Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads
Encyclopedia
Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads (also spelled Greiffenclau and Vollraths) (1467–1531) was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1511 to 1531.
in 1467, the son of Johann von Greiffenklau and Klara von Ratsamhausen. As the family's fourth son, Richard was groomed for a career in the church from a young age.
In 1487, he became a canon
of the Cathedral of Trier
. He began studies in Paris
in 1488. In 1503, he was made cantor
of the Cathedral of Trier and also became a canon of Mainz Cathedral
.
Richard was elected Archbishop of Trier on May 15, 1511. Pope Julius II
confirmed his appointment on April 26, 1512, and on May 30, 1512, Archbishop of Mainz Uriel von Gemmingen
consecrated Richard as a bishop
.
Only 23 days after his installation as Archbishop, Richard opened the altar
that had enshrined a relic
believed to be the seamless robe of Jesus
since the building of the Dome in the presence of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
and exhibited it.
In 1515, Richard completed judicial reforms and allowed Jews
to re-enter the Archbishopric of Trier
. During the imperial election
of 1519, Richard was bribed by Francis I of France
and subsequently voted for Francis, although Francis lost the election to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
. This did not prevent Charles V from inviting Richard to the Diet of Worms
in 1521 where, at Charles' behest, Richard unsuccessfully attempted to convince Martin Luther
to recant the views that had resulted in Pope Leo X
issuing the papal bull
Exsurge Domine
, which had excommunicated Luther in 1520. In 1522, during the Knights' Revolt
, Franz von Sickingen
declared war on the Archbishopric of Trier
but he failed in his efforts to take Trier
. Richard sided with the coalition of princes that ultimately defeated the Knights' Revolt in 1523.
The next year, he commissioned additions to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, including the large cannon
known as the Kanone Greif, the largest siege gun of its time. Richard attended the Second Diet of Speyer
in 1529, but did not attend the 1530 Diet of Augsburg
(probably due to illness), instead sending Johann von Metzenhausen
as his representative.
Richard died at the Schloss Ottenstein in Wittlich
on March 13, 1531. He is buried in the Cathedral of Trier, and has a large Renaissance
funerary monument.
Biography
Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads was born in Schloss VollradsSchloss Vollrads
Schloss Vollrads is a wine estate in the Rheingau wine-growing region in Germany, that has been making wine for over 800 years.-History:After the donation of Verona in 983 the archbishopric of Mainz, the new owner, invested in vine growing, although vines had been cultivated there since Roman...
in 1467, the son of Johann von Greiffenklau and Klara von Ratsamhausen. As the family's fourth son, Richard was groomed for a career in the church from a young age.
In 1487, he 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 ....
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 began studies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1488. In 1503, he was made 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 of Trier and also became a canon of 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...
.
Richard was elected Archbishop of Trier on May 15, 1511. Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...
confirmed his appointment on April 26, 1512, and on May 30, 1512, Archbishop of Mainz Uriel von Gemmingen
Uriel von Gemmingen
Uriel von Gemmingen was appointed Archbishop of Mainz on 27 September 1508, a prince elector, and chancellor to Emperor Maximillian I on 23 April 1509.Uriel was one of ten children of Hans von Gemmingen ....
consecrated Richard 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...
.
Only 23 days after his installation as Archbishop, Richard opened the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
that had enshrined a relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
believed to be the seamless robe of Jesus
Seamless robe of Jesus
The Seamless Robe of Jesus is the robe said to have been worn by Jesus during his crucifixion...
since the building of the Dome in the presence of 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 exhibited it.
In 1515, Richard completed judicial reforms and allowed Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
to re-enter 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...
. During the imperial election
Imperial election
The election of a Holy Roman Emperor or King of Germany was, from at least the 13th century, accomplished by a small body of the greatest princes of the Empire, the Prince-electors. Appointment as Emperor was normally for life...
of 1519, Richard was bribed by Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
and subsequently voted for Francis, although Francis lost the election to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. This did not prevent Charles V from inviting Richard to the Diet of Worms
Diet of Worms
The Diet of Worms 1521 was a diet that took place in Worms, Germany, and is most memorable for the Edict of Worms , which addressed Martin Luther and the effects of the Protestant Reformation.It was conducted from 28 January to 25 May 1521, with Emperor Charles V presiding.Other Imperial diets at...
in 1521 where, at Charles' behest, Richard unsuccessfully attempted to convince Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
to recant the views that had resulted in Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
issuing 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....
Exsurge Domine
Exsurge Domine
220px|thumb|Title page of first printed edition of Exsurge DomineExsurge Domine is a papal bull issued on 15 June 1520 by Pope Leo X in response to the teachings of Martin Luther in his 95 theses and subsequent writings which opposed the views of the papacy...
, which had excommunicated Luther in 1520. In 1522, during the Knights' Revolt
Knights' Revolt
The Knights' Revolt of 1522 was a revolt by a number of Protestant and humanist German knights led by Franz von Sickingen, against the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Emperor...
, Franz von Sickingen
Franz von Sickingen
Franz von Sickingen was a German knight, one of the most notable figures of the first period of the Reformation.-Biography:He was born at Ebernburg near Bad Kreuznach...
declared war on 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...
but he failed in his efforts to take 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....
. Richard sided with the coalition of princes that ultimately defeated the Knights' Revolt in 1523.
The next year, he commissioned additions to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, including the large cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
known as the Kanone Greif, the largest siege gun of its time. Richard attended the Second Diet of Speyer
Second Diet of Speyer
The Diet of Speyer or the Diet of Spires was a diet of the Holy Roman Empire in 1529 in the Imperial City of Speyer . The diet condemned the results of the Diet of Speyer of 1526 and prohibited future reformation...
in 1529, but did not attend the 1530 Diet of Augsburg
Diet of Augsburg
The Diet of Augsburg were the meetings of the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire in the German city of Augsburg. There were many such sessions, but the three meetings during the Reformation and the ensuing religious wars between the Roman Catholic emperor Charles V and the Protestant...
(probably due to illness), instead sending Johann von Metzenhausen
Johann von Metzenhausen
Johann von Metzenhausen was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1531 to 1540.-Biography:Johann von Metzenhausen 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...
as his representative.
Richard died at the Schloss Ottenstein 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 March 13, 1531. He is buried in the Cathedral of Trier, and has a large Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
funerary monument.