The “Free secular Imperial abbey of Quedlinburg”, Kaiserlich freie weltliche Reichsstift Quedlinburg was founded in 936 by Otto I at the request of his mother, who was later canonised as Saint Mathilda.
This community of secular canonesses Stiftsdamen, unmarried daughters of the greater nobility and royalty leading a godly life, became one of the scholastic centers of Europe.
The daughter of Otto I and his second wife became the first Princess Abbess of Quedlinburg. As head of an Imperial Abbey, the abbess had a seat and voice at the Imperial Diet.
During the Reformation the abbey became Protestant.
Napoleon invaded in 1802 and disbanded the Abbey.