Henry I van Vianden
Encyclopedia
Henry van Vianden (died 4 June 1267) was a bishop
of Utrecht from 1249 to 1267.
He was the son of Henry I, Count of Vianden and Margaret, Marchioness of Namur
. He was provost at Cologne
before he was pushed forward as candidate for the bishopric of Utrecht by the Welfs in their struggle with the Hohenstaufen
. Pope Innocent IV then formally appointed him despite resistance from the canons
of Utrecht. Until 1252 he was bishop-elect, but in 1252 he was consecrated. Henry supported the German anti-king William II of Holland, but William exploited the disputes that emerged between Henry, and the nobility and the city of Utrecht. Henry managed to subdue his opponents, but their actions were a precursor to future struggles.
Henry van Vianden granted city rights to a large number of towns, such as Hasselt
in 1252, Amersfoort
in 1259, Goor
in 1263, and Oudewater
, Loenen
and Vreeland
in 1265. In Vreeland he also constructed the Castle Vreeland as a border-fortress against Holland.
In 1254 he laid the first stone of the gothic Dom Church of Utrecht, after the previous church had burned down in a nine-day long city fire in 1253. He was interred in the Dom church.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Utrecht from 1249 to 1267.
He was the son of Henry I, Count of Vianden and Margaret, Marchioness of Namur
Margaret, Marchioness of Namur
Margaret, Marchioness of Namur was the daughter of Peter II of Courtenay and Yolanda of Flanders.Margaret married Raoul lord of Issoudun in 1210. She succeeded her husband as Lady of Châteauneuf-sur-Cher and Mareuil-en-Berry in 1216. Soon after the death of her first husband she married Henry I,...
. He was provost at Cologne
Cologne
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...
before he was pushed forward as candidate for the bishopric of Utrecht by the Welfs in their struggle with the Hohenstaufen
Hohenstaufen
The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of German kings in the High Middle Ages, lasting from 1138 to 1254. Three of these kings were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor. In 1194 the Hohenstaufens also became Kings of Sicily...
. Pope Innocent IV then formally appointed him despite resistance from the canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Utrecht. Until 1252 he was bishop-elect, but in 1252 he was consecrated. Henry supported the German anti-king William II of Holland, but William exploited the disputes that emerged between Henry, and the nobility and the city of Utrecht. Henry managed to subdue his opponents, but their actions were a precursor to future struggles.
Henry van Vianden granted city rights to a large number of towns, such as Hasselt
Hasselt (Overijssel)
Hasselt is a city about 7 km north of Zwolle, in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It received city rights in 1252. It became a member of the Hanseatic League around 1350. The city suffered an economic downfall from about 1550 on, as other cities proved to be better situated and equipped for...
in 1252, Amersfoort
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
in 1259, Goor
Goor
Goor is a town about 26 km south of Almelo in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It received city rights in 1263. The population is about 13,000.Goor was a separate municipality until 2001, when it became a part of Hof van Twente....
in 1263, and Oudewater
Oudewater
Oudewater is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-Population centres :The municipality of Oudewater consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Hekendorp, Oudewater, Papekop, Snelrewaard....
, Loenen
Loenen
Loenen is a former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It was in the Vechtstreek area. On January 1, 2011, Loenen merged with Breukelen and Maarssen to form Stichtse Vecht.- Population centres :...
and Vreeland
Vreeland
Vreeland is a city in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It was a part of the former municipality of Loenen. Since 2011 it has made part of the new formed municipality of Stichtse Vecht. It is located on the river Vecht, about 2 km north of Loenen aan de Vecht. It received city rights in 1265....
in 1265. In Vreeland he also constructed the Castle Vreeland as a border-fortress against Holland.
In 1254 he laid the first stone of the gothic Dom Church of Utrecht, after the previous church had burned down in a nine-day long city fire in 1253. He was interred in the Dom church.