Konrad von dem Eichhorn († 1437)

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Konrad von dem Eichhorn (also: Coin (Kuno) van dem Eychorn * 14th century; † February 4, 1437 in Aachen ) was alderman and mayor of the imperial city of Aachen .

Live and act

The son of the elder Konrad von dem Eichhorn and grandson of the former mayor Johannes von dem Eichhorn was admitted to the college of aldermen around 1400 and was elected mayor of the Free Imperial City of Aachen in the same year and in 1408 and 1414 . In addition, it is possible that he held further terms in office, as the sources for that time are incomplete. It is also certain that there was another Konrad von dem Eichhorn in the same period, possibly a cousin of the one discussed here, who did not belong to the college of lay judges and was listed as mayor in 1407.

In his first term of office, Konrad von dem Eichhorn, together with the city council, prohibited Ruprecht's official coronation as Roman-German king , which was planned for 1401 , because they did not agree to the removal of his predecessor Wenzel von Luxemburg . The coronation of Rupert was then in Cologne and without transfer of the imperial insignia instead and King Ruprecht occupied Aachen therefore with several years of outlawry . After this time, for traditional reasons, the coronation should be repeated in Aachen in 1407. Together with the former mayors Johann van den Berge and Johann Bertolf , Konrad von dem Eichhorn was therefore sent as head of delegation at the beginning of 1407 to negotiate with the imperial councils about the planned repetition of King Ruprecht's coronation ceremonies. After long negotiations, an agreement was finally reached on an amount of 8,000 guilders , to be paid in two installments, which the city of Aachen should contribute to the celebrations.

Konrad von dem Eichhorn, officially appointed Sendschöffen from 1413 , was sent several times as envoy of the city of Aachen to important consultations, including negotiations with the councilors of King Ruprecht in the context of the conflict over the Marbacher Bund . Furthermore, in 1414, he was a member of the delegation, together with the incumbent mayor Johann Ellerborn , who, as a representative of Aachen, observed the Council of Constance and reported on it to the city. In the course of this council he seems to have been awarded the accolade, because since then he has called himself a knight and added a crowned helmet to his aldermen's seal.

Similar to his father, who had bloodily suppressed an uprising by weavers and cloth walkers who had campaigned for better working conditions and pay as early as 1368 , the younger Konrad von dem Eichhorn was also relentless towards the craftsmen. When in the course of the year 1428 ten new Ambachten were founded in the field of handicrafts and came together to gain influence on legal reforms which they wanted to enforce again if necessary by force, Konrad von dem Eichhorn turned to befriended noblemen who called themselves Camouflaged, pilgrims secretly gave access to the city. On the night of October 2, they attacked the rebels, including the former foreman and brother of Konrad, Gottfried von dem Eichhorn, and slaughtered many of them. The ringleaders who had not escaped were captured and executed in the market the next day. The helpers left the city again after having been compensated with 10,000 guilders. The Ambachten were dissolved and the rebels had to swear lifelong loyalty to the council. It was to take until 1450 for the interests of the craft to be taken into account with the introduction of the Aachen gaff letter .

Konrad von dem Eichhorn was married to Mechtild Havermans for the first time. Since the marriage remained childless, they donated their not inconsiderable assets, including the value of their various properties and fiefs, including the Schleibacher Hof, to several foundations that were supposed to support various monasteries, poor houses and hospitals, or to help them establish new ones .

After the early death of his wife in 1424, Konrad von dem Eichhorn was married to Johanna van Breust, who gave birth to their son Karl. With this marriage he also acquired his father-in-law's land in Sichen-Sussen near Hasselt and from then on called himself Herr zu Sichen-Sussen. In order to support his wife and son, Konrad von dem Eichhorn also took back some donations for his foundations, including the Schleibacher Hof. In return, Konrad was enfeoffed with the Uersfeld estate in 1425 , which his son Karl received in 1446.

Konrad from the Eichhorn died on February 4 in 1437 and was in Regulierherrenkloster buried next to his first wife. A grave slab with an inscription is still preserved today.

Literature and Sources

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Political history of Alsdorf - Schleibacher Hof 1413–1423, p. 5 (PDF; 140 kB)
  2. ↑ Christian Quix: History of the Schönau and Uersfeld Palaces, Mayer, Aachen 1837, p. 25
  3. ↑ Entry in the inscription catalog Aachen DI 32, City of Aachen, No. 39 † (Helga Giersiepen)
personal data
SURNAME Eichhorn, Konrad von dem
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Eychorn, Coin van dem; Eychorn, Kuno of that
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German aldermen and mayor of the Free Imperial City of Aachen
DATE OF BIRTH 14th Century
DATE OF DEATH February 4, 1437
Place of death Aachen