Theodwin
Encyclopedia
Theodwin (died probably on 7 March 1151 in the Kingdom of Jerusalem) was a German cardinal and papal legate of the 12th century.
from 1126 to ca. 1133 and later was elevated to Cardinal
as the Bishop of Santa Rufina, a position he held until his death.
Theodwin participated in the papal elections of 1144
and 1145
. He subscribed solemn papal privileges between June 7, 1135 and June 15, 1150.
In 1147, as legate in Syria
, he participated in the conference
celebrated in Ptolemaïs
between Emperor Conrad III of Germany
, King Louis VII of France, and King Badouin of Jerusalem
.
and was a close friend of Conrad III of Germany
, whose election he supported in 1138. He was often the papal legate
, or acting as such, in Germany. Prior to the Second Crusade
, the church sent him to Germany in 1145 in an attempt to resolve some of the domestic political tensions there with the hope that a resolution would allow Germany to participate in the crusade. Later, during the Crusade, he served as the papal representative and travelled with Conrad.
persuaded Theodwin to write to Conrad and convince him that Roger was an ally of the Crusaders. This was all part of an effort to break the alliance between the Holy Roman Empire
and the Byzantine Empire
, against which Roger desired to make war. According to Abbot Suger
, Godfrey, the Archbishop of Langres
who was travelling with Louis VII of France
and Eleanor of Aquitaine
, may have been an influence on Theodwin's writing. Theodwin's own apparent anti-Byzantinism, typical of the curia of the day, played no small part in affairs. The whole discourse, however, was conducted without the support of Pope Eugene III
, whose politics were more moderate (and anti-Sicilian). Eugene even informed Wibald of Corvey that the opinion of Theodwin, and that of Bernard of Clairvaux
, was not in line with papal thinking and was to be ignored.
at which Pope Anastasius IV
was elected.
Biography
Theodwin was Abbot of GorzeGorze Abbey
Gorze Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Gorze in the present arrondissement of Metz-Campagne, near Metz in Lorraine. It was prominent as the source of a monastic reform movement in the 930s.-History:...
from 1126 to ca. 1133 and later was elevated to Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
as the Bishop of Santa Rufina, a position he held until his death.
Theodwin participated in the papal elections of 1144
Papal election, 1144
The papal election of 1144 followed the death of Pope Celestine II and resulted in the election of Pope Lucius II.-Election Lucius II:Pope Celestine II died on 8 March 1144 at Rome, after pontificate of only five months. The election of his successor took place in the shadow of this municipal...
and 1145
Papal election, 1145
The papal election of 1145 followed the death of Pope Lucius II and resulted in the election of Pope Eugene III, the first pope of the Order of Cistercians.-Election of Eugene III:...
. He subscribed solemn papal privileges between June 7, 1135 and June 15, 1150.
In 1147, as legate in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, he participated in the conference
Council of Acre
The Council of Acre met at Palmarea, near Acre, a major city of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, on 24 June 1148. The Haute Cour of Jerusalem met with recently-arrived crusaders from Europe, to decide on the best target for the crusade. The Second Crusade had been called after the fall of Edessa...
celebrated in Ptolemaïs
Ptolemais
Ptolemais, an Ancient Greek place name and feminine personal name, may refer to:Places*Acre, Israel, once named Antiochia Ptolemais after Ptolemy I Soter*Crocodilopolis, an Egyptian city renamed Ptolemais Euergetis by Ptolemy III Euergetes...
between Emperor Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
, King Louis VII of France, and King Badouin of Jerusalem
Baldwin II of Jerusalem
Baldwin II of Jerusalem , formerly Baldwin II of Edessa, also called Baldwin of Bourcq, born Baldwin of Rethel was the second count of Edessa from 1100 to 1118, and the third king of Jerusalem from 1118 until his death.-Ancestry:Baldwin was the son of Hugh, count of Rethel, and his wife Melisende,...
.
Diplomacy with Germany
Theodwin was the only German cardinal of his era. For that reason, he was especially influential in the Roman curiaRoman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
and was a close friend of Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
, whose election he supported in 1138. He was often the papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
, or acting as such, in Germany. Prior to the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
, the church sent him to Germany in 1145 in an attempt to resolve some of the domestic political tensions there with the hope that a resolution would allow Germany to participate in the crusade. Later, during the Crusade, he served as the papal representative and travelled with Conrad.
Relations with Sicily
In the aftermath of the failed Crusade, when Conrad's reputation was at low ebb, Roger II of SicilyRoger II of Sicily
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
persuaded Theodwin to write to Conrad and convince him that Roger was an ally of the Crusaders. This was all part of an effort to break the alliance between the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, against which Roger desired to make war. According to Abbot Suger
Abbot Suger
Suger was one of the last Frankish abbot-statesmen, an historian, and the influential first patron of Gothic architecture....
, Godfrey, the Archbishop of Langres
Langres
Langres is a commune in north-eastern France. It is a subprefecture of the Haute-Marne département in the Champagne-Ardenne region.-History:As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.The town is built on a limestone...
who was travelling with Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
and Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
, may have been an influence on Theodwin's writing. Theodwin's own apparent anti-Byzantinism, typical of the curia of the day, played no small part in affairs. The whole discourse, however, was conducted without the support of Pope Eugene III
Pope Eugene III
Pope Blessed Eugene III , born Bernardo da Pisa, was Pope from 1145 to 1153. He was the first Cistercian to become Pope.-Early life:...
, whose politics were more moderate (and anti-Sicilian). Eugene even informed Wibald of Corvey that the opinion of Theodwin, and that of Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
, was not in line with papal thinking and was to be ignored.
Death
Some time after June 15, 1150 Theodwin has been sent again as papal legate to the Holy Land, where he died, most probably on March 7, 1151. However, some records suggest he participated in the 1153 papal electionPapal election, 1153
The papal election of 1153 followed the death of Pope Eugenius III and resulted in the election of Pope Anastasius IV.-Election of Anastasius IV:...
at which Pope Anastasius IV
Pope Anastasius IV
Pope Anastasius IV , born Corrado Demetri della Suburra, was Pope from 1153 to 1154.-Early life:He was a Roman, son of Benedictus de Suburra, probably of the family of Demetri, and became a secular clerk. He was created cardinal-priest of S. Pudenziana by Pope Paschal II no later than in 1114...
was elected.
Further reading
- Apostolic Privilege undersigned by Theodwin.
- Wieruszowski, Helen. "Roger II of Sicily, Rex-Tyrannus, In Twelfth-Century Political Thought." Speculum, Vol. 38, No. 1. (Jan., 1963), pp 46–78.
- Johannes Matthias Brixius, Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums von 1130-1181, Berlin 1912, p. 47 no. 49
- Barbara Zenker, Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums von 1130 bis 1181, Würzburg 1964, p. 26-28