Johann Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg
Johann Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg (born February 18, 1658 in Lautlingen , † June 12, 1740 in Meßkirch ) was Prince-Bishop of Constance and Augsburg .
Life
childhood
Johann Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg was born on February 18, 1658 in Lautlingen (today a part of Albstadt ) as the fourth of five sons of Wolfgang Friedrich Schenk von Stauffenberg and Anna Barbara born. von Wernau , born. Six days later the child was baptized in the parish church of St. John, which is only a few meters away from the castle district at home.
The acting Prince-Bishop of the Diocese of Constance , Franz Johann Vogt von Altsummerau and Prassberg , who was distantly related, and the Abbess of the Buchau Monastery , Marie Franziska von Montfort (approx. 1660–1742, from 1693 Abbess of Buchau) acted as godparents .
canon
Johann Franz completed his studies in Dillingen on the Danube in 1675 , before receiving the canons' pledge in Constance in 1667 . The parents of the young canon died early, the father in 1676 and the mother in 1681 when the son was 23 years old. Thus he was still under the guardianship of his two uncles Hans Georg von Wernau and Franz Wilhelm von Stain.
In 1682 he received a further canon pledge in Augsburg . When Emperor Leopold I of the Habsburg dynasty raised the five Lautlinger Stauffenberg brothers and their cousins to hereditary barons on January 20, 1698, Johann Franz was referred to as cathedral singer in Constance.
Bishop of Constance
However, he had been coadjutor (deputy bishop with the right of succession in the event of a vacancy) of Bishop of Constance Marquard Rudolf von Rodt since 1694 . Bishop von Rodt died on June 10, 1704 and the question of new elections was very important not only for the cathedral chapter and the diocese of Constance, but also for the imperial government. The Spanish Wars of Succession were fought in the country and the French, allied with Bavaria, operated on the battlefield. Thus intrigues were to be expected. However, the further suggestions on the part of the emperor were no longer submitted; on July 21, 1704 at half past two o'clock the election was made. While the Stauffenberg tavern initially received 5, the Bishop of Augsburg 3 and the Praßberg candidate also 3 votes, Johann Franz Schenk Freiherr von Stauffenberg was unanimously elected at 5 a.m. The diocese of Constance , founded around 595, was the largest diocese in terms of area in the Holy Roman Empire. The elected bishop was also secular ruler over the smaller area of the Bishopric of Constance .
The new bishop knew that his office would not be easy to carry out. On July 24, 1704, he wrote an advertisement to Pope Clement XI. that the election, chaired by the nuncio, fell unanimously on him, "on my shoulders, who are certainly not up to such a burden".
The diocese was then in a desolate situation. The high debts of the predecessor weighed heavily, the capital in Switzerland, which at that time also belonged to the diocese, was not available. Diplomatic skills were necessary to consolidate the situation. The Bishop's Palace in Constance was in such a miserable condition that its predecessor had died in his “extremely bad castle” in Switzerland. There were also further difficulties that affected the imperial knighthood and the imperial government. For the prince-bishop, however, the interests of the high cathedral monastery and the diocese were absolutely identical to those of the imperial knighthood, from which he was born and with whom he remained connected through his four brothers throughout his life.
Bishop of Augsburg
Later, Johann Franz also tried to get the coadjutor title of Augsburg. The local bishop Alexander Sigmund von Pfalz-Neuburg , his rival in the bishopric election in 1704, was no longer able to manage the business due to a “persistent, serious ailment”. The severe mental illness made the choice of a coadjutor necessary. After Johann Franz had applied unsuccessfully for the same freestyle in Würzburg in 1712/13 , he was considered for this. But here too alliances were forged and intrigues were conducted in the background. On June 11, 1714, the Augsburg cathedral chapter finally elected him coadjutor by a two-thirds majority. The Elector Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz, brother of the sick bishop, also congratulated the election. The very "laid-back state" of his brother was well known to him. Emperor Charles VI. expressly approved the choice. The Prince of Löwenstein was allowed to express his congratulations.
During the reign of Johann Franz there were various quarrels, but above all complaints about Austrian officials. The reason for this was the inner turmoil of the diocese itself: many of its areas, on the one hand in Switzerland and on the other hand in Germany, fell victim to the Reformation , and in the German part there were many different areas of rule, the largest of which was the western Austrian regions . The episcopal city of Constance was in the Upper Austrian area, but not the residence of Meersburg . The bishop also lived for some time as abbot of the Reichenau monastery in Hegne Castle . The mutual accusations and legal issues led to complaints from the emperor and the pope. Diplomatic resentments were programmed.
A strong opposition to the coadjutor had also formed in the Augsburg cathedral chapter. In a scheming game, the aim was to bring the new administrator of the diocese to resignation as quickly as possible. The sick Bishop Alexander was partly declared healthy, the affairs of government, however, wanted to run the "gray eminences" in the background. Prince-Bishop Johann Franz had to endure all kinds of battles before he could finally take the Augsburg administration into his hands in 1737 after the death of his predecessor.
Johann Franz tried to be economical, but he could not completely pay off the debts of his predecessors, which had been accumulated over generations. During his term of office, the Stauffenberger also issued regulations governing the way of life of the clergy and in 1724 passed on to the cathedral chapter a wig ban for secular clergy, which the nuncio Cardinal Palucci in Lucerne had issued. He also worked hard to ban absurd theological writings. Hermann Baier wrote about the inner government of Johann Franz in 1927: “Unfortunately, his government, which was so blessed for the bishopric of Konstanz, has not received the recognition it deserves.” It can be said that he has not received this recognition to this day.
Old age and death
After he had long complained about health problems and the 82-year-old's ability to travel was restricted, one last business trip was supposed to bring him death. From Dillingen via Meersburg and Hegne she took him to Messkirch , where Prince Froben Ferdinand von Fürstenberg and his wife Marie Therese Countess von Sulz celebrated their golden wedding. After the solemn service, "as he entered the room, annoch in habitu episcopali" (in the bishop's habit), he died on June 12, 1740.
According to his orders, he was buried in the cathedral in Constance. His grave is under the floor at the north entrance. Above the portal is the epitaph with eight ancestral coats of arms and the Latin inscription: “Stand, wanderer, and read! Here rests the Venerable and High Lord, Mr. Johann Franz from the Barons Schenck von Stauffenberg, the Holy Roman Empire Prince and Bishop of Constance and Augsburg, who, to me, gracious Majesty, with wonderful cleverness, with a singular mildness frightened off the wolves that attracted the lambs; that the church would be a pillar for a long time, he built the seminary that was to give her the pillars. He died in Meßkirch on June 12th, 1740 at the age of 82 on the wedding feast, so that you know that rest was due to those who had been under the greatest strain for the bride entrusted to him for 36 years. Go, wanderer, and mourn! "
One of the many paintings shows the Prince-Bishop in a black habit with the large pectoral. How exactly the picture is can be seen from the fact that when the grave was opened on February 12, 1946, this very cross, with large blue stones lined up closely together, came to light. At that time the stone paving of the minster was renewed. It turned out that the prince-bishop was buried in a very simple wooden and metal coffin without any jewelry. The skeleton was preserved. A blue stone also adorned the bishop's ring on the gold-adorned pontifical glove. A simple wooden staff served as the bishop's staff.
The historian of the Hochstift Konstanz Reinhard wrote in the 1970s that Johann Franz could be considered “one of the most capable and also most successful bishops”.
buildings
It is known of Johann Franz that he was committed to the proper furnishing of his parish churches. Numerous building projects supported and arranged by him are known and some buildings were allowed to adorn themselves with his coat of arms. Smaller village churches in particular enjoyed his support. The little church in Lautlingen also experienced his kindness. Destroyed in the Thirty Years War, it was built as a larger chapel by his parents. In 1725 the church was enlarged and a baroque tower was built to replace a roof turret. Only the financial support of his brother Johann Wilhelm and the prince-bishop himself could make this construction work possible for the small community.
His very special concern, however, was the establishment of a seminary . As early as 1714 he asked for contributions for this purpose. Later negotiations were also carried out with the city of Constance about a suitable site. After he wanted to build his new residence there too, an exchange of land was proposed, which the city council rejected. Both construction projects were then implemented in Meersburg.
Johann Franz was able to engage Father Christof Gessinger from the Georgenkloster Isny as a master builder . The Rhinelander, whose father is unknown, was an artist whose idiosyncratic temperament and great skills were known. In 1715, Father Gessinger became the prince-bishop's senior construction inspector in the dioceses of Constance and Augsburg with the appropriate salary. He was also employed at the family seat of the Prince-Bishop in Wilflingen (today the municipality of Langenenslingen ), where he completely rebuilt the old castle there and provided it with four corner towers.
In 1730 the construction of the seminary east of the New Palace began. The prince-bishop himself donated 5,600 guilders to this building project. A special taxation of the clergy in the diocese made it possible to raise a further 100,000 guilders. Christof Gessinger was able to draw up the plans. After many disputes about the idiosyncratic builder, the seminar building was completed in 1735. This seminar is the outstanding achievement of the prince-bishop for the formation of priests in his diocese.
The beginnings of the New Palace in Meersburg also go back to Johann Franz and his master builder Gessinger. The magnificent coat of arms still bears witness to this today. However, the construction was only continued by his successor Cardinal Schönborn. For this purpose, Gessinger's plans were revised and changed by Balthasar Neumann. The completion took place under Bishop Cardinal Franz Konrad von Rodt . Nevertheless, the loose basic shape of the building complex and its urban elegance goes back to Christof Gessinger.
family
An important factor in Johann Franz's life was the family. He emphasized cohesion and was always interested in maintaining the reputation. He appears again and again in inheritance negotiations and also took care of nephews and nieces in large relatives. When the family estates were divided among the five brothers in 1698, the canon of that time, together with the youngest brother Johann Friedrich, took over the dominions of Wilflingen and Egelfingen. As a result of his sense of family, one can also notice the fact that for years he renounced the income from these lordships in order to alleviate the debt burden of his younger brother, the Johanniter.
The brothers together bought the Geislingen (Zollernalbkreis) rule in 1697 and gave up the Wernau , which came from maternal inheritance, in 1708 Johann Albrecht sold the Dießen rule near Horb am Neckar and in 1716 he bought the Allodien von Eberstall . Preserving the bulk of goods for the family was a concern of the prince-bishop. The inheritance contract, which the five brothers signed on October 30, 1717 in Dillingen an der Donau , can be recognized in language and content as his work.
His will from 1734 also oozes family spirit. He left bequests for nephews and nieces, he donated the money for the seminar building to the diocese on the condition that the family should provide a cleric, his canon court in Würzburg was given to the nephew Franz Wilhelm and, in addition to other foundations, the churches in Lautlingen, Wilflingen were to be given and Rississen received 150 guilders each. This document shows that the thrifty prince-bishop was able to increase his personal wealth.
coat of arms
The coat of arms of the bishop shows a squared shield with a grafted point, covered with a heart shield. The silver heart shield, divided by a narrow red bar, above and below each a striding blue lion (Stauffenberg), in the first and fourth fields in silver a continuous red cross (1st diocese of Constance , 4th monastery of Reichenau ), the second and third Split field, red at the front, silver at the back ( Diocese of Augsburg ), in the grafted point in red two hands emerging from (silver?) Clouds, holding up a silver key with a double beard ( Öhningen monastery ).
literature
- Gerd Wunder: The Stauffenberg taverns. Müller & Gräff, Stuttgart 1972
- Archbishop's Archives Freiburg, Wolfgang Stetter, Archbishop Archives Council, July 29, 2005 by email
Web links
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Marquard Rudolf von Rodt |
Bishop of Constance 1704–1740 |
Damian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim |
| Alexander Sigmund of Pfalz-Neuburg |
Bishop of Augsburg 1737–1740 |
Joseph Ignaz Philipp of Hessen-Darmstadt |
Alexander Sigismund of the Palatinate | Johann Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg | Joseph Ignaz Philipp of Hessen-Darmstadt | Clemens Wenzeslaus of Saxony | Franz Friedrich von Sturmfeder (Vicar General) | Franz Karl Joseph Prince of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst | Franz Friedrich von Sturmfeder (Vicar General, 2nd) | Joseph Maria Freiherr von und zu Fraunberg | Ignaz Albert von Riegg | Johann Peter von Richarz | Michael von Deinlein | Pankratius of spelled | Petrus von Hötzl | Maximilian von Lingg | Joseph Kumpfmüller | Joseph Freundorfer | Josef Stimpfle | Viktor Josef Dammertz | Walter Mixa | Konrad Zdarsa | Bertram Meier
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Stauffenberg, Johann Franz Schenk von |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Prince-Bishop of Constance and Augsburg |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 18, 1658 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lautlingen |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 12, 1740 |
| Place of death | Messkirch |