Johann von Pfalz-Simmern

Johann von Pfalz-Simmern (* around 1429; † December 13, 1475 at Giebichenstein Castle ) was Bishop of Münster and Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1464 to 1475 .

Life

He was born the son of Count Palatine Stefan von Pfalz-Simmern-Zweibrücken , studied in Rome and Bologna and in 1458 became Bishop of Münster . After the death of Friedrich III. von Beichlingen he was elected unanimously by the Magdeburg Cathedral Chapter on December 13, 1464 as his successor. Since he had incurred debts in Münster , attempts were made to tie him to Münster, so that he could not take up his post as Archbishop of Magdeburg until the spring of 1466 . There he was paid homage, while the actual archbishopric in Halle (Saale) voted against him.

On June 18, 1465, John received the confirmation bull and the pallium from Pope Paul II. From then on he was formally Archbishop of Magdeburg. His arrival in Magdeburg was delayed until the Saturday before the week of the Cross (May 10, 1466). The next day he received homage from the council and citizens of Magdeburg.

However, on July 9, 1467 he was able to make a settlement with the city of Halle for the payment of 3,000 Rhenish guilders. He was then paid homage to him on July 17th in Halle. In order to expand the influence of the archbishopric, he acquired various properties such as in Bernburg (Saale) , Sandersleben , Gröbzig , Wormsdorf , Hohenerxleben , Gänsefurth and Jerichow . He also tried to ensure peaceful intercourse in his archdiocese and his neighbors. In 1471 he took part in the Nuremberg Peace of Nations, fought robber barons and mediated between the Hanseatic cities and Brandenburg. He also granted his cities belonging to the archbishopric further freedoms and thus developed them.

On November 7, 1467, Archbishop Johann von Pfalz-Simmern was lying with the citizens of Calvörde in front of Calvörde Castle to punish Friedrich and Bernd von Alvensleben for robbing the streets of Calvörde and robbing Breslau merchants. The Brunswick Duke Heinrich der Friedsame von Brunswick set out to punish the robbers.

On December 13, 1475, the same day on which he was elected archbishop eleven years ago, Johann von Pfalz-Simmern died at Giebichenstein Castle and, according to his wishes, was buried in the Magdeburg Cathedral next to his immediate predecessor Friedrich von Beichlingen. His tombstone has been preserved to this day.

literature

• Karl Janicke:  Johann (Bishop of Munster) . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 14, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1881, p. 233 f.
• Gustav Hertel / Friedrich Hülße: History of the City of Magdeburg, Magdeburg 1885.

predecessor	Office	successor
Friedrich III. from Beichlingen	Archbishop of Magdeburg 1466–1475	Ernst II of Saxony
controversial - official: Heinrich II von Moers	Bishop of Münster 1458–1466	Henry III. from Schwarzburg