Johann III. from Diest

Johann III. von Diest (nl. Jan III. van Diest ) († 1340 ) was the 49th bishop of Utrecht between 1322 and 1340 .

Family and early years

He came from the Brabant noble family Diest and was the son of Arnold V. Lord of Diest and Burgrave of Antwerp . Soon he entered the clergy, became canon and archdeacon and finally was provost in Cambrai . After the death of his father, he shared the inheritance with his brothers for a while and eventually became the main beneficiary. After all, he was the owner of the city and lordship of Diest and the burgrave of Antwerp.

Bishop of Utrecht

The internal disputes in the monastery of Utrecht benefited him for his ascent . There the opponents and those in favor of the increasing influence of the Counts of Holland fought each other . In 1322 the anti-Dutch party was able to prevail with the election of Jacob van Oudtshorn . However, the bishop died after a few months. The next choice fell with Jan van Bronkhorst again on an opponent of the Dutch. William III. von Holland , Reinald II. von Geldern and Johann III. von Brabant allied against him. It is due to their urging that Pope John XXII. Johann von Diest was appointed bishop of Utrecht against the will of the cathedral chapter . He was ordained a priest in 1327.

He was able to move into Utrecht under the military protection of Brabant and Holland. The real power, however, lay with the Dutch. In addition, the bishopric was in a catastrophic financial situation. After all, everything that was possible was pledged. In 1328 Johann had to put up with the fact that all income was given to Wilhelm III. von Holland, Reinald II von Geldern and other debtors fell. The bishop himself was left with an income of £ 2,000 a year. In 1331 the secular government of the bishopric was formally divided between Geldern and Holland. There was a vain uprising with the result that Johann had to recognize the suzerainty of Wilhelm and Reinald. In 1337 Johann founded the collegiate monastery in Amersfoort . After the death of Wilhelm III. his power in Utrecht passed to his son Wilhelm IV , who even appointed a governor. The bishop died shortly afterwards and was buried in the Utrecht Cathedral .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ General Encyclopedia of Sciences and Arts. Vol. 25 Leipzig, 1834 p. 82

literature

• Karl Theodor Wenzelburger:  Johann III. van Diest . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 14, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1881, p. 431.

predecessor	Office	successor
Jakob von Oudshoorn	Bishop of Utrecht 1322–1340	Nicola Capocci