Eberhard von Biburg

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Church window in the parish church of Liesing designed by Martin Häusle

Eberhard von Sittling and Biburg , and Eberhard I of Salzburg (* around 1085 in Sittling ; † 22. June 1164 in the Cistercian monastery of Rein ) was a famous during his lifetime and in many cases as a saint revered Salzburg archbishop in the 12th century, whose personal life was just as admired as his extraordinary talent for speech.

Eberhard's youth

Eberhard comes from the Bavarian noble family of Barons von Sittling and Biburg . Through his mother Bertha von Ratzenhofen he was related to Archbishop Konrad I , but also to the Salzburg counter-archbishop Berthold von Moosburg . Eberhard was first trained at the Bamberg Cathedral School, then studied in Paris , where he was able to acquire a profound and very varied knowledge, and was then first canon in Bamberg.

Eberhard's work until 1147

In 1125 Eberhard took his vows as a monk in the Hirsau Reformed Benedictine Abbey near Regensburg , in 1131 he became prior and in 1138 abbot in the Benedictine monastery of Biburg an der Abens, where he reorganized the monastery in line with the reform movement of Cluny . The ordination as abbot was carried out by Pope Innocent II personally. Even then, the general respect extended far beyond the narrow monastery area.

Eberhard as archbishop

In 1147, Eberhard, who was then 60 years old, was elected Archbishop of Salzburg. He was particularly benevolent and tried to improve the sometimes brutalized customs of the clergy. In addition to his eloquence, Eberhard had excellent diplomatic skills, which he used many times for the good of the State of Salzburg and its diocese. When the Admont Monastery fell victim to a fire in 1152, Eberhard made a significant contribution to the rapid reconstruction. In order to personally consecrate churches, chapels and altars, but also priests and monasteries, Eberhard never shied away from long and arduous journeys.

The historiographer Rahewin praises Archbishop Eberhard for his high level of education, his steadfastness in faith, his philanthropy and goodness, his generosity and, last but not least, his personal concern for the poor and the sick.

Eberhard as leader of the Alexandrines in the Roman-German Empire

In the investiture dispute between Pope Alexander III. and Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa , Eberhard clearly sided with the Pope, but in view of his extraordinary reputation remained a mediator also valued by the Emperor. In the clear position for Pope Alexander III. and against the anti-pope Viktor IV, who was loyal to the emperor , Eberhard went more and more to the limits of the possible and disregarded various strict demands of his emperor. Only his extraordinary reputation ultimately protected him from harsh imperial punitive measures.

Old age and death

In his old age he traveled to Styria again to settle a dispute. The Salzburg Leibnitz Castle was besieged by the Styrian ruler, Margrave Otakar , who wanted to avenge himself for the injustice done to him by the Leibnitz burgrave. Only tough negotiations made it possible for the Styrian besiegers to withdraw. On the way home he died in the Cistercian monastery in Rein. Eberhard von Biburg was buried in the Salzburg Cathedral . His crypt in the cathedral was uncovered in 1957 in the course of the cathedral excavations at that time.

literature

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Commons : Saint Eberhard of Salzburg  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Konrad I. von Abensberg Archbishop of Salzburg
1147 - 1164 		Konrad II of Babenberg
personal data
SURNAME Eberhard von Biburg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Eberhard von Sittling and Biburg
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Archbishop of Salzburg
DATE OF BIRTH around 1085
DATE OF DEATH June 22, 1164
Place of death Rein (Cistercian Abbey)