Adolf III of Schauenburg
Encyclopedia
Adolf III of Schauenburg (1511–1556) was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1547 to 1556.
was born on January 19, 1511 and baptized in Leuven
in February 1511. He was the son of Jobst I of Schaumburg and his wife Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg.
As a younger son, Adolf was groomed for a life in the church from a young age. He became a canon of Liège Cathedral
on September 2, 1528, then becoming provost
of the cathedral on May 30, 1533. In 1529, he also became a canon of Mainz Cathedral
and, on December 23, 1529, of Cologne Cathedral
. He became dean of St. Gereon's Basilica
, and then its propst
in 1533.
With his father's death in 1531, Adolf returned to Schaumburg
to act as his younger brothers' guardian. He played a role in the governance of Schaumburg until 1544.
In the early 1530s, the Archbishop of Cologne, Hermann of Wied
, grew increasingly sympathetic to the Protestant Reformation
. In an attempt to curb the archbishop's influence, on December 17, 1533, the cathedral chapter
of Cologne Cathedral elected Adolf to be the coadjutor bishop
of Cologne. Adolf was to serve as a conservative counterweight to oppose Hermann's attempted reforms.
On June 3, 15432, Pope Paul III
wrote to Adolf encouraging to be vigilant in his efforts against the archbishop. The pope later excommunicated Hermann on on July 3, 1546, naming Adolf the administrator of the archdiocese in his stead. The cathedral chapter elected Adolf to be Archbishop of Cologne on January 24, 1547. He was ordained
as a priest
by Bishop Johann Nopel on May 3, 1547.
Adolf's first task was to role back the reforms initiated by his predecessor. Hermann had installed Martin Bucer
, but Adolf now banned Protestant preaching throughout the archdiocese. Accompanied by Eberhard Billick
, provincial superior
of the Carmelites
, Adolf attended the Diet of Augsburg
in 1547-48. He was ordained as a bishop on April 8, 1548, in the presence of Pope Paul III
and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
. He later attended the 1551 session of the Council of Trent
, accompanied by Billick and Johann Gropper.
Adolf died in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia
on September 20, 1556. Cornelis Floris de Vriendt
created matching tombs for Adolf and his younger brother Anton of Schauenburg
(d. 1558) in Cologne Cathedral. Originally located in the choir, they were relocated to the radiating chapels
in 1863.
Biography
Adolf of SchauenburgCounts of Schauenburg and Holstein
The Counts of Schauenburg and Holstein were titles of the Holy Roman Empire. The dynastic family came from Schauenburg near Rinteln on the Weser in Germany...
was born on January 19, 1511 and baptized in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
in February 1511. He was the son of Jobst I of Schaumburg and his wife Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg.
As a younger son, Adolf was groomed for a life in the church from a young age. He became a canon of Liège Cathedral
Liège Cathedral
Liège Cathedral, otherwise St. Paul's Cathedral, Liège, in Liège, Belgium, is the seat of the Bishopric of Liège.-St. Paul's Cathedral:...
on September 2, 1528, then becoming provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of the cathedral on May 30, 1533. In 1529, he also became a canon of Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral or St. Martin's Cathedral is located near the historical center and pedestrianized market square of the city of Mainz, Germany...
and, on December 23, 1529, of Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site...
. He became dean of St. Gereon's Basilica
St. Gereon's Basilica
St. Gereon's Basilica is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany, dedicated to Saint Gereon, and designated a minor basilica on June 25, 1920. The first mention of a church at the site, dedicated to St. Gereon, appears in 612...
, and then its propst
Propst
Probst or Propst is a German ecclesiastical title. The English equivalent is provost.Sometimes the Probst had a region attached, this was called Probstei.-Konsistorialbezirk St...
in 1533.
With his father's death in 1531, Adolf returned to Schaumburg
Schaumburg
Schaumburg is a district of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Nienburg, Hanover and Hamelin-Pyrmont, and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia .-History:...
to act as his younger brothers' guardian. He played a role in the governance of Schaumburg until 1544.
In the early 1530s, the Archbishop of Cologne, Hermann of Wied
Hermann of Wied
Hermann of Wied was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1515 to 1546.-Biography:The fourth son of Frederick, count of Wied , Hermann was educated for the Church, he became elector and archbishop in 1515. He supported the claims of Charles V, whom he crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1520...
, grew increasingly sympathetic to the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. In an attempt to curb the archbishop's influence, on December 17, 1533, the cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
of Cologne Cathedral elected Adolf to be the coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Cologne. Adolf was to serve as a conservative counterweight to oppose Hermann's attempted reforms.
On June 3, 15432, Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
wrote to Adolf encouraging to be vigilant in his efforts against the archbishop. The pope later excommunicated Hermann on on July 3, 1546, naming Adolf the administrator of the archdiocese in his stead. The cathedral chapter elected Adolf to be Archbishop of Cologne on January 24, 1547. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
as a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Johann Nopel on May 3, 1547.
Adolf's first task was to role back the reforms initiated by his predecessor. Hermann had installed Martin Bucer
Martin Bucer
Martin Bucer was a Protestant reformer based in Strasbourg who influenced Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican doctrines and practices. Bucer was originally a member of the Dominican Order, but after meeting and being influenced by Martin Luther in 1518 he arranged for his monastic vows to be annulled...
, but Adolf now banned Protestant preaching throughout the archdiocese. Accompanied by Eberhard Billick
Eberhard Billick
Eberhard Billick was a German theologian instrumental in keeping the city of Cologne Catholic during the Reformation.-External links:*...
, provincial superior
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of the Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
, Adolf attended the Diet of Augsburg
Diet of Augsburg
The Diet of Augsburg were the meetings of the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire in the German city of Augsburg. There were many such sessions, but the three meetings during the Reformation and the ensuing religious wars between the Roman Catholic emperor Charles V and the Protestant...
in 1547-48. He was ordained as a bishop on April 8, 1548, in the presence of Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. He later attended the 1551 session of the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
, accompanied by Billick and Johann Gropper.
Adolf died in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia
Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia
Brühl is a town in the Rhineland of Germany. It is located in Rhein-Erft-Kreis, 20 km south of Cologne city center and at the edge of Naturpark Kottenforst-Ville Nature Reserve.-History:...
on September 20, 1556. Cornelis Floris de Vriendt
Cornelis Floris de Vriendt
Cornelis Floris de Vriendt was a Flemish Renaissance architect and sculptor. He played an important role in the building of the Antwerp City Hall. His brother was Frans Floris, for whom he designed a house in Antwerp.-External links:...
created matching tombs for Adolf and his younger brother Anton of Schauenburg
Anton of Schauenburg
Anton of Schauenburg was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1557 to 1558.-Biography:Anton of Schauenburg was the son of Jobst I of Schaumburg and his wife Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg...
(d. 1558) in Cologne Cathedral. Originally located in the choir, they were relocated to the radiating chapels
Apse chapel
An apse chapel, in church architecture, is a chapel radiating tangentially from one of the bays or divisions of the apse. It is reached generally by a semicircular passageway, or ambulatory, exteriorly to the walls or piers of the apse....
in 1863.