Wroclaw Beer War

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The Wroclaw Beer War (Czech Pivní válka , also Kněžská valka ) was a conflict between the city of Wroclaw and the Bohemian sovereign King Wenceslaus IV on the one hand and the Dukes of Liegnitz and the Wroclaw Cathedral Chapter on the other. It lasted from Christmas 1380 to spring 1382.

history

The conflict was sparked by the fact that Duke Ruprecht I of Liegnitz sent his brother Heinrich VII a barrel of Schweidnitzer beer to Breslau at Christmas 1380 . Heinrich was a canon of Breslau and had held the position of diocese administrator there since 1379 . After the beer was confiscated by the Wroclaw Council while it was being transported through the city, as the importation of beer was not allowed, the cathedral chapter immediately imposed an interdict on the city. Although the consent of the Gnesen Metropolitan is said to have been given, the interdict did not find the approval of Pope Urban VI. In order to defuse the conflict, he deposed the administrator Heinrich VII in 1381 and transferred the office to the Lubusz Bishop Wenzel von Liegnitz , who was a brother of both the beer sender Ruprecht and the prevented recipient Heinrich. Nevertheless, the conflict escalated again in the summer of 1381 when King Wenceslaus came to Breslau personally to settle the dispute. Through his sovereign power, he demanded the immediate and unconditional repeal of the interdict. Since the cathedral chapter did not bow to the royal demand, the king left the surrounding chapter property to be plundered by his soldiers .

Without the consent of the Pope, who did not want to spoil the favor of the king, the cathedral chapter appointed the administrator Wenzel von Liegnitz as bishop, which enabled the king to withdraw. After the cathedral chapter and Wenzel von Liegnitz recognized the king as their patron and committed themselves to a monetary payment and to keep all locks open for the king, the conflict was resolved. Before that, King Wenceslas confirmed all previous privileges to the cathedral chapter. He also allowed the cathedral chapter to import beer in future for its own use.

Pope Urban VI. subsequently lifted the interdict and on April 13, 1382 transferred Wenzel from his previous place of activity Lebus to Breslau. He and the cathedral chapter swore the feudal oath to King Wenceslaus on January 6, 1383. For its part, the cathedral chapter was able to strengthen its influence with the king. In future, the cathedral chapter should be responsible for the administration of the diocese in the event of vacancies. In addition, a newly elected bishop had to take an oath to the chapter prior to his induction.

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