Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 9.djvu/598

 MAnrZ 551 ICADTZ

bishop Richulf (787-813), who built the Monasteiy of never to elect an archbishop who would not take the

St. Alban (famous for its school), and esijeciallv Ka- same oath as Si^ried. Thus originated the election

banus Maurus (a. v., 847-56) deserve mention. Under capitulations, which were later used by the chapter to

Liutbert (863-89) the dienity of Archchancellor of the secure new rights and privileges from the canaidates

German Empire was nrst associated with Mainz, for the see. It was also under Siejgfried (1244) that

Hatto I (q. v., 891-913) exercised a great influence on the government of the town passed into the hands of a

the fortunes of the whole empire. Hildebert (928-37) mumcipal council elected by the citizens, successfully upheld against Cologne and Trier Mainz's As a free town of the empire, the prosperity of

claim to crown the Cferman king. The precedence of Mainz steadily increased, its hnen and woollen Indus-

Mainz in the German Ghurch was strongly emphasized tries being the most important alons the Rhine. It

by Frederick (937-54), when he sought the office of thus became known as the "Golden Mainz". Under

vicar Apostolic for Gtermany. William (954-68), natu- its leadership was farmed in 1254 the " League of the

ral son of Otto I, acquired for himself and his succes- Rhenish Towns", supported by most of the Rhenish

sors the office of Archchancellor of the Empire. About towns and princes. A great architectural activity

Hatto II (968-70) is related the l^nd ot the Mftuse- also manifested itself; the glorious cathedral was then

thurm near Bingen. Willi^ (976-1010), who saved built, and numerous monastic institutions were estab-

the empire from disintegration durinc the minority of lished. The discovery of printing by Gutenberg (q.

Otto III, fostered the commerce of Mainz; he built a v.) extended the fame of the town, while the limitation

cathedral, which was burned down on the day of its of the right of voting to the seven electors had greatly

consecration, and obtained from the pope the right of increased the influence of the archbishops. At the

presiding over all synods held within the empire and end of the interregnum Werner von Eppstein (1259-

of crowning the newly^-elected kinjg. Aribo (q. v.) 84) secured the election of Rudolf of Hapsburg, whose

glayed the chief rdle in the election of Ck>nrad II. support he hoped for aeainst the Landgrave of Hesse, lardo von Oppertshafen (1031-51) completed the new In the growing power of Hesse, Werner rightly saw the cathedral by Willigis (1037). most £ngerou8 menace to the safety of Mainz. Ger- In the investiture strife (q. v.) the archbishops of hard II von Eppstein (1289-1305) likewise played the Mainz, as the foremost spiritual princes of the empire, chief part in the election of Adolf of Nassau, but, not could not remain neutral. Count Siegfried I von Epp- receiving the expected assistance in his domestic poU- stein (1059-84) espoused the cause of the pope, pro- tics, went over with King Wenzel of Bohemia to mulgated the celibacy law of Gregory Vll, and Adolf's rival, Albert of Austria. Under Peter von As- crowned Henry's two rivals, Rudolf of Swabia and pelt (q. v., 1305-20) Mainz attained the pinnacle of its Hermann of Luxemburg. Wezilo (1084-8), however, power. In opposition to Count Henrv III of Vime- supported the emperor and his anti-pope. In Ruth- tui^ (1328-46), appointed by John XXII, the chapter ara (1089-1109) and Adalbert I von Saarbriicken unanimously elected Baldwin of Trier, who granted to ( 1 109-37) the emperor again found opponents; for his it or confirmed a scries of important privileges. It was fidelity to the papal cause, the latter was imprisoned only on Baldwin's resignation that Henry could enter by Henry V for tnree years in the fortress of Trifels, on his administration, having previously, in order to until the citizens of Mainz secured his release by confhi- secure the chapter's recognition, granted it an impor- ing the emperor in their town until he guaranteed the tant influence in the government of the archdiocese, archbishop s liberation. In recognition of this assist- As a partisan of Louis the Bavarian, he came into ance, Adalbert granted the town a charter, which was sharp conflict with Clement VI, who separated F^Bgue engraved on the bronze doors of the Liebfrauenkirche. and Olmutz from Mainz (1343), and deposed the arch* At Adalbert's proposal the richt to participate in the bishop (1346). However, Henry managed to retain imperial election was confinea to certain princes, the the see until 1353, when Gerlach of Nassau (1346-71), foundation of the college of electors being thus laid, appointed by the pope, entered into possession. By The popularity enjoyea by him and his brother and means of his personal property Gerlach greatly in- successor Adalbert II (1138-41) was not shared by creased the power of the archdiocese. On his aeath Arnold von Selenhofen (1153-60), who alienated the Charles IV, fearing to see one of the powerful Nassau good-will of the citizens by his sternness and his taxa- family in possession of the first see of the empire, se- tion to further Barbarossa's campaign against Italy, cured the appointment of Count John I of Luxembui^ and was murdered by them in the Mon^tery of St. in 1371, ana of Margrave Louis of Meissen in 1375. Jacob during a riot. To punish the citizens, Barba- The chapter, however, unanimously chose Adolf of rossa deprived the city of its charter and levelled its Nassau, who took possession of the see. The fiercely walls. The rebuilding of the fortifications was begun contested war which ensued greatlv weakened the by Conrad von Wittelsbach (1161-77): althoiigh ap- power of Mainz, and increased the influence of Hesse. pointed by Barbarossa, he refused to recognize the in 1381 an agreement was arrived at, Louis abdicat- anti-pope Pascal, and had in consequence to fly from ing Mainz. Adolf founded the University of Erfurt in his see. Count Christian I von Buch (1165-83) was 1^9. Conrad II von Weinsbere (1390-6) was sue- thereupon named archbishop by Barbarossa. On his ceeded by Adolf's brother, John II (1397-1419), who death, Conrad, who had meanwhile become Arch- took a prominent part in the deposition of King Wen- bishop of Salzburg, returned to his old see (1183- zel and the elevation of Rudolf of the Palatinate. 1200), now supported the emperor, and, at the Diet of Under Conrad von Daun (1419-34) Cardinal Branda, Gelnhausen, persuaded the German bishops to espouse commissioned by Martin V, investigated the existing the emperor's cause against Rome. Count Siegfried election capitulations, which he ordered to be replaced II von Eppstein (120(F-30) received in 1228 the right by a capitulation drafted by himself, to crown the King of Bohemia — a right retained oy The contest between the rival archbishops, Diether Mainz until 1343. Siegfried exhausted the depleted von Isenberg and Adolf II of Nassau (the "Mainzer exchequer of the see, and burdened the territory with Stiftsfehde ", 1461-3), resulted in great loss of men, a heavy debt. His nephew, Siegfried III von Epp- money, and territory. To punish the guilds for sup- stein (1230-49), supported Innocent III against the ' porting Diether, Adolf, having captured the town. Swabians, ratified the deposition of the emperor, and deprived it of its charter. Diether (1475-82) foimdea crowned two of his rivals. In 1233 the chapter theUniversityof Mainz in 1477, which continued imtil granted him the twentieUi part of the ecclesiastical 1798, but the town never regained its former pros- revenue for the liquidation otthe archiepiscopal debts perity. To retrieve the dangerous financial conmtioQ on his swearing in the presence of the clergy to incur of the archdiocese by an alliance with a powerful fam- no debts thereafter ana to impose no further burdens ily, the chapter petitioned the pope in 1480 to appoint on the clergy. The canons lK>und t hemschTs by oath Albert of Saxony archbishop. During his short cel^