Werner von Eppstein

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Werner von Eppstein (* around 1225; † April 2, 1284 in Aschaffenburg ) was Elector , Archbishop of Mainz and thus ex officio Arch Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire .

Life

The son of Gerhard II von Eppstein (later: Gerhard von Braubach) and Isalda von Wied , a daughter of Count Dietrich I von Wied and sister of the Archbishop of Trier and Elector Theoderich II von Wied , was prepared early for a spiritual career. He was trained at the Mainz Cathedral School and began his career as a clergyman in the city. In his ascent helped him the power of his family, which with Siegfried II and Siegfried III. - whose nephew Werner was - had already occupied the Mainz bishop's throne twice. Werner became provost of Mariagreden in 1248 , of St. Peter in 1249 and of St. Peter and Alexander in Aschaffenburg in 1257 . Above all, the last two positions were of importance, since an archdeaconate , at that time an upper administrative unit of a diocese , was connected to them.

Archbishop of Mainz

In October 1259, Werner von Eppstein was elected by the Mainz Cathedral Chapter to succeed Gerhard I of Dhaun . Since the first tendencies were already emerging, according to which the Pope demanded more influence in the appointment of the Archbishop of Mainz (since Peter von Aspelt (1306–1320) he claimed the power of investment for himself), Werner had to travel to Rome, where he met Pope Alexander IV. Was consecrated personally.

Territorial policy

Werner was accompanied on his Italian campaign by Count Rudolf von Habsburg , whom Werner was later able to enforce as the new king in the election of the king on September 29, 1273. Even at the time of the Italian invasion, the two had to defend themselves against the attacks of their worst adversary, King Ottokar II of Bohemia , ruler of Austria . This had already let the king's election of 1257 fail in order to be able to better enforce his territorial claims in the empire. Ottokar's aim was also to separate the dioceses of Olomouc and Prague from the Mainz church province. As the metropolitan of these dioceses, the Archbishop of Mainz held an important position of power in Bohemia: he was entitled to the right of coronation. In order not to give Ottokar's efforts any additional intensity, Werner crowned him and his wife on Christmas 1261.

In addition, Werner continued the feud over territorial claims of his predecessor against Heinrich I of Hesse and imposed the interdict on him . But he soon came to the conclusion that more far-reaching political goals could only be achieved with calm and security in the electoral state or in the archbishopric. Therefore, in the Langsdorf Treaty of 1263, he reached an agreement with Heinrich and also with other fiefdoms , because the unresolved question of the king still caused insecurity in the empire. As the elector, Werner von Eppstein aimed to clarify the issue and elect a new one. As a candidate, he initially favored the last offspring of the Staufer , the still underage Konradin . But these efforts failed because of the anti-Staufer pope. When Konradin was executed in Naples in 1268 , Werner committed himself to Richard of Cornwall . But Richard died in 1272, before the situation was finally back in order.

The royal election of 1273

When the next king was elected on October 1, 1273, the moment of the Archbishop of Mainz struck: Through clever negotiations, he achieved the election of Rudolf von Habsburg as the new king. This brought the Archbishop of Mainz, who was also the Imperial Arch Chancellor , back to the top position among Imperial politicians after the influence of his hapless predecessor had declined sharply.

On June 6, 1274, the new Pope Gregory X confirmed the election. Rudolf immediately tried to strengthen the central authority, which was viewed critically by the electors. Unlike others, however, Werner avoided open conflict with the king. He first started to consolidate the territorial power in his electoral state. From 1275 onwards he pursued a single-minded policy, which also included armed conflicts. This led to tension between the elector and the residents of Mainz and Erfurt . The dispute with Heinrich I of Hesse flared up again, and Werner again banned Heinrich from church in 1274. In the spring of 1280, however, his army was decisively defeated at Fritzlar by Heinrich's Landsturmheer, and he had to forego archiepiscopal broadcasting courts in landgrave cities. In 1281 Werner then joined the "Reichslandfrieden" initiated by Rudolf von Habsburg and ended the wrongdoing.

Werner von Eppstein died on April 2, 1284 in Aschaffenburg and was buried in Mainz Cathedral . He left orderly conditions in the electoral state and a church in Mainz that was strengthened in its importance.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ European Family Tables, by Detlev Schwennicke, New Series, Vol. XVII, Plate 24, accessed from the website Our Royal, Titled, Noble, and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins
  2. ^ Regina Schäfer: The Lords of Eppstein - Exercising power, administration and possession of a high nobility in the late Middle Ages, page 22 , 2000. ISBN 3-930221-08-X , EAN 9783930221080

literature

Web links

predecessor Office successor
Gerhard I of Dhaun Elector-Archbishop of Mainz
1259–1284 		Heinrich II of Isny
personal data
SURNAME Werner von Eppstein
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Archbishop of Mainz, Imperial Arch Chancellor
DATE OF BIRTH around 1225
DATE OF DEATH April 2, 1284
Place of death Aschaffenburg