Hermann IV of Hesse
Encyclopedia
Hermann IV of Hesse (1450–1508) was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1480 to 1508 and Prince-Bishop of Paderborn from 1498 to 1508.
was born in Bonn
in 1450, the son of Louis I, Landgrave of Hesse
and his wife Anna, daughter of Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
. As a younger son, Hermann was groomed for the church and received a number of benefices at a young age, including the provost
of Aachen Cathedral
and Fritzlar
Cathedral; Dean of St. Gereon's Basilica
; and canon
of Cologne Cathedral
(in 1461) and Mainz Cathedral
(in 1463). He is listed on the register of University of Cologne
for 1462 and later studied at the Charles University in Prague
.
In 1472, Hermann made a bid to become Bishop of Hildesheim, but was forced to withdraw from the episcopal election after he failed to secure papal recognition. He became diocesan administrator of the Archdiocese of Cologne
in 1473.
.
In November 1475, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
appointed Hermann Stiftsgubernator.
in 1478. After Ruprecht's death on July 26, 1480, Hermann was elected as his successor on August 11, 1480. Pope Innocent VIII
confirmed his appointment in November 1480.
After many turbulent years, Hermann devoted himself to the administrative and financial recovery of the archdiocese. For the 28 years of peace and stability, Hermann earned himself the moniker of "the Peaceful".
of the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn. He was elected Prince-Bishop of Paderborn on March 7, 1498. He set himself against Philip of Cleves, Dean of Strasbourg Cathedral
and his brother John II, Duke of Cleves
but could not ultimately prevail. Hermann was allied with Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
and Pope Alexander VI
.
The Reichskammergericht
upheld Hermann's jurisdiction over the eastern part of Paderborn. He held a Lehenstag in Paderborn on October 1, 1500 to allow the nobles of Paderborn to pay homage
to him. The Reichskammergericht also restored Helmarshausen
and Delbrück
to the bishop.
Hermann took his role as a spiritual pastor seriously and intensified episcopal oversight of the monasteries. He read mass
and prayed the breviary
regularly, and performed other episcopal liturgical acts. He arranged for the financing to build the church in Bevern
in 1501, and consecrated the church in 1506.
and his heart was buried in the castle church in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia
.
Early years, 1450–1473
Hermann IV of HesseLandgraviate of Hesse
The Landgraviate of Hesse was a Landgraviate of the Holy Roman Empire. It existed as a unity from 1264 to 1567, when it was divided between the sons of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.-History:...
was born in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
in 1450, the son of Louis I, Landgrave of Hesse
Louis I, Landgrave of Hesse
Louis I of Hesse , called "the Peaceful" was Landgrave of Lower Hesse from 1413-1458....
and his wife Anna, daughter of Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
Frederick IV of Meissen and Elector of Saxony was Margrave of Meissen and Elector of Saxony from 1381 until his death. He is not to be confused with his cousin Frederick IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, the son of Balthasar, Landgrave of Thuringia...
. As a younger son, Hermann was groomed for the church and received a number of benefices at a young age, including the 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 Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" , is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages...
and Fritzlar
Fritzlar
Fritzlar is a small German town in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, north of Frankfurt, with a storied history. It can reasonably be argued that the town is the site where the Christianization of northern Germany began and the birthplace of the German empire as a political entity.The...
Cathedral; 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 canon
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 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...
(in 1461) and 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...
(in 1463). He is listed on the register of University of Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
for 1462 and later studied at the Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
.
In 1472, Hermann made a bid to become Bishop of Hildesheim, but was forced to withdraw from the episcopal election after he failed to secure papal recognition. He became diocesan administrator of the Archdiocese of Cologne
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne
The Archdiocese of Cologne is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and northern Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.-History:...
in 1473.
Role in the Siege of Neuss, 1474–1475
As diocesan administrator of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Hermann was involved in the Cologne Ecclesiastical Conflict at the time that Charles the Bold launched the Siege of NeussSiege of Neuss
The Siege of Neuss, from 1474–75, was part of the Burgundian Wars. The siege, led by Charles the Bold against the Holy Roman Empire city of Neuss, was unsuccessful...
.
In November 1475, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
appointed Hermann Stiftsgubernator.
Archbishop of Cologne, 1480–1508
Hermann assumed control of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne following the arrest of Archbishop Ruprecht of the PalatinateRuprecht of the Palatinate (Archbishop of Cologne)
Ruprecht of the Palatinate was the Archbishop and Prince Elector of Cologne from 1463 to 1480.He was the third son of Louis III, Count Palatine of the Rhine, by his second wife, Matilda of Savoy. He renounced his claim to lands of the Palatinate and studied for holy orders at the universities of...
in 1478. After Ruprecht's death on July 26, 1480, Hermann was elected as his successor on August 11, 1480. Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...
confirmed his appointment in November 1480.
After many turbulent years, Hermann devoted himself to the administrative and financial recovery of the archdiocese. For the 28 years of peace and stability, Hermann earned himself the moniker of "the Peaceful".
Prince-Bishop of Paderborn, 1498-1508
In 1495, Hermann became coadjutor bishopCoadjutor 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 the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn. He was elected Prince-Bishop of Paderborn on March 7, 1498. He set himself against Philip of Cleves, Dean of Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely consideredSusan Bernstein: , The Johns Hopkins University Press to be among the finest...
and his brother John II, Duke of Cleves
John II, Duke of Cleves
John II, "The Pious" or "The Babymaker", Duke of Cleves, Count of Mark, was a son of John I, Duke of Cleves and Elizabeth of Nevers. He ruled Cleves from 1481 to his death in 1521...
but could not ultimately prevail. Hermann was allied with Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
and Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
.
The Reichskammergericht
Reichskammergericht
The Reichskammergericht or Imperial Chamber Court was one of two highest judicial institutions in the Holy Roman Empire, the other one being the Aulic Council in Vienna. It was founded in 1495 by the Imperial Diet in Worms...
upheld Hermann's jurisdiction over the eastern part of Paderborn. He held a Lehenstag in Paderborn on October 1, 1500 to allow the nobles of Paderborn to pay homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to him. The Reichskammergericht also restored Helmarshausen
Helmarshausen
Helmarshausen is a borough of the city of Bad Karlshafen in Hesse, central Germany. It was formerly the location of Helmarshausen Abbey, an Imperial abbey of the Holy Roman Empire....
and Delbrück
Delbrück
Delbrück is a town in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the district Paderborn. As of 2002 it has a population of 29,846.-History:...
to the bishop.
Hermann took his role as a spiritual pastor seriously and intensified episcopal oversight of the monasteries. He read mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
and prayed the breviary
Breviary
A breviary is a liturgical book of the Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church containing the public or canonical prayers, hymns, the Psalms, readings, and notations for everyday use, especially by bishops, priests, and deacons in the Divine Office...
regularly, and performed other episcopal liturgical acts. He arranged for the financing to build the church in Bevern
Bevern
Bevern is the name of the following places in Germany:* Bevern, Schleswig-Holstein, a municipality in the district of Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein* Bevern, Lower Saxony, a municipality in the district of Holzminden, Lower Saxony...
in 1501, and consecrated the church in 1506.
Death, 1508
Hermann died on October 19, 1508. He was buried in Cologne CathedralCologne 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...
and his heart was buried in the castle church 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:...
.