Johann VIII von Heinsberg

Johann VIII von Heinsberg (* around 1396; † on the night of October 18-19, 1459 in Kuringen , now Hasselt) was Bishop of Liège from 1419 to November 22, 1455. The son of John II, Lord of Heinsberg , and Margarethe von Gennep were buried in the crypt under the high grave of the Lords of Heinsberg in St. Gangolf (Heinsberg) .

Life

Liège coins with the stamp and coat of arms of Johann von Heinsberg

Johann studied in Cologne in 1411. At the time he was already provost at the Marienstift in Aachen and at the St. Servatiusstift in Maastricht and archdeacon of Hasbania . On June 16, 1419, at the age of 23, he was unanimously elected bishop by the Liège cathedral chapter . In December of that year he made a solemn entry into Liège. On March 17, 1420, he was ordained bishop by Konrad von Arnsberg . On June 21, 1420, Johann was enfeoffed with secular rule over his prince-bishopric . In 1420 he reinstated a control court that had existed since 1343 and was later abolished. It negotiated complaints against unjustified actions by the episcopal officials.

In 1422 the Principality of Liège took part in the Bohemian campaign against the Hussites . Representatives of the bishop took part in the provincial synod in Cologne in 1423. Johann tried to enforce the resolutions passed there regarding ecclesiastical discipline in the diocese , which did not fully succeed.

In 1438 the bishop temporarily took over the administration of the Archdiocese of Trier . In 1444 Johann went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land , but because of the unsafe situation he turned back in Crete . A year later he convened a diocesan synod in Liège. The resolutions passed here formed the basis of the Liège diocesan statutes. However, all in all, John's attempts to renew the ecclesiastical spirit were not very successful.

Johann established close ties to the Burgundian court, which gradually became politically dependent. Because of these contacts, it was suspected that Liège might lose its independence. As a result, there were uprisings in Liège in 1431, but these were suppressed. Ultimately, this reference to the Duchy of Burgundy was also the reason for the forced resignation of Johann von Heinsberg as Bishop of Liège. Duke Philip III the good of Burgundy asked Johann for a position at the St. Lambert chapter in Liège for his nephew Louis de Bourbon . The cathedral chapter opposed this request. When John VIII wanted to get in touch with King Charles VII of France , Burgundy reached through pressure and threats that its own cathedral chapter forced its bishop to resign. Envoys were sent to Rome to obtain the removal of John from the Pope. After a long hesitation he accepted the abdication after Philip the Good had promised to lead a crusade against the Turks.

Johann withdrew to his Heinsberg possessions. From today's perspective, he went down in history as a peace-loving ruler of the prince diocese who tried to find a balance. However, contemporary reports lamented his love of ostentation and amusement.

In 1422 Johann von Heinsberg had received the castles, towns and countries Millen, Vucht ( Waldfeucht ) and Gangelt from his father for lifelong usufruct. In 1445, Duke Philip of Burgundy confirmed this ownership, "as it was negotiated with Johann II von Heinsberg in 1422". After the death of the last Heinsberger Men 1448 Johann took over as guardian of his underage nieces and heiresses government affairs of the government and joined in the summer of first documented as Mr. von Heinsberg, Millen and stone. The former bishop went down in history as the last ruling lord of Heinsberg.

Web links

• Entry on Johann VIII von Heinsberg on catholic-hierarchy.org

Individual evidence

1. ^ Paul Clemen (ed.), Karl Franck-Oberaspach, Edmund Renard (editor): The art monuments of the Rhine province. 8th volume, III: The art monuments of the Heinsberg district. L. Schwann, Düsseldorf 1906, p. 47 ff.

predecessor	Office	successor
John VII of Wallenrode	Bishop of Liège 1419–1455	Louis de Bourbon