Notger (930 - 1008) bishop (972 - 1008) and first Prince-bishop (985 - 1008) of Liege.

Originating in a noble family of Souabe. He is educated with the abbey of Saint-Gall in Suisse.

He is called with the episcopal throne of Liege by the Empereur Otton II in 972.

In 980, it receives from Otton II a privilege of general immunity “ which makes of the bishop, under the direct authority of the king, only and single Master of its grounds and its possessions: no royal civil servant - in other words no count - has the right to penetrate in these grounds " immunisées" to exert justice there, to perceive taxes or to raise troops ”. As of this moment, the bishop becomes count, or prince, in his territory. He becomes Prince-bishop and the State inhabitant of Li2ege a ecclesiastical principality.

In 985, the empress Théphano - who then exerts the power in the place of her young person wire, Otton III - to Notger the totality of the county of Huy yields.

Rich person and powerful, the bishop is in measurement, now, to launch out in a policy of " large travaux". The city of Liege is transformed into building site and quickly becomes a city worthy of the prince-bishop who directs it. It developed urban fabric of the city, its fortifications, the trade and teaching. Under its reign, the town of Liege is sometimes called “Athens of North”.

Liege became at the 10th century, the capital of powerful a episcopal principality, thanks to the action of the bishops Éracle, Notger and Wazon. Its schools were famous until the 12th century. Seven Collégiale S rise then in the city (Saint-Pierre, Holy-Cross, Saint-Paul, Midsummer's Day, Saint-Denis, Saint Martin's day, St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre) in addition to the cathedral where holy Lambert is buried. Two Abbaye S bénédictines are added to it: Saint-Jacob and the St. Lawrence. All these religious buildings form like a crown of churches around the cathedral, epicentre religious and political of the diocese, heart of the city of Lambert saint.

Notger surrounds Liege of a solid wall and to make build a new episcopal palate, symbol of its religious and political power.

Notger dies on April 10th, 1008. It is buried in the Collégiale Midsummer's Day of Liege.

Quotation

See too

• History of the Principality of Liege

• List of the prince-bishops of Liege
• Predecessor: Eracle
• Successor: Balderic II

Reference