Jakob von Eltz-Rübenach
Encyclopedia
Jakob von Eltz-Rübenach (1510–1581) was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1567 to 1581.
-Rübenach was born in Burg Eltz
in 1510, the second son of Johann von und zu Eltz and his wife Maria von Breitbach.
Jakob von Eltz-Rübenach began his career in the church in 1523 when he became a Domizellar of the Cathedral of Trier
. He later studied law
and theology
at the University of Heidelberg, the University of Leuven
, and the University of Freiburg
. He gained a canonicate of the Cathedral of Trier on September 15, 1525. He was elected cantor
of the cathedral on June 30, 1547 and as dean on October 13, 1547.
He was ordained
as a priest
on April 6, 1550. He was opposed to the Protestant cause, speaking out at the 1556 Reichstag
in Regensberg
and at the 1557 Colloquy of Worms
. In 1564, he became rector
of the Jesuit dominated University of Trier
. In 1565, he required all students and faculty to subscribe to the Profession of the Tridentine Faith as required by the papal bull
Iniunctum nobis.
Following the death of Archbishop of Trier Johann von der Leyen
, the cathedral chapter
of the Cathedral of Trier met in Wittlich
on April 7, 1567 and elected Jakob von Eltz-Rübenach as the new Archbishop of Trier. Pope Pius V
confirmed his appointment on August 22, 1567; he was consecrated as a bishop
by Gregor Virneburg, Auxiliary Bishop
of Trier on April 17, 1569.
A noted proponent of the Counter-Reformation
, he played a role in reforming a number of monasteries in the archbishopric. He successfully had Prüm Abbey
incorporated into the archbishopric in 1574.
He died in Trier
on June 4, 1581 and is buried in the Cathedral of Trier. Hans Ruprecht Hoffmann
completed an altar at his grave in 1597.
Biography
Jakob von EltzEltz
The House of Eltz is a noted German noble family of the Uradel. The Rhenish dynasty has had close ties to the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia since 1736.-History:...
-Rübenach was born in Burg Eltz
Burg Eltz
Burg Eltz is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, Germany. It is still owned by a branch of the same family that lived there in the 12th century, 33 generations ago. The Rübenach and Rodendorf families' homes in the castle are open to the...
in 1510, the second son of Johann von und zu Eltz and his wife Maria von Breitbach.
Jakob von Eltz-Rübenach began his career in the church in 1523 when he became a Domizellar of the Cathedral of Trier
Cathedral of Trier
The Cathedral of Saint Peter is a church in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the oldest cathedral in the country. The edifice is notable for its extremely long life span under multiple different eras each contributing some elements to its design, including the center of the main chapel...
. He later studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Heidelberg, the University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, and the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
. He gained a canonicate of the Cathedral of Trier on September 15, 1525. He was elected cantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
of the cathedral on June 30, 1547 and as dean on October 13, 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....
on April 6, 1550. He was opposed to the Protestant cause, speaking out at the 1556 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 Regensberg
Regensberg
Regensberg is a municipality in the district of Dielsdorf in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland. It is located just to the west of Dielsdorf, on a ridge of the Lägern .-History:...
and at the 1557 Colloquy of Worms
Colloquy of Worms
The Colloquy of Worms was the last colloquy in the 16th century on an imperial level, held in Worms from September 11 to October 8, 1557. At the Diet of Augsburg in 1555 it had been agreed that the dialog on controversial religious issues should be continued. A resolution was passed at Regensburg...
. In 1564, he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Jesuit dominated University of Trier
University of Trier
The University of Trier , in the German city of Trier, was founded in 1473. Closed in 1798 by order of the then French administration in Trier, the university was re-established in 1970 after a hiatus of some 172 years. The new university campus is located on top of the Tarforst heights, an urban...
. In 1565, he required all students and faculty to subscribe to the Profession of the Tridentine Faith as required by the papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
Iniunctum nobis.
Following the death of Archbishop of Trier Johann von der Leyen
Johann von der Leyen
Johann von der Leyen was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1556 to 1567.-Biography:Johann von der Leyen was born in Saffig in 1510, the son of Bartholomäus von der Leyen, chancellor of the Archbishopric of Cologne, and his wife Katharina von Pallandt. He became Domizellar of the Cathedral 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...
of the Cathedral of Trier met in Wittlich
Wittlich
The town of Wittlich is the seat of the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and thereby the middle centre for a feeder area of 56 municipalities in the Eifel and Moselle area with its population of roughly 64,000...
on April 7, 1567 and elected Jakob von Eltz-Rübenach as the new Archbishop of Trier. Pope Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
confirmed his appointment on August 22, 1567; he was consecrated as a bishop
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...
by Gregor Virneburg, Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Trier on April 17, 1569.
A noted proponent of the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
, he played a role in reforming a number of monasteries in the archbishopric. He successfully had Prüm Abbey
Prüm Abbey
Prüm Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey in Prüm/Lorraine, now in the diocese of Trier , founded by a Frankish widow Bertrada, and her son Charibert, count of Laon, on 23 June 720. The first abbot was Angloardus....
incorporated into the archbishopric in 1574.
He died in Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
on June 4, 1581 and is buried in the Cathedral of Trier. Hans Ruprecht Hoffmann
Hans Ruprecht Hoffmann
Hans Ruprecht Hoffmann was a German sculptor and master stonemason.-Biography:Hans Ruprecht Hoffman was likely born in Worms around 1545. He apprenticed under Dietrich Schro in Mainz and Johann von Trarbach in Simmern. He became a master craftsman of the stonemason's guild...
completed an altar at his grave in 1597.