyms]] recall the former monastery ({{langx|de|link=no|Kloster}}), such as Klosterfeld, a former field now a scheme of detached houses built in the 1970s, the Klostergraben, a drainage trench now forming the border between Himmelpforten and [[Burweg]], the Klostermoor, a [[bog]] on Himmelpforten's eastern border to {{Interlanguage link|Mittelsdorf|nds|3=Middelsdörp}}.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 124">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;124. No ISBN.</ref> The secondary schools in Himmelpforten ([[Hauptschule]] and [[Realschule]]), founded in 1966, and on 27 November 1975 moved to its present location, have later commonly adopted the Latin name {{Interlanguage link|Porta-Coeli-School|nds}} (PCS).<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 154">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;154. No ISBN.</ref>

===Amt Himmelpforten===
Since the enfeoffment of Count Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt with the former convent this [[Seignory|seigniorial]] entity with its three [[Folwark|Vorwerke]], its socage farmers and revenues from dues and fines in its jurisdictions was called the ''Amt Himmelpforten''.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 57"/> The last Convent Scribe Erich Everdt Gröning(k) officiated as administrator of the Amt between 1658 and 1663, in 1663 and 1666 his sons Franz and then Heinrich Gröning became Himmelpforten's first bailiffs ([[Amtmann]]/Amtleute [sg./pl.]).<ref name="Issendorff 1979 45">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;45. No ISBN.</ref> The term convent continued to be in use, but referred more to the buildings and the pertaining [[glebe]] and socage farms than to the wider administrative subdivision, also including neighbouring villages (Breitenwisch, Großenwörden, Horst upon Oste) subject to the former convent's jurisdiction and to dues to be collected.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 45"/>

On 11/21 February 1673<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> Michael Grabo, Bremen-Verdian [[procurator fiscal|land fiscal]], reported to [[Swedish Governors-General#Bremen-Verden|Governor-General]] [[Henrik Horn]] that Bailiff Michael Riedell had removed bricks from dilapidated convent buildings, demolishing even complete structures, in order to sell them.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 66">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;66. No ISBN</ref> Under the [[Brandenburg-Prussia|Brandenburgian]]-[[Principality of Lüneburg|Lunenburgian]] occupation (1675–1679) during the [[Bremen-Verden Campaign]] [[billeting]] (in Himmelpforten mostly [[prince-Bishopric of Münster|Münster]] troops staying 11 weeks<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 58">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;58. No ISBN.</ref>) and requisitioning goods impoverished the area, with most revenues anyway lacking as they had been already previously deducted for Count [[Gustaf Mauritz Lewenhaupt|Gustaf Mauritz Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt]] (1651–1700), the conventuals did not get their annuities and the convent buildings reached a stage of progressed dilapidation.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 48seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp.&nbsp;48seq. No ISBN.</ref> In 1676 still two conventuals lived in the convent, two lived with relatives, and all the four still claimed their annuities.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 48">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;48. No ISBN.</ref> However, the annuities had not been paid since the start of the campaign in 1675, leaving the three conventuals still alive in 1677 without any means.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 49">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;49. No ISBN.</ref> All the three had then left the convent after it had been plundered by soldiers in the occupying army.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 50">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;50. No ISBN.</ref>

Also the convent house opposite the western façade of the former abbey, now serving as the bailiff's office, called the ''Amtshaus'', was uninhabitable.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 48"/> On 30&nbsp;March 1677 the competent occupational Lunenburgian government ordered to evacuate the Amtshaus due to dilapidation.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 49"/> The new occupational bailiff Albertus Hartmann blamed the deposed former bailiff Michael Riedell to have alienated convent possessions, when he had built for himself a new house, using also the materials of Catharina von der Kuhla's former house, which this conventual had built on her family's own expenses and had been sold for demolition to Riedell after her death.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 49"/> Hartmann lost his position in 1680 again, when Bremen-Verden was restituted to the Swedish crown, he was succeeded by late Michael Riedell's son Samuel Friedrich Riedell.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 52">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;52. No ISBN.</ref>

In the course of the [[Reduction (Sweden)|Great Reduction]] of 1680 in the following year the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden revoked the enfeoffment of seignorial Himmelpforten to the Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt counts, so that Gustaf Mauritz Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt lost the Amt Himmelpforten to the Swedish crown.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 53">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;53. No ISBN.</ref> In 1681 two conventuals were still alive and received again their annuities.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 53"/> In 1684 the reestablished Bremen-Verden general government ordered a greater repair of the decayed former abbey church, and also the remaining convent buildings were restored to some extent, all carried out by the socage farmers.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 54">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;54. No ISBN.</ref> At that time the former Vorwerke were not run with the labour of the socage farmers any more, but all leased to tenants.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 54"/>

As of 1712, under the Danish occupation in the [[Great Northern War]], the [[Great Northern War plague outbreak|plague]] reached Himmelpforten, killing 84 persons.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 56">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;56. No ISBN.</ref> The Danes enlarged the Amt Himmelpforten by the Oldendorf jurisdiction (Börde Oldendorf).<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 59">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;59. No ISBN.</ref> In 1715 they ceded Bremen-Verden to their ally [[Great Britain]]-[[Electorate of Hanover|Hanover]] for Rtlr 600,000, which in 1719 again compensated Sweden with Speziestaler<ref>Rixdollar of Northern German standard fineness.</ref> 1,000,000 for its loss, thus gaining the Swedish consent.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 56"/>

[[File:Himmelpforten plan.jpg|thumb|The former convent compound around the church (Kirche) with bailiff's house (1), bailiff's office (2), pastorate (3), sexton's house (4), water mill (5), nuns' cemetery (6) and parish cemetery (7), buildings of 1788 pasted over today's structures.]] 
British-Hanoverian Bremen-Verden retained the Amt Himmelpforten, then ''Royal and Electoral Bailiwick of Himmelpforten'' (i.e. Königliches und Churfürstliches Ampt Himmelpforten<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 62">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;62. No ISBN.</ref>) as a rather administrative subdivision, but reorganised it according to the Hanoverian Bailiwick Ordinance (Amtsordnung) of 1674.<ref name="Isensee 2003 30">Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol.&nbsp;33), p.&nbsp;30. No ISBN.</ref> In the subsequent years the government of British-Hanoverian Bremen-Verden demolished and rebuilt all the remaining convent buildings, such as the church (1738), the schoolhouse, the mill, the bailiff's office and the [[rectory|pastorate]].<ref name="Issendorff 1979 56"/>

During the short-lived [[Kingdom of Westphalia|Westphalian]] annexation (1810) the territory of the Amt Himmelpforten formed part of the ''Canton of Stade and Himmelpforten'',<ref name="Isensee 2003 77">Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol.&nbsp;33), p.&nbsp;77. No ISBN.</ref> established on 1&nbsp;September 1810 and seated in Stade.<ref name="Isensee 2003 86">Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol.&nbsp;33), p.&nbsp;86. No ISBN.</ref> With effect of 1&nbsp;January 1811 all the South [[Elbe|Elbian]] German coast and its hinterland was annexed to [[First French Empire|France]] and the area of the Amt Himmelpforten formed the ''[[Cantons of France|Canton]] de Himmelpforten'' in the [[Bouches-de-l'Elbe]] Department.<ref name="Isensee 2003 100">Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol.&nbsp;33), p.&nbsp;100. No ISBN.</ref> In 1813 after the French annexation the Amt Himmelpforten was restituted, and Bremen-Verden was reestablished too, however, all its grown local peculiarities in administration were levelled when this Hanoverian province became the [[Stade (region)|High-Bailiwick of Stade]] in 1823.

The [[Amt (country subdivision)|Amt]], having lost its seignorial character through the abolition of feudalism in the 18th and 19th century (In the [[Kingdom of Hanover]] farmers became proprietors of the land they tilled in 1832.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 44">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;44. No ISBN.</ref><ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 72">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;72. No ISBN.</ref>), became a mere administrative subdivision. In 1834 the Amt Stade-Agathenburg merged in the Amt Himmelpforten which by large existed in this new extension until 1885,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 61">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;61. No ISBN.</ref> when the [[Districts of Prussia|Prussian district organisation]] was also applied to the [[Province of Hanover]]. In 1852 the Amt Osten took over the municipalities of Großenwörden and {{Interlanguage link|Neuland upon Oste|de|3=Neuland (Engelschoff)}} with {{Interlanguage link|Neulandermoor|nds|3=Neelannermoor}} from the Amt Himmelpforten,<ref>Cf. „Verordnung, die Bildung der Amtsgerichte und unteren Verwaltungsbehörden betreffend vom 7. August 1852“ (Ordinance concerning the formation of the [[Amtsgericht]]e and inferior administrative authorities of 7 August 1852), in: ''Gesetz-Sammlung für das Königreich Hannover'' (Legal gazette for the Kingdom of Hanover), 1852, pp. 185-236, [http://bsb3.bsb.lrz.de/~db/1051/bsb10510360/images/index.html?id=10510360&seite=249 here p. 221] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911003243/http://bsb3.bsb.lrz.de/~db/1051/bsb10510360/images/index.html?id=10510360&seite=249 |date=2014-09-11 }}.</ref> also ceding the {{Interlanguage link|Elm, Lower Saxony|nds|3=Öölm|lt=municipality of Elm}}, which in 1859 became part of the Bremervörde district, now merged in the [[Rotenburg (district)|Rotenburg District]].<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 61"/> The remaining area of the former Amt Himmelpforten forms part of the [[Stade (district)|District of Stade]] since 1885.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 61"/> Today's [[Oldendorf-Himmelpforten]] collective municipality pretty much covers the former Amt Himmelpforten in its extent of 1712.

==Convent buildings==
The [[Cistercian architecture|Cistercian convent buildings]] comprised the abbey, the actual convent and outbuildings, erected between 1300 and 1330.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 138">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;138. No ISBN.</ref> There were an abbey, a priorate, a granary, a threshing barn, a cart shed, a stable, a bakehouse, a mill, nuns' homes and a janitor's house, the latter along the northern wall of the abbey.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 35">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;35. No ISBN.</ref>

The abbey served from the beginning on also as the parish church of the Himmelpforten parish (Kirchspiel Himmelpforten).<ref name="Nistal 2008 78"/> By 1320 the actual abbey church was completed.<ref name="Museum Himmelpforten 2006 2">Landkreis Stade / Archäologische Denkmalpflege and Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten, ''Zeugen der Geschichte in Himmelpforten. Ein Spaziergang durch die Vergangenheit der Gemeinde'', Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten (ed.), Stade: Seidel, 2006, section&nbsp;2</ref> The abbey was a typically Cistercian plain building in [[early Gothic architecture|early Gothic style]].<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 138"/> As the church of a [[mendicant order]] the abbey had no spire but a wooden ridge turret.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 138"/>

[[File:St. Marienkirche Hipf5.jpg|thumb|The northern façade of the abbey was kept and integrated into 
today's St. Mary's Church]] The abbey comprised seven [[bay (architecture)|bays]] with 21 pillars carrying the vaulted ceiling.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 138"/> The abbey's external dimensions measured Bremian ft 141 ({{convert|40.8|m|ft|disp=sqbr}}) in length and ft 46 ({{convert|13.31|m|ft|disp=sqbr}}) in width, whereas its vault ceiling reached a height of ft 44 ({{convert|12.73|m|ft|disp=sqbr}}).<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 138"/> The polygonal [[apse]] was also vaulted.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 138"/> The abbey was torn down in 1737, except of part of its northern wall and the northern corner of the apse, which were integrated into the [[St. Mary's Church, Himmelpforten|new Lutheran St. Mary's Church]] completed in 1738.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 139">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;139. No ISBN.</ref>

In 1728 the convent school was demolished due to dilapidation and replaced by a new school.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 68">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;68. No ISBN.</ref> In the same year the convent building, then called the Amtshaus (bailiff's office), west of the abbey, was demolished and replaced by the new Amtshaus, completed in 1729,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 66"/> now housing the Birkenhof home for the elderly.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 35"/><ref>In 1891 General Superintendent {{Interlanguage link|Hermann Christian Ludwig Steinmetz|de|lt=Hermann Steinmetz}} bought the former Amtshaus in order to found there a ''Rettungshaus'' (i.e. rescue house, an educational and benevolent institution for neglected children), from 1892 to 1943 run by the [[Inner Mission]]. In summer 1943 bombed-out Hamburgers were accommodated there, before in 1944 the [[National Socialist People's Welfare|NSV]] founded a home for the elderly in the edifice. Cf. Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;83. No ISBN.</ref>

Already in 1673 in his report Land Fiscal Grabo judged the pastorate dilapidated, its roof leaky and its [[post (structural)|posts]] sinking into the ground.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 67">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;67. No ISBN.</ref> In 1706 Preacher Michael Schreiner complained to the government about the bad state of repair.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 145">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;145. No ISBN.</ref> In 1732 the old pastorate south of the [[Bundesstraße 73|main street]] opposite to the abbey was torn down and replaced by a new building, itself again demolished in 1972.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 148seq">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, pp. 148seq. No ISBN.</ref> The convent's watermill on the {{Interlanguage link|Horsterbeck|nds|3=Hosterbeek}} creek close to the main street was demolished in 1739, and a new one was built more downstream.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 67"/> Bricks of cloister format size, stemming from the demolished convent, were found in the western façade of St. Mary's Church, the new mill and private buildings in the convent's vicinity.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 35"/><ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 139"/>

In 1779 the janitor's house was enforced to become the local jail.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 77">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;77. No ISBN.</ref> After the jail was relocated to Stade the chairman of the Ortsarmenkasse (local poor relief fund) lived in the janitor's house, later the [[court usher]], before the building, then the last of the original convent, was demolished in 1877/1878.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 35"/><ref name="Issendorff 1979 77"/>

===Vorwerke===
All farmers of Himmelpforten village were subject to [[serjeanty]] (Hofdienst, i.e. estate service) in favour of the nunnery.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> The nunnery ran three [[Folwark|Vorwerke]], outlying agricultural farm estates employing farmhands and additionally farmers obliged to serjeanty. The Vorwerke were managed by the (ad)vocate (Vogt).<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> Thus the nunnery ran a Vorwerk on Stubbenkamp (on fields now named the Herrlichkeit, i.e. seigniority, which is a part of today's Himmelpforten), the Vorwerk at Horst and a third in Neuland upon Oste, a part of today's [[Engelschoff]].<ref name="Issendorff 1979 22">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;22. No ISBN.</ref>

The Vorwerk farm buildings on Stubbenkamp, a main timber-framed building measuring Bremian ft 236 ({{convert|68.29|m|ft|disp=sqbr}}) times Bremian ft 50 ({{convert|14.47|m|ft|disp=sqbr}}) and a barn measuring Bremian ft 120 ({{convert|34.72|m|ft|disp=sqbr}}) times Bremian ft 50,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> were demolished in 1717, subsequently the site was let out on [[socage]] to a farmer.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 22"/> At the Stubbenkamp Vorwerk and at the Diekenbrook plot there were stewponds for the fish as [[Fasting and abstinence in the Roman Catholic Church|fasting]] dishes at [[lent]].<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 35"/>

[[File:DEU Himmelpforten COA.svg|thumb|right|Today's coat of arms of Himmelpforten, based on the nunnery's seal as shown in a deed of 17&nbsp;March 1291.]] 
The former Vorwerk in Neuland comprised five buildings, a residential house, a bakehouse, a pigsty, a granary and a crop barn.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> It is recalled by the field name Vorwerk in Neuland. The Vorwerk at Horst was in fact located in Breitenwisch on a plot now covered by the Jarck Farm.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> The outlying former socage farms attached to the Vorwerk at Horst, located at bit more northwest of the Vorwerk now form the village of Horst upon Oste.

==Seal==
A deed of 17&nbsp;March 1291 shows the oldest preserved version of the nunnery's [[Seal (emblem)|seal]],<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/> the model to today's coat of arms used by the municipality of Himmelpforten. The Amt Himmelpforten, however, used an altered variant of that coat of arms showing in the arch instead of the nun the ducal Bremian Saint Peter's crosswise keys.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 57">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;57. No ISBN.</ref>

==Possessions and revenues==
Porta Coeli never developed a sustainable farming of its own.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 33"/> Its landed estates and other revenue-yielding assets did not form a closed compound but were dispersed in the central and northeastern part of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (Stade Geest and Bremian Elbe Marshes).<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 33"/> Like many other nunneries Porta Coeli lived of feudal leases, [[tithe]]s and other dues, earlier often in kind, such as also socage and serjeanty.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 33"/> Porta Coeli let out most of its farmland on socage to farmers, and ran only smaller and closer parts of all its lands through its Vorwerke using labour of farmers subject to serjeanty.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> The Vorwerke were managed by the (ad)vocate (Vogt).<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> Besides his military task of protecting, his task was to prevent farmers from poaching, pasturing on nunnery's land, forbidden lumbering and peat-cutting and of pursuing culprits, collecting the dues and leases.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/>

For the fiscal year 1625/1626 the overall revenues of the convent amounted to Mark 3,014 Shilling&nbsp;1 and Pfennig&nbsp;10, its expenses were Mk 3,118:14:7.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 9">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;9. No ISBN.</ref> For 1626/1627 the corresponding numbers were 3,498.14.7 and 3,617.11.10.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 9"/> By the end of the 17th century the convent's revenues divided into Mk 2,671.28.4 of fix and Mk 1,854.25.3 of variable receipts.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 10">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;10. No ISBN.</ref> The farmers in Himmelpforten were all subject to [[serjeanty]] to the convent and had to pay a lease for the land, which they tilled.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 10"/> All of the convent's estates (Meierhöfe) leased under feudal law were heritable under the principle of [[ultimogeniture]] (Minorat).<ref name="Issendorff 1979 18">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;18. No ISBN.</ref> Originally most dues were in kind, later they were monetised, and even partially [[Farm (revenue leasing)|collected by third parties]] such as [[publican]]s, sometimes being the collective of tax-payers themselves, such as the tithing farmers of Isensee, Twielenfleth, Uthwege,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 45">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;45. No ISBN.</ref> Großenwörden, {{Interlanguage link|Hüll|nds}}, Kehdingen or Altes Land,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 10"/> who thus economised their charges.

The watermill charged the [[Thirlage#Sucken|suckeners]] with the sixteenth part of the [[grist]] as the [[Thirlage#Multure|multure]] (Low Saxon: Matte) in favour of the convent.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 54">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;54. No ISBN.</ref> The inhabitants of {{Interlanguage link|Blumenthal, Lower Saxony|nds|3=Blomendol|lt=Blumenthal}}, {{Interlanguage link|Bossel|nds|3=Bossel (Burweg)}}, Burweg, [[Düdenbüttel]], [[Hammah]], {{Interlanguage link|Hammahermoor|nds|3=Hammohermoor}}, Himmelpforten, Mittelsdorf, {{Interlanguage link|Ochsenpohl|nds|3=Ossenpohl}}, and {{Interlanguage link|Ramels|nds}} were [[Thirlage|thirled]] to the convent's mill.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 54"/> Only the nuns (later the conventuals), the pastor and the local officials were exempt from the multure.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 54"/>

In 1645 the convent's annual revenues amounted to [[Reichsthaler|Rixdollar (Rtlr)]] 3,501.<ref name="Fiedler 2008 189"/> In 1650 the convent's estates earned the second lowest revenues of all Bremian-Verdian monasteries, only [[Neuenwalde Convent]] earned even less.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 32">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;32. No ISBN.</ref> Therefore also the convent's share in levying war taxes was rather low, it was 0.012% (or <math>\tfrac{72}{6000}</math>) of the total revenues from taxes to be levied.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 11">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;11. No ISBN.</ref> Other charges on the convent were the triannual delivery of 15 cows to the prince-archiepiscopal residential [[Vörde Castle]] in [[Bremervörde]].<ref name="Issendorff 1979 21"/>

Single possessions and revenues, besides the Vorwerke mentioned above (see [[#Vorwerke]]) were the following: 
*the overlordship over Rahden with its mills and meadows, the [[tithe]] of its inhabitants, the Westerberg hill (the original site of the nunnery) with its forests,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 5seq"/> furthermore a farmstead donated by Gertrud von Bro(c)bergen (Brobergen) in 1344, and more fields in Rahden donated by the Bro(c)bergen in 1304, 1312 and 1348<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*the village Eylsede (today's [[Himmelpforten]]) with all its revenues and forests<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> 
*two feudal estates (Meierhöfe) in {{Interlanguage link|Abbenseth|nds|3=Abbenseet}} (a part of today's [[Hollnseth]])<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> 
*half the tithe in Bardesfleth (today's [[Grünendeich]]) and some other estates there<ref name="Issendorff 1979 7">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;7. No ISBN.</ref>
*three farmsteads in {{Interlanguage link|Basbeck|nds|3=Basbeek}} (a part of today's [[Hemmoor]]), a quarter of the tithe from the fields there,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/> and two [[Morgen]] of land, donated by Johann von Brockbergen (Brobergen) in 1343 in order to compensate for a damage his father inflicted on the nunnery<ref name="Issendorff 1979 26">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;26. No ISBN.</ref> 
*some estates in {{Interlanguage link|Bassenfleth|nds|3=Bassenfleet}} (a part of today's [[Hollern-Twielenfleth]])<ref name="Issendorff 1979 7"/>
*the summary jurisdiction over Blumenthal (a part of today's [[Burweg]]) with all fines,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 32"/> and nine feudal estates there<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 30">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;30. No ISBN.</ref>
*ten feudal estates in Borstel, i.e. Bossel (a part of today's Burweg)<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 30"/>
*the summary jurisdiction over Breitenwisch (a part of today's Himmelpforten) with all fines<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 32"/>
*the summary jurisdiction over [[Burweg]] with all fines,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 32"/> furthermore some land there, donated in 1358 by Daniel and Gothfridus von Bro(c)bergen (Brobergen)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*the tithe of [[Drochtersen]] fixed to 100 bushels (Stade Scheffel of {{convert|1.9|L|impgal|disp=sqbr}} each) of wheat<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 30"/>
*two feudal estates in [[Düdenbüttel]]<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 30"/>
*two feudal estates in [[Ebersdorf, Lower Saxony|Ebersdorf]]<ref name="Issendorff 1979 9"/>
*the [[summary jurisdiction]] over [[Engelschoff]] with all fines<ref name="Issendorff 1979 12">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;12. No ISBN.</ref>
*the summary jurisdiction over [[Großenwörden]] with all fines, executed by the heritable judge-farmer,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 31">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;31. No ISBN.</ref><ref name="Issendorff 1979 6seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 6seq. No ISBN.</ref> as well as the tithe of many farmers subject to the nunnery<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 31"/>
* the tithe in Halstenfleth (a part of today's Hollern-Twielenfleth), on 8&nbsp;September 1303 bought by the nunnery 200 Mark payable in Stade pennies<ref name="Issendorff 1979 25"/>
*one farm in [[Hammah]], however, subject to socage and dues to the (ad)vocate of Vörde (today's [[Bremervörde]])<ref name="Issendorff 1979 9"/>
*the great tithe<ref name="tithes">The great tithe comprised 10% of the field crops, whereas the small tithe amounted to 10% of the livestock and its products. Cf. Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;45. No ISBN.</ref> from {{Interlanguage link|Heeßel (Hemmoor)|de|3=Heeßel (Hemmoor)|lt=Heeßel}} (since 1968 a locality of Hemmoor)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*the great tithe from {{Interlanguage link|Hemm|nds|3=Hemm (Hemmoor)}} (since 1968 a locality of Hemmoor)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*the summary jurisdiction over Horst upon Oste with all fines,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 32"/> and ten feudal estates there,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 31"/> however under Dutch law (Hollerrecht)<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 47">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;47. No ISBN.</ref>
*the tithe and all the summary jurisdiction with its fines in {{Interlanguage link|Hüll|nds}} (a locality of today's Drochtersen)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> 
*the tithe of Ickenborstel (a location unknown today), donated in 1360 by the Bro(c)bergen (Brobergen)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*the tithe from ten farmers in {{Interlanguage link|Isensee|nds|3=Isensee (Oosten)}} (a part of today's [[Osten]])<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 31"/>
*forests and adjacent meadows in {{Interlanguage link|Kaken, Lower Saxony|nds|3=Kaken|lt=Kaken}} (a locality of today's [[Oldendorf, Stade|Oldendorf]])<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> 
*the summary jurisdiction over {{Interlanguage link|Kleinwörden|nds|3=Lüttwöhrn}} (a locality of today's Hechthausen) with all fines<ref name="Issendorff 1979 9"/><ref name="Issendorff 1979 12"/>
*great and small tithe<ref name="tithes"/> from [[Lamstedt]]<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*leases and great tithes from vast lands in the Lamstedt Geest, once donated by the Brobergen and Marschalck families<ref name="Issendorff 1979 5seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 5seq. No ISBN.</ref> 
*the tithe in [[Mittelstenahe]]<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*the summary jurisdiction over Neuland upon Oste (a locality of Engelschoff) with all fines<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 32"/>
*two feudal estates in [[Oerel]]<ref name="Issendorff 1979 9"/>
*the tithe from [[Oldendorf, Stade|Oldendorf]]<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 31"/>
*half the fisheries in the [[Oste]] between Burweg and Großenwörden<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 32"/>
*one estate in {{Interlanguage link|Ottensen (Buxtehude)|nds|3=Ottens|lt=Ottensen}} (a locality of today's Buxtehude)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> 
*two houses on Bungenstraße, one extramural house near the gate Schiffertor in [[Stade]]<ref name="Issendorff 1979 10"/>
*the small tithe in [[Stinstedt]]<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8"/>
*wheat amounting to 20 bushels of Stade measure (Stade Scheffel of {{convert|1.9|L|impgal|disp=sqbr}} each) from Tetenem (i.e. Altendorf north of [[Wischhafen]])<ref name="Issendorff 1979 7"/>
*half the tithe from Twielenfleth (a part of today's [[Hollern-Twielenfleth]]) and some other estates there<ref name="Issendorff 1979 7"/> 
*some estates in Urenfleth (a part of today's [[Cranz, Hamburg|Cranz]])<ref name="Issendorff 1979 7"/>
*the tithe from Uthwege (in today's [[Mittelnkirchen]])<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 31"/>
*one house with tithe in Verlo (a location unknown today)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> 
*the tithe from Vruthlem (a location unknown today)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 7"/>
* the great tithe of all inhabitants of {{Interlanguage link|Warstade|nds|3= Warstood}} (a locality of Hemmoor), dues from 1.5 feudal estates,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/> and three farmsteads there<ref name="Issendorff 1979 8seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 8seq. No ISBN.</ref>
*feudal estates in {{Interlanguage link|Wasserkrug|nds|3=Waterkroog}} (a locality of Engelschoff)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 19">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;19. No ISBN.</ref>
*six feudal estates in {{Interlanguage link|Westerhamm|nds}} (a locality of today's [[Wingst]])<ref name="Issendorff 1979 6"/>

==Leadership==
[[Abbess]]es, [[prioress]]es, provosts and [[Advocatus|(ad)vocates]] of the nunnery and subsequent convent:

===Abbesses and prioresses===
At Porta Coeli with a rather few nuns and conventuals, respectively, the term prioress prevailed over abbess for their chairwoman. 
* Elizabeth/Elisabeth, mentioned 8&nbsp;September 1303 as abbess<ref name="Issendorff 1979 25"/>
* Ghiselen, mentioned in 1343 as [[Dominus (title)#Domina|Domina]],<ref name="Issendorff 1979 26"/> emphasising the prioress' role as feudal overlady
* Luitgardis, mentioned in 1358 as prioress<ref name="Issendorff 1979 26"/> 
* Elisabeth, mentioned in 1399 as prioress<ref name="Issendorff 1979 21"/>
* Margarete, mentioned in 1399 as abbess<ref name="Issendorff 1979 21"/>
* Mathilde, mentioned in 1473 as prioress<ref name="Issendorff 1979 21"/> and abbess<ref name="Issendorff 1979 26"/>
* Lücke von Sandbeck, mentioned in 1528 as abbess<ref name="Issendorff 1979 27"/> 
* Katherine von der Hude, mentioned in 1562 as prioress<ref name="Issendorff 1979 28">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;28. No ISBN.</ref>
* Maria von Weyhe (died in 1616), officiated as prioress at least since 1596,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 29">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;29. No ISBN.</ref> her epitaph is preserved in today's Lutheran [[St. Mary's Church, Himmelpforten|St. Mary's Church]]<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 36"/> 
* Adelheid von der Lieth, titled prioress<ref name="Issendorff 1979 29"/>
* Gerdruth von Campe,<ref>Her name is also given in the modern standard German variant Gertrud.</ref> mentioned in 1629 as prioress<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/> and 1646<ref name="Issendorff 1979 38"/>

===Provosts===
* Albertus, mentioned 1255<ref name="Issendorff 1979 25"/>
* Bertold, mentioned 1&nbsp;May 1287, 8&nbsp;September 1303<ref name="Issendorff 1979 25"/>
* John of Bielefeld, mentioned in 1330, 1343<ref name="Issendorff 1979 26"/> 
* Wasmot of the Kind family based in [[Kranenburg, Lower Saxony|Kranenburg upon Oste]], mentioned in 1375, 1379<ref name="Issendorff 1979 26"/>
* Heinrich von Osten, mentioned in 1433<ref name="Issendorff 1979 26"/> 
* Johannes Kroch/Johann van Kroge, mentioned in 1498<ref name="Issendorff 1979 27"/>
* Johann/Martin Reyff, mentioned in 1528<ref name="Issendorff 1979 27"/>
* Reinhard von Bäuligh/Buligh, mentioned in 1539, 1543<ref name="Issendorff 1979 27"/>
* Franz von der Lieth, per pro for one year in 1548<ref name="Issendorff 1979 27"/>
* Engelbert Gripenstroet/Griepenstroth, since 1550,<ref>Prince-Archbishop Christopher ''the Spendthrift'' promoted Gripenstroet's election as provost in order to compensate him for outstanding claims ([[:de:Lübische Mark|Lübeck Mark (Mk lub)]] 783) against Christopher accumulated in his prior office as Rentmeister (prince-archiepiscopal treasurer), cf. Karl Schleif, ''Regierung und Verwaltung des Erzstifts Bremen'', Hamburg: no publ., 1972, (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vol. 1), pp. 114 and 197, also Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 1968. No ISBN.</ref> mentioned in 1557<ref name="Issendorff 1979 27"/>
* Segebade von der Hude, mentioned in 1559, 1562, 1571<ref name="Issendorff 1979 28"/>
* Otto von der Hude (died in 1590), inaugurated into office in 1571, mentioned also in 1572, 1583, 1584, and 1587<ref name="Issendorff 1979 28seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 28seq. No ISBN.</ref>
* Franz Marschalck (von Bachtenbrock; died on 18/28 June 1638<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup>), 1590/1591–1630, and again 1632 to 1638,<ref>Karl Schleif, ''Regierung und Verwaltung des Erzstifts Bremen'', Hamburg: no publ., 1972, (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vol. 1), p.&nbsp;218, also Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 1968. No ISBN.</ref> mentioned in 1591,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 29"/> 1629<ref name="Issendorff 1979 31"/> in 1630.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 24"/><ref name="Issendorff 1979 39"/>
*Matthias Kalkhoven, usurped position serving as provost between August 1630 and April 1632 
**Erich Raschke as administrator, appointed by Kalkhoven<ref name="Nistal 2008 123/126"/>
* Franz Marschalck, restituted to provostship 
* Caspar Schulte, 1638 to 1646 (likely)<ref name="Issendorff 1979 39"/> 
* Detlev von der Kuhla, until the secularisation in 1647<ref name="Issendorff 1979 39"/>
* Daniel [von] Arensen,<ref>The Arensens were nobilitated in 1651.</ref> not elected but appointed by Count Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt<ref name="Issendorff 1979 40"/>
**Johann Friedrich [von] Arensen, as of 1650 superintendent per pro for his warfaring brother Daniel

===Vögte / (ad)vocates===
The [[Advocatus|(ad)vocates]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Vogt/Vögte}}), exerted military protection,<ref name="Issendorff 1979 25"/> managed the [[Folwark|Vorwerke]], and exercised police functions in the convent's jurisdictions.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/> Thus they had to prevent farmers from poaching, pasturing on nunnery's land, forbidden lumbering and peat-cutting and to pursue culprits, furthermore they collected the dues and leases.<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 34"/>
* Adolph Bremer, after the Thirty Years' War<ref name="Issendorff 1979 30">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, p.&nbsp;30. No ISBN.</ref>

===Amtleute / bailiffs===
The Amt Himmelpforten was presided over by the [[Amtmann]] (pl. Amtleute; bailiff), later also granted other titles such as [[Drots|Drost]] (bailiff), Oberamtmann (superior bailiff) or Kreishauptmann (district captain). The list follows Georg von Issendorff.<ref name="Issendorff 1979 115seq">Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979, pp. 115seq. No ISBN.</ref>
*Transition from convent to seignorial estate
**since 1658: Erich Evert Gröning, Amt scribe,<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 57"/> before Gröning had been the convent scribe
** before 1663–1666: Franz Gröning, son of the former, administrator of the Himmelpforten jurisdiction, appointed by Count Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt
*1666–1668: Heinrich Gröning, brother of the former 
*1668–1677: Michael Riedell, deposed by occupying Lunenburg-Celle
*1677–1680: Albertus Hartmann, appointed by occupying Lunenburg-Celle
*1680–1682: Samuel Friedrich Riedell, son of Michael Riedell, appointed on 4/14 February 1680<sup>O.S./N.S.</sup> by Count Gustaf Mauritz Lewenhaupt/Löwenhaupt, deposed by the general government of Swedish Bremen-Verden in early summer
*1682–1705: Lotharius Feindt (1644–9 April 1705)
*1705–1712: {{Interlanguage link|Johann von Leutschberg|nds}}, deposed by the Danish occupiers
*1712–1752: {{Interlanguage link|Ernst Friedrich Pflueg|nds}} (4 January 1678 – 11 April 1754)
*1752–1760: {{Interlanguage link|Johann Hermann Meyer|nds}} (1706–21 September 1760)
*1761–1767: Diedrich Bremer (1712–13 August 1767), titled drost 
*1768–1779: Heinrich Philip Tiling (1706–13 August 1779) 
*1780–1793: {{Interlanguage link|Heinrich Wilhelm Rautenberg|nds}} (1718–?), titled Oberamtmann (superior bailiff)
*1793–1810: {{Interlanguage link|Johann Friedrich Keyßler|nds}} (2 March 1734 – 14 March 1810)
*1810–1811: Westphalian annexation, area formed part of the ''Canton of Stade and Himmelpforten'' 
*1811–1813: French annexation, area formed ''Canton de Himmelpforten'' 
**1811–1813: Johann Friedrich Meyer, titled Canton's maire<ref name="Schulz-Hauschildt 1990 67">Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten – Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990, p.&nbsp;67. No ISBN.</ref>
*1814–1818: Claus Carl Eberhard [[von der Decken family|von der Decken]] (1780–2 October 1818<ref>Son of Minister {{Interlanguage link|Claus von der Decken (minister)|de|3=Claus von der Decken|lt=Claus von der Decken}}.</ref>), titled drost 
*1818–1836: {{Interlanguage link|Carl August Diedrich von Goeben|nds}} (1781–?), titled drost, transferred to Osterholz 
*1836–1849: {{Interlanguage link|Eduard August Reinbold|nds}} (9 July 1779 – 8 June 1849), titled Oberamtmann
*1849–1867: {{Interlanguage link|Friedrich Christian von Marschalck|nds|3=Friedrich Christian Marschalck von Bachtenbrock}}, deposed by annexing Prussia 
*1867–1878: {{Interlanguage link|Heinrich Alfred Reinick|nds|lt=Heinrich Reinick}} (8 July 1836–?), titled Kreishauptmann, before Landrat per pro in [[Malmedy]]
*1878–1885: {{Interlanguage link|Adolf Goetze|de|lt=Nikolaus Caspar Adolf Goetze}}, titled Kreishauptmann

==References==
*Elke Freifrau von Boeselager, „Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp.&nbsp;321–388. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.
* Konrad Elmshäuser, „Die Erzbischöfe als Landesherren“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp.&nbsp;159–194. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.
* Beate-Christine Fiedler, „Bremen und Verden als schwedische Provinz (1633/45–1712)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp.&nbsp;173–253. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.
* Sabine Graf, „Die vier katholischen Klöster Harsefeld, Altkloster, Neukloster und Zeven im evangelischen Erzstift Bremen“, in: ''Stader Jahrbuch'', N.F. 91/92 (2001/2002), pp.&nbsp;51–78.
* Adolf E. Hofmeister, „Adel, Bauern und Stände“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp.&nbsp;195–240. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.
* Adolf E. Hofmeister, ''Besiedlung und Verfassung der Stader Elbmarschen im Mittelalter'': 2 parts, Hildesheim: Lax, 1979-1981, (=Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Historische Landesforschung der Universität Göttingen; vols. 12 and 14), part I: 'Die Stader Elbmarschen vor der Kolonisation des 12. Jahrhunderts' (1979), {{ISBN|3-7848-3642-9}}, part II: 'Die Hollerkolonisation und die Landesgemeinden Land Kehdingen und Altes Land' (1981), {{ISBN|3-7848-3644-5}}
* Klaus Isensee, ''Die Region Stade in westfälisch-französischer Zeit 1810–1813: Studien zum napoleonischen Herrschaftssystem unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Stadt Stade und des Fleckens Harsefeld'', Stade: Stader Geschichts- und Heimatverein, 2003, simultaneously: Hanover, Univ., Diss., 1991, (=Einzelschriften des Stader Geschichts- und Heimatvereins; vol.&nbsp;33). No ISBN.
* Georg von Issendorff, ''Kloster und Amt Himmelpforten. Nach Akten und Urkunden dargestellt'', reprint of the edition by "Stader Archiv", 1911/1913, extended by Clemens Förster, Stade and Buxtehude: Krause, 1979. No ISBN.
* Peter von Kobbe, ''Geschichte und Landesbeschreibung der Herzogthümer Bremen und Verden'': 2 vols., Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht, 1824. No ISBN.
* {{de-ADB|14|183|185|Johann III. (Erzbischof von Bremen)|Karl Ernst Hermann Krause|ADB:Johann III. (Erzbischof von Bremen)}}
* Landkreis Stade / Archäologische Denkmalpflege and Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten, ''Zeugen der Geschichte in Himmelpforten. Ein Spaziergang durch die Vergangenheit der Gemeinde'', Heimat- und Schulmuseum Himmelpforten (ed.), Stade: Seidel, 2006, section&nbsp;2
* Matthias Nistal, „Die Zeit der Reformation und der Gegenreformation und die Anfänge des Dreißigjährigen Krieges (1511–1632)“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;III: pp.&nbsp;1–158. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}.
* Heinz-Joachim Schulze, „Himmelpforten“ (article), in: ''Germania Benedictina'': 12 vols., vol.&nbsp;XII: 'Norddeutschland: Die Männer- und Frauenklöster der Zisterzienser in Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg' (1994), Ulrich Faust (compil.), pp.&nbsp;148–167.
* {{NDB|10|480|481|Johann III. Rode|Heinz-Joachim Schulze}}
* Silvia Schulz-Hauschildt, ''Himmelpforten&nbsp;– Eine Chronik'', Gemeinde Himmelpforten municipality (ed.), Stade: Hansa-Druck Stelzer, 1990. No ISBN. 
* Michael Schütz, „Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode“, in: ''Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser'': 3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.) on behalf of the Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol.&nbsp;I 'Vor- und Frühgeschichte' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-7-5}}), vol.&nbsp;II 'Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)' (1995; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}), vol.&nbsp;III 'Neuzeit' (2008; {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-9-9}}), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehemaligen Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol.&nbsp;II: pp.&nbsp;263–278. {{ISBN|978-3-9801919-8-2}}.

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Himmelpforten Convent}}
* [http://www.ostechronik.de/Das_Kloster_Porta_Coeli/das_kloster_porta_coeli.html „Das Kloster Porta Coeli: Historienspektakel in Brobergen an der Oste anläßlich des 750-jährigen Jubiläums der Gründung des Klosters Porta Coeli“] (reenactment of the nuns move from Rahden to Himmelpforten, 1 May 2005), on: [http://www.ostechronik.de/ ''Die Oste, der stille Fluß''], retrieved on 10 September 2014.

==Notes==
{{reflist|33em}}

[[Category:Himmelpforten|Convent]]
[[Category:1250s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1330]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 1330s]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 1250s]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Stade (district)]]
[[Category:1647 disestablishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Monasteries in Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:Cistercian nunneries in Germany]]
[[Category:Lutheran women's convents]]
[[Category:Convents in Germany]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Germany]]
[[Category:Bremen-Verden]]
[[Category:1250 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1739]]