Hilderich (Speyer)

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Hilderich , sometimes also called Childerich or Hulderich , lived around 600 and is the first tangible bishop of Speyer, with whom the contiguous list of bishops begins. In the count of the Speyer bishops, he is considered the second high shepherd.

Live and act

The first Bishop of Speyer known by name, Jesse, is only attested on a forged document of the Cologne Synod from the year 346, which, although the content incorrectly, presumably reproduces the names of the participants correctly. Then the traces of the bishops of Speyer are lost again for about 250 years, up to Hilderich.

Hilderich was a Franconian by name. Based on the date of its documentary mention, the birth can be put around the year 560. He is the first by name Speyer high shepherd after the (insecure) Jesse and a document of the Paris Council names him in 614. This synod was convened by the Frankish King Chlothar II as an imperial council and imperial assembly in his Paris residence. There were 75 dioceses from all parts of the empire represented, which indicates the importance of the assembly. The bishops met under the leadership of the Metropolitan of Lyon , and Hilderich von Speyer was among them. He signed the resolutions passed and a note on the deed specified: … ex civitate Spira Hildericus Episcopus. The finally published royal edict ( Edictum Chlotharii ) of October 18, 614 is a kind of basic law for the restoration of peace and order. It arranges the interaction with the greats of all partial kingdoms on a clearly defined legal basis. The legal situation of the dioceses was also reorganized. A passage concerning the occupation of orphaned episcopal seats reads, for example, that if a community has lost its shepherd, there is nothing more appropriate for a prince than to entrust the pastoral office to such men to whom the people grant through piety and good example, no less than through seriousness and severity guide know. In the south-west of Germany, dioceses that have not been mentioned for a long time, such as Speyer , Worms and Strasbourg , have come back into the light of history for the first time, and important bishops such as St. Arnulf of Metz and St. Arbogast of Strasbourg are at work here in his entourage . Church life in this area is being consolidated and flourishing, in which the Speyerer Sprengel under his bishop Hilderich - who helped draft the resolutions - certainly participated.

Hilderich was apparently also the one who was called to elect a new Constance pastor in 616 after Bishop Marzian had died there. The clergy and people wanted St. Gallus as bishop, but he refused the election and recommended the deacon John to his friend and student. This was elected and immediately consecrated by the bishops of Speyer and Basel who were present.

The uninterrupted list of Speyer bishops begins with Hilderich.

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predecessor Office successor
( Jesse ) Bishop of Speyer
around 614 		Athanasius
personal data
SURNAME Hilderich
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Childerich, Hulderich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bishop of Speyer
DATE OF BIRTH 6th century or 7th century
DATE OF DEATH after 614