Albrecht II of Cuyk

Albrecht II of Cuyk , also Albert II of Cuyk (* around 1134; † February 2, 1200 ) was bishop of Liège from 1195 to 1200 . Only after considerable difficulties was he able to take over the office. During his time, the city of Liège was expanded and the first civil privileges were granted.

Life

He came from the Cuyk family and was the son of Hermann II. He entered the clergy and became archdeacon and provost of St. Paul in Liège .

After the murder of Albrecht I von Löwen and the banishment of Lothar von Hochstaden , the succession was difficult. There were several parties in the cathedral chapter . They were massively influenced by the regional nobility. So the Duke of Limburg tried to choose his son Simon of Limburg, who was then only 16 years old. The Duke of Brabant opposed this because he feared an expansion of power for the Limburgs. Initially, however, Simon von Limburg was elected.

This was a relative of the murdered Albert. To defuse the conflict, he received from Emperor Heinrich VI. also the loan from the regalia . The other party turned to the Pope against the election because the supporters of Lothar von Hochstadens had been excluded from the election. Albert was one of these critics. Like representatives of the other side, he went to Rome to represent their respective cause. His opponent began in 1193 with the leadership of the diocese and bishopric. The Pope declared Simon's election null and void and ordered a new election.

Because Liège was occupied by the Limburgers, the election had to take place in Namur . Albert von Cuyk was proposed at the suggestion of the Pope-appointed administrator Baldwin von Hainaut . Albert elected a very small number of canons. Again the Pope was called on as arbitrator.

Heavy fighting broke out between supporters on both sides, especially between Count Baldwin V of Hainaut and Heinrich von Brabant , until it was ended by a treaty.

As a result, Simon had lost his father's military support and therefore lost all de facto power. Both Albert and Simon traveled to Rome. The Pope Celestine III. chose Albert, but is said to have made Simon cardinal. However, this died soon afterwards. The matter was made even more complicated by the false report of Albert's death, as the canons now elected an Otto von Falconis-Monte (Valkenburg) as bishop. Both Otto and Albert appeared at the emperor in Worms and asked for an investiture . The candidate Otto was laughed at and Albert was enfeoffed.

In 1196 he was ordained bishop by Archbishop Adolf in Cologne. He tried to recoup the high expenses resulting from the long succession process through various means, which apparently also included simony .

The granting of great privileges in favor of the citizens of Liège in 1196 (1198) was of importance beyond his rule ; this was confirmed in 1208 by Philip of Swabia . After that, the citizens were no longer obliged to serve in the army, but only to defend the city. They should be subject to city jurisdiction first. Only when this court refused should the higher episcopal court be allowed to act. There were also numerous other rights.

In 1196 he supported the Duke of Brabant in his war against Dietrich VII of Holland . A year later, because of misconduct against a priest and the withholding of church property by Duchess Mathilde von Boulogne, who ruled Brabant in the absence of her husband, he occupied the duchy with an interdict . Through the mediation of the Bishop of Metz Bertram , the conflict, which threatened to escalate into armed conflict, was settled. In his time, the city of Liège was enlarged by buying adjacent meadows and Albert allowed the walled city to be expanded in 1198.

After the death of Henry VI. 1198 supported Albert Philipp von Schwaben. This was in contrast to most of the other princes in the region who supported Otto von Braunschweig . Otto himself came to Liège with the Archbishop of Cologne. Albert retired to Huy Castle. He agreed to a letter from numerous bishops and princes who recommended the election of Philip to the Pope in 1199.

Internally, he did little to improve church discipline among the high clergy of the diocese. After his death he was buried in the cathedral choir.

literature

• Anton Godeau: General Church History. Part 24. Augsburg 1785, pp. 127-131

Web links

• Short biographies of the Liège bishops (French)

Individual evidence

1. ^ H. Grote: Family Tables. Leipzig 1877, p. 279
2. ↑ Franklin Geselbracht: The procedure for the German episcopal elections of the 12th century in the second half. Dissertation, Leipzig 1905, p. 53
3. ↑ Franklin Geselbracht: The procedure for the German episcopal elections of the 12th century in the second half. Dissertation, Leipzig 1905, p. 54
4. ^ Karl Hegel: Cities and Guilds of the Germanic Peoples in the Middle Ages. Volume 1, Leipzig 1891, p. 218
5. ↑ La charte d'Albert de Cuyck (French)
6. ↑ Otto IV. (RI V) n.198c 1198 may 17 Leodii RI-online
7. ↑ Philipp (RI V) n.27 1199 May 28 (Spire) RI online

predecessor	Office	successor
Otto von Heinsberg	Bishop of Liège 1195–1200	Hugo II. Pierrepont