Johann von Metzenhausen
Encyclopedia
Johann von Metzenhausen (1492–1540) was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1531 to 1540.
was born in Neef
in 1492, the son of Heinrich von Metzenhausen and his wife Margarete Boos von Waldeck. He became a domciliar of the cathedral chapter
of the Cathedral of Trier
in 1505, and became a canon
in 1511. The cathedral chapter elected him precentor
in 1512; dean in 1517; and provost
in 1521. In the wake of the death of Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads
, the cathedral chapter met on March 27, 1531 and elected Metzenhausen as the new Archbishop of Trier.
As archbishop, Metzenhausen opposed the Protestant movement, though he was generally conciliatory. He instituted reforms at the University of Trier
and worked to improve the training of the clergy in the Archbishopric of Trier
. With the outbreak of the Münster Rebellion
in 1534, Metzenhausen helped raise troops to defeat the Anabaptist
uprising. He attended the Colloquy of Haguenau in 1540, serving as one of the presidents of the colloquy.
Metzenhausen died suddenly on July 22, 1540 while visiting Thanstein Castle, near Haguenau
.
Biography
Johann von MetzenhausenMetzenhausen
Metzenhausen is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
was born in Neef
Neef
Neef is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Cochem-Zell district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Zell, whose seat is in the municipality of Zell an der Mosel...
in 1492, the son of Heinrich von Metzenhausen and his wife Margarete Boos von Waldeck. He became a domciliar 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
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...
in 1505, and became a 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 ....
in 1511. The cathedral chapter elected him precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
in 1512; dean in 1517; and 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...
in 1521. In the wake of the death of Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads
Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads
Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1511 to 1531.-Biography:...
, the cathedral chapter met on March 27, 1531 and elected Metzenhausen as the new Archbishop of Trier.
As archbishop, Metzenhausen opposed the Protestant movement, though he was generally conciliatory. He instituted reforms at the 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...
and worked to improve the training of the clergy in the Archbishopric of Trier
Archbishopric of Trier
The Archbishopric of Trier was a Roman Catholic diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Its suffragans were the dioceses of Metz, Toul and Verdun. Since the 9th century the Archbishops of Trier were simultaneously princes and since the 11th...
. With the outbreak of the Münster Rebellion
Münster Rebellion
The Münster Rebellion was an attempt by radical Anabaptists to establish a communal sectarian government in the German city of Münster. The city became an Anabaptist center from 1534 to 1535, and fell under Anabaptist rule for 18 months — from February 1534, when the city hall was seized and...
in 1534, Metzenhausen helped raise troops to defeat the Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
uprising. He attended the Colloquy of Haguenau in 1540, serving as one of the presidents of the colloquy.
Metzenhausen died suddenly on July 22, 1540 while visiting Thanstein Castle, near Haguenau
Haguenau
-Economy:The town has a well balanced economy. Centuries of troubled history in the buffer lands between France and Germany have bequeathed to Haguenau a rich historical and cultural heritage which supports a lively tourist trade. There is also a thriving light manufacturing sector centred on the...
.