Adam of Ebrach

Who was Adam of Ebrach?

Adam of Ebrach was the first abbot of Ebrach Abbey in the area of Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany.

Adam, originating from the parish of Cologne, is first recorded when entering the Cistercian monastery of Morimond Abbey in Burgundy. In 1126 he led twelve monks to Franconia to settle the monastery of Ebrach, newly founded by king Conrad III, his wife Gertrud and various nobles.

Adam seems to have led the monastery with great success, so that a number of related monasteries were founded with his influence in Franconia, Styria and Lower Bavaria. Being close friends with Bernard of Clairvaux, he also had a major role in the mobilisation for the Second Crusade. He was generally well received at the court of Conrad III, near the pope and near Emperor Frederick I. The latter added him to his first delegation to Pope Eugenius III, referring to him as the man of my trust, in ecclesiastic and worldly things.