Christoph von Zach

Half-length portrait of Bishop Christoph II von Zach, Seckau basilica , bishop's chapel (depiction around 1595)

Christoph von Zach (* 1474 in Kammern im Liesingtal ; † September 27, 1508 in Arnoldstein ) was Christoph II. Bishop of Seckau .

Christoph von Zach was born in Liesingtal, Styria. His father was a royal caretaker in chambers, his brother Andreas married into the family of Bishop Christoph von Trautmannsdorf and was court master of Seckau Bishop Matthias Scheit .

Through his father and brother, Christoph von Zach came into contact with the imperial court and Bishop Scheit at an early age. In 1492 he studied in Basel and from 1493 was a cleric in Salzburg and received the parish of Passail. From 1494 to 1501 he studied canon law in Vienna and received his doctorate. In 1495, after the resignation of Bishop Scheits, he received the vacated chaplaincy in Basel, in 1498 additionally from the Pope benefices of the Admont and St. Lambrecht monasteries, and in 1499 was appointed vicar .

On July 29, 1502, Scheit had to give up his bishopric because the Roman-German King and later Emperor Maximilian I wanted to enforce Zach as his successor. Zach was ordained a deacon and priest and was ordained a bishop in Rome on December 31, 1502. The rights of the Salzburg archbishops were passed over when they were appointed bishops.

Scheit was allowed to keep his title and his income, however, and he was responsible for the spiritual and secular administration of the diocese, and he was also granted the right of succession. So Zach could only work under him. In 1508 Zach traveled to Rome to represent his interests. When he returned, he fell ill in Thörl near Arnoldstein and died. He was buried in the Gurk Cathedral at his own request .

literature

• Erwin Gatz (ed.): The bishops of the Holy Roman Empire 1448 to 1648. a biographical encyclopedia . Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1996, ISBN 3-428-08422-5 .

predecessor	Office	successor
Matthias Scheit	Bishop of Seckau 1502–1508	Matthias Scheit