Eberhard von Fürstenberg

Eberhard von Fürstenberg († 1127 ) was Prince-Bishop of Strasbourg between 1125 and 1127 under the rule of King Lothar III. and under the pontificate of Honorius II and Innocent II. The diocese of Strasbourg had three bishops from 1125 to 1127, who simultaneously and against each other registered a legitimate claim to the diocese: Kuno von Michelbach , Bruno von Haigerloch-Wiesneck and Eberhard. The second was able to reconcile with the Hohenstaufen ruler and after Eberhard's death occupy the bishopric again.

A short term

Eberhard von Fürstenberg was the canon of Strasbourg. In the turbulent context of the succession to the throne between Lothar III. and Friedrich II. he was appointed bishop instead of the controversial Bruno von Haigerloch-Wiesneck because he was a party for Lothar III. had taken.

Lothar III. came to Strasbourg as early as 1125 to celebrate Christmas there. The Archbishop of Mainz, Adalbert I von Saarbrücken , had from the beginning a hostile attitude towards the Bishop Bruno von Haigerloch-Wiesneck , who was portrayed as an intruder, and recommended that the Emperor remove the incumbent bishop and elect the benevolent Eberhard in his place died just two years later. Due to the very short term of office of Bishop Eberhard, historians and biographers have very little sources and information about the life and work of this bishop.

The Journal historique de l'Alsace mentions a shrewd prelate and strategist who, as a supporter of the Duke of Saxony Lothar III. in August 1125 against the Duke of Alsace Frederick II had to fight near Hochfelden , although his troops were outnumbered. It was mutually agreed that the fight would begin at the ringing of the noon bells. The bishop sent loyal ambassadors to the neighboring villages of Duntzenheim , Gougenheim , Willgottheim and Rohr to ring the bells at eleven o'clock and pretend it was noon. The episcopal troops attacked an hour earlier and met a ducal army that was still preparing for the battle. Rather, this story is one of the anecdotes that revolve around won battles. There is no evidence or exact war books from this period. What can also raise doubts is the similarity with the battle of Dunzenheim in 1131 between Bishop Gebhard von Urach and the same Friedrich II, where the latter again suffered a defeat.

literature

• Ludwig Gabriel Glöckler: History of the diocese of Strasbourg. Printed by Le Roux, Strasbourg 1879, 484 pages
• Henry Riegert: Le journal historique de l'Alsace. Editions L'ALSACE, Mulhouse 1980, tome 1, 4ème édition, 1995, 120 pages.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Riegert, p. 93
2. ^ Strasbourg: la ville au Moyen Age (Alsace). Chapter 2. Le Moyen Age: la ville épiscopale 1002-1334. Cape. 2.2. Strasbourg et la querelle des investitures - to be read online at (fr) [1] (last accessed on September 30, 2014). Excerpt: Aussi lorsque Henri V meurt en 1125 et que se querellent pour sa succession Frédéric de Hohenstaufen “le Borgne” et Lothaire III de Supplimbourg, les adversaires du Hohenstaufen chassent Brunon du siège épiscopal de Strasbourg. Est élu Eberhard chanoine de la cathédrale et partisan du nouvel empereur Lothaire (1123-1137). Eberhard Meurt en 1127.