Johann I. (Bilstein)

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Johann I von Bilstein († April 8, 1310 ) was a nobleman and owner of the so-called Land of Bilstein and the associated area as well as Land Marshal of Westphalia .

Live and act

Johann was the son of Dietrich II von Bilstein and his wife Mechthild. Around 1255, Johann succeeded his father as Herr von Bilstein. At this point he was already married. In a not entirely clear way, he was in a family relationship with Count Ludwig von Arnsberg .

Around 1282 Johann was appointed by Archbishop Siegfried of Cologne in his capacity as Duke of Westphalia Land Marshal of Westphalia and thus the Archbishop's representative in this area. He supported the archbishop in acquiring and later pledging the town of Holzminden . He also appeared in 1287 together with Ludwig von Arnsberg as a mediator in a dispute between the Himmelpforten monastery and Konrad von Ense. Overall, he had a balancing effect between the archbishop and the Westphalian aristocrats threatened by him and contributed to the restoration of numerous castles and cities destroyed by feuds.

In gratitude for his services, the archbishop procured later sons of Johann I canon positions at Cologne Cathedral and in St. Gereon . In 1290 Johann laid down the dignity of land marshal. When in 1298 the Archdiocese of Cologne , the Diocese of Münster , the County of Mark and the cities of Dortmund , Münster and Soest decided on a five-year Westphalian state peace , Johann was given the chairmanship of a special supervisory body (conservatores). He also served the Archbishops of Cologne as a witness for important documents.

Johann sold the Bilstein share in Waldenburg to Hunold von Plettenberg . He also sold Bilstein Castle to the Landgrave of Hesse in 1293 and took it from him as a fief . However, only limited rights were thereby given up. The rulership rights over the Land of Bilstein were not connected with this anyway.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Johann Suibert Seibertz: Diplomatic family history of the dynasts and lords in the Duchy of Westphalia. Arnsberg, 1855. p. 26

literature

personal data
SURNAME Johann I.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johann I of Bilstein
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Nobleman of Bilstein and Land Marshal of Westphalia
DATE OF BIRTH 13th Century
DATE OF DEATH April 8, 1310