English abstract

As the «Silver Bible» the Codex Argenteus is kept in the University Library of Uppsala since 1669. The article addresses its «hidden history» during the Middle Ages and during the age of the Reformation. The thesis is as follows: In 1547 the C.a. was, for a short period, in the Benedictine Abbey St. Ludgeri Werden (near Essen, Westphalia). For approximately 750 years before that, it was located in St. Ludgeri Helmstedt (near Braunschweig, Lower Saxony). The principal argument is that in 1547, during the Reformation struggles the art treasures of St. Ludgeri/Helmstedt were remowed to St. Ludgeri/Werden, including «illustrious old writings» such as the C.a.. Several arguments support the thesis, e.g. the final page, discovered in 1970 in Speyer, includes the address «for Melanchthon», who himself was in Helmstedt in 1547. On the other hand, the Werden Abbey did not claim the C.a. as its property. – In the time of Charlemagne and Ansgar the possession of valuable liturgical books had been a conspicuous instrument for the mission to pagans in Northern Europe.

Keywords:Ansgar • Charlemagne • Erasmus (Saint) • Gothic • Ludger (Saint) • Luther family • Theoderic • ,War of the league of Schmalkalden • Werden (Abbey) • Wulfila (Ulfila)