Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 4.djvu/873

 DIETHER

789

DIETRICH

published at Mainz in 1534. This work, repeatedly corrcrted, especially by Caspar Ulenberg (Cologne, 1(130) and the Jesuit theologians of Mainz (1(501), was (lest incd to become for the German people " Die Kath- olische Bibcl", a title bespeaking its excellence. Die- tcnljerger has been frequently charged with having purloined Luther's version. True, he used freely the New Testament of Eraser (15'J7), of whom Luther was wont to say that "he had ploughed with his heifers"; he used likewise other translations compiled in pre- Reformation times, and so did Luther. These facts may accoimt for many similarities; moreover, he was well actiuainted with the versions of Luther and of Leo of Jutla, and confessedly profited by them to im- prove his own. Besides these two important works, Dietenberger composed fifteen polemical tracts, treat- ing various subjects then much mooted: Mass, con- fession, vows, faith, etc.

W'EDKWER, Johannes Dietenberger, sein Leben und Wirken (Freiburg im Br.. 1888); 'WEDEWEHin Kirchentex., s.v.l Panzer, X'crsucJi einer kurzen Ge^ch. der riimischkathoL deutschen Bibet- iibersetzung (Nuremberg, 1781); Fritsche, Deutsche Bibeluber' seliungen ia Herzog's Real-Encyc. (2d ed.), Ill, 543.

Charles L. Sodvay.

Diether of Isenburg, Archbishop and Elector of Mainz, b. about 1412; d. 7 May, 1482, at Aschaffen- burg. He studied at the University of Erfurt, of which he became Rector in 14.34. At the age of six- teen he was already canon at the cathedral of Mainz and, somewhat later, held prebends in the cathedrals of Cologne and Trier. In 1442 he became provost in the collegiate churches of St. Victor and St. John in Mainz, and in 1453 custos of the cathedral chapter in the same city. In 1456, Diether aspired to the vacant See of Trier, probably attempting to gain votes through simony; but the m.ajority of the voters de- cided in favour of John of Baden. But after the death of Dietrich of Erbach, the .\rchbishop and Elector of Mainz (d. May, 1459), Diether's ambitious aspira- tions were realized. Probably through simony he was elected to this see on IS June, 1459, and entered upon his office without awaiting the approval either of pope or emperor. Pope Pius II was then holding a congress at Mantua with the object of influencing the princes of Europe to undertake a crusade against the Turks, and was greatly disappointed at the small num- ber of princes that appeared at the congress. Upon hearing that Diether did not intend to come to Man- tua, but had sent envoys to obtain the papal confirma- tion, he sent word to him that, if he desired the Bull of confirmation and the pallium, he would have to come to Mantua in person. By pleading sickness and lack of funds, Diether finally prevailed upon Pius II to send the Bull of confirmation r.nd the pallium, but only after promising under oath to appear personally before the papal court within a yi-ar and to pay the ann.ates, which amoimted to 20, .550 RhenLsh florins. When Diether kept neither of these promises, the Curia pun- ished him with minor excommunication. Angered at this act, he convened .' diet at Nuremberg in Febru- ary, 1461, at which he made a formal ai)pcal to a fu- ture general council, despite the fact that Pius II in his Bull"ExsecrabiIis" (18 Jan., 1460) had condemned such appeals as heretical. When all the efforts of the pope to bring about an amicable settlement were frustrated by the rebellious archbishop, the pope ex- communicated and deposed Diether in a Bull dated 21 August, 1461, and appointed Adolf of Nassau in his place. Diether tried to retain his see by arras, but was compelled to jneld to the superior forces of .^dolph of Nas,sau in October, 1463. After submitting to the new archbishop and apologizing to the papal pleni- potentiary, Pietro Ferrici, he was absolved from the sentence of excommunication. Upon the death of Adolf of Nassau, on 6 Sept., 1475, Diether w;i.s again elected archbishop of Mainz and received both papal and imperial approbation. His past misfortune had

made him a better man. He enforced strict ecclesias- tical discipline among the clergy, watched carefully over the integrity of faith, and worked strenuously for the advancement of commerce and education. At (he northern end of Mainz he erected the Martinsburg as an archicpiscopal residence, anil in 1477 founded the University of Mainz, which continued to exist until 1798.

Menzel, Diether von Isenburg (Erlangen, 1867): Annalen des Vereins jiir nassauische Alterthumskunde (Wie.sbaden), X and XII; Pastor, Geschichte der Piipste (2 ed., Freiburg. 1894), II. 122 sqq.. tr. Antrobus (London, 1894), III, 164 suq.; GuNDLACH, Hessm und die Maimer Stiftsfchdr, 1461-63 (Mar- burger Dissertation, 1898).

Michael Ott.

Dietrich von Nieheim (Niem), b. in the Diocese of Paderborn, between 1338 and 1340; d. at Maas- tricht, 22 March, 1418, a medieval German historian, best known for his contributions to the history of the Western Schism. He took his surname from the little town of Nieheim (in the Prussian district of Minden). Nothing is known about liis family, and but little about his life previous to his entry into the service of the papal Curia. He spent some time in Italy in the study of law, but never obtained the de- gree of Doctor. Under Urban V (1362-70) he came to Avignon, and obtained in the papal chancerj' the office of notary (notarius s. piihitii), to keep which he had to take orders, if he had not already taken them. When Gregory XI returned to Rome (1377) Dietrich accompanied him. LTrban VI conferred on him the lucrative and important office of ubbrevialor et scriptor in the papal chancery (see Abbrevi.\tors); this post he retained under succeeding popes. Boniface IX made him Bishop of Vcrden (July, 1395), but he never obtained possession of this Cierman bishopric; prob- ably, as Eubel suggests (Hierarchi.a catholica medii a-vi, I, 553), because Dietrich did not expedite with due promptness the documents of his nomination. In August, 1.399, another Bishop of Verden was nomin- ated, Konrad von Soltau; Dietrich remained as be- fore a papal abbreviator. In his writings Dietrich is silent about this Verden incident; in a manuscript of the archives of St. Peter at Rome Dr. Giiller has dis- covered twenty-six letters of the years 1398-99 which refer to Dietrich; when published they will probably cast more light on this period of his life (cf. Rcimische Quartalschrift, 1905, 82-83). About Easter, 1401, Dietrich was at Erfurt in Germany, where he matricu- lated at the university; in 1403 we find him again active at Rome as abbreviator. Towards the end of the fourteenth century Johann Peters of Dordrecht had founded at Rome a hospital for German pilgrims, known as Santa Maria dell' Anima, still in existence and united with the (Jennan national church at Rome (see Anima, Santa Maria dell'). Dietrich was an energetic promoter of the new foundation, to such an extent that after Peters he deserves to be considered its chief founder.

Meanwhile the Western Schism (q. v.), begun in 1378, was still dividing the Catholic world. As a member of the papal Curia, Dietrich was thoroughly informed concerning the origin and development of this unhai)py division, and was very active in an effort to clo.se the schism. Dissatisfied with the pro- ceedings of the two popes, Gregory XII (1406-15) at Rome, and Benedict XIII (1394-1417) at Avignon, he adhered to the Council of Pisa convoked (1409) by the cardinals. He took no part in the council itself, being then in Germany, but he worketl for the party of the council, recognized as legitimate the Pisan pope, Alexander V (1409-10), also his successor, John XXIII (1410-15), and entered their service. During these years his pen was ever active in the interest of ecclesiastical unity. He is certainly the author of the work known as "Nemus Unionis", in which he de- scribes the various ways (vice) for putting an end to the