Johann III. (Schluechtern)

Johann III. , actually: Johann Gils , († shortly after 1478) was abbot of the Schlüchtern monastery from 1457 to 1470 .

Count Philipp I von Hanau-Munzenberg , who was also Vogt of the monastery, exercised massive influence in his election in 1457. The abbot was probably elected by the convent - as was customary up to now - but he then had to confirm to the count that he had become abbot through his influence and that he was granted extensive control rights over the monastery. Amazingly, the diocesan bishop in Würzburg , Johann II. Von Brunn , raised no objections and confirmed Johann III. in his office. This procedure was part of the policy of the Counts of Hanau , who endeavored to integrate the monastery into their sovereignty.

Ten years later the monastery was in turmoil: the prior and the convent were in resolute opposition to their abbot, who was accused of wastefulness and worldly lifestyle. The dispute escalated: litigation took place in front of the curia , the count and bishop of Würzburg tried to arbitrate: in vain. Finally, Count Philip I deposed the abbot on October 22, 1470. The abbot was given a residence in Schlüchtern, but then went to another Benedictine monastery in 1471 . Because he did not want to pay for the legal costs incurred in Rome , both he and the monastery were excommunicated , a measure that was not lifted again until Christmas 1473.

literature

• Matthias Nistahl: Studies on the history of the Schlüchtern monastery in the Middle Ages (sources and research on Hessian history; 65). Hessian Historical Commission, Darmstadt 1986, ISBN 3-88443-154-4 , pp. 197f. (also dissertation, University of Marburg 1986)