Conrad von Bibra
Encyclopedia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
(1490–1544) was Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1540 to 1544.
Biography
Born in 1490, he studied at the universities of CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
and Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
. His whole life Conrad seemed to have had a hard time making up his mind about being a priest. Three times between 1520 and 1532 he entered a priestly position and then resigned. In 1525 during the Peasant Revolt
Peasant revolt
Peasant, Peasants' or Popular is variously paired with Revolt, Uprising and War and may refer to :*Daze Village Uprising 209 BC*Yellow Turban Rebellion 184...
, Conrad was among the defenders of the Fortress Marienberg
Fortress Marienberg
Fortress Marienberg is a prominent landmark on the Main river in Würzburg, Germany. The mighty Fortress Marienberg is the symbol of Würzburg and served as a home of the prince-bishops for nearly five centuries. It has been a fort since ancient times...
at Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
which was under siege. Afterwards he served on the commission determining damages. Finally in February 1539 he entered a priestly position again. April 28, 1540 he became Provost of Neu Münster in Würzburg. Already on July 1, 1540, he was surprisingly elected Prince Bishop. Afterwards he showed an independent even uncooperative attitude. Seven times he put off his ordination as a priest and bishop. Also despite the Kaiser's admonitions, he gave excuses and refused to personally attend meetings of the Reichstag
Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)
The Imperial Diet was the Diet, or general assembly, of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire.During the period of the Empire, which lasted formally until 1806, the Diet was not a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was an assembly of the various estates of the realm...
.
In 1542 when the plague broke out in Würzburg, he moved his court to Aschach
Bad Bocklet
Bad Bocklet is a municipality in the district of Bad Kissingen in Bavaria in Germany. It is a market town and a health spa.-Geography:Bad Bocklet lies in a bend in the river Fränkische Saale in Franconia about 10 km north of the district capital Bad Kissingen...
and Neustadt. In August of 1544 after reigning only four years he died which apparently solved the problem of his never having completed his ordination vows or formal installation as bishop.
Grumbach-Zobel Affair
Just before dying, Conrad gave Wilhelm von GrumbachWilhelm von Grumbach
Wilhelm von Grumbach was a German adventurer, chiefly known through his connection with the so-called Grumbach feuds , the last attempt of the Imperial Knights to prevail against the power of the territorial Princes of the Holy Roman Empire.-Florian Geyer:A member of the old Franconian noble...
10,000 gold florins as a gift, without obtaining the consent of 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...
. When, after the death of Conrad, Melchior Zobel of Giebelstadt, the new Prince Bishop asked for the money back from Grumbach. Grumbach paid, but the harmonious relationship between lord and vassal were destroyed.
Conrad left behind two natural children named Conrad and Katherine Biber. Katherine married a Christoph Kretzen. Kretzen later murdered the next prince bishop, Meichior von Zobel (as well as Florian Geyer
Florian Geyer
Florian Geyer , also known as "Florian Geier from Giebelstadt", was a Franconian nobleman, diplomat and knight...
) on behalf of his employer Wilhelm von Grumbach. Grumbach's adventures including this incident made him famous. The spot was marked next to the All Saints Bridge in Würzburg on the fortress side.
Family
Conrad was a member of the aristocratic Franconian von Bibra family which among its members were Lorenz von BibraLorenz von Bibra
Lorenz von Bibra, Duke in Franconia was Prince-Bishop of the Bishopric of Würzburg from 1495 to 1519. His life paralleled Maximilian I , who served as Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 to 1519, to which Lorenz did serve as an advisor....
, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, Duke in Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
(1459-1519), Lorenz’ half brother, Wilhelm von Bibra
Wilhelm von Bibra
Wilhelm von Bibra was a Papal Emissary.-Papal Emissary:Wilhelm functioned as a Papal Emissary for both the archbishop of Cologne and Kaiser Friedrich. Wilhelm’s half brother, Prince Bishop Lorenz von Bibra of Würzburg, in 1487 wrote a letter of introduction to Pope Innocent VIII for Wilhelm who...
Papal emissary, Heinrich von Bibra
Heinrich von Bibra
Heinrich von Bibra , Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda was Prince-Bishop from 1759 to 1788.-Biography:...
, Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda (1711-1788) and Ernst von Bibra
Ernst von Bibra
Dr. Ernst Freiherr von Bibra was a German Naturalist and author...
(*1806 ; † 1878), naturalist and author.
Grave
Würzburg Cathedral
Würzburg Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, dedicated to Saint Kilian. It is the seat of the Bishop of Würzburg...
. His tomb monument (#32) by Peter Dell the Elder and the bronze plate (#37) are both on display. The bronze plate was apparently damaged in WWII. Photo of undamaged bronze plate is linked.