Nikolaus von Riesenburg

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Coat of arms Nikolaus von Riesenburg, Bishop of Constance (1383-1387)

Nikolaus von Riesenburg (Czech: Mikuláš z Riesenburka ; † June 6, 1397 Burg Mürau ) was Bishop of Constance and Bishop of Olomouc .

Life

Since Nikolaus was a cleric of the diocese of Pomesania , it is assumed that he came from Riesenburg in West Prussia . He was first mentioned in 1363 as a notary to the Archbishop of Magdeburg , Dietrich von Portitz . From 1371 he was employed in the chancellery of Emperor Charles IV , from 1374 as a protonotary in the succession of Johannes von Neumarkt . After the death of Charles IV, he also held a court position with his son King Wenceslaus . Due to his influential position, he obtained numerous benefices , including being provost in Kemberg .

Probably through the influence of King Wenceslas, Pope Urban VI. during the lifetime of Bishop Heinrich III. from Brandis the diocese of Constance to Nikolaus von Riesenburg. Although the Konstanz cathedral chapter elected his nephew Mangold von Brandis as his successor after Heinrich's death , Nikolaus was introduced to the office of bishop and received enthusiastically on June 14, 1384 by the city of Konstanz, to whom he confirmed its freedoms and privileges upon arrival. Mangold's sudden death in 1385 strengthened Nikolaus' position.

The promise of the imperial privileges for the bishopric of Constance by King Wenzel in 1386 meant that the promises made to the city of Constance were curtailed. Although Nicholas was still trying to reorganize the diocese economically, he also pursued a transfer to Olomouc , which was given to him by Pope Urban VI. was granted in April 1387.

In Olomouc Nikolaus von Riesenburg had to assert himself against Johannes X. Soběslav , who had also tried to get the diocese.

During his tenure, the Augustinian monasteries were founded in Fulnek (1389) and Prossnitz (1391), as well as the “Vallis Josaphat” Charterhouse in Dolein, which was approved under Bishop Peter Jelito in 1388 . At the same time, due to the difficult economic conditions, numerous properties had to be pledged: Melitz Castle with the town of Wischau and other villages, Mürau Castle and the Lords of Blansk , Wallachisch Meseritsch and Huckenwald .

The spreading robber baronage had to be fought by the bishop and his vassals. In 1389 Nikolaus reached an agreement with the Silesian princes on the punishment of the robbers and later also concluded a corresponding agreement with the Margrave Jobst of Moravia . Since religious life in the diocese was endangered by the increase in heresies , Nicholas asked the Pope for permission to allow Waldensians to return to the church.

In the episcopal chancellery, Nikolaus arranged the creation and maintenance of registers. In 1395 he bought a house in Prague for himself and his successors, since he continued to work as bishop for the royal chancellery and the royal court. He died in Mürau Castle and was buried in the Olomouc Cathedral.

literature

predecessor Office successor
Swiss chard from Brandis Bishop of Constance
1383–1387 		Heinrich von Bayler
John X. Sobeslav Bishop of Olomouc
1387–1397 		John XI. Mráz
personal data
SURNAME Nikolaus von Riesenburg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mikuláš z Riesenburka
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bishop of Olomouc
DATE OF BIRTH 14th Century
DATE OF DEATH June 6, 1397
Place of death Mürau Castle