Wilbert, Archbishop of Cologne
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Wilbert, Wilibert, or Willibert (died 889) was the Archbishop of Cologne from 870 until his death.
Willibert was originally a priest in Cologne Cathedral
. On 7 January 870, following the excommunication and deposition of Gunther
, Willibert was appointed archbishop by Louis the German
and consecrated by Liutbert, Archbishop of Mainz
, and some of his suffragans, including Odilbald of Utrecht, with the consent of the clergy and people of the diocese and of Pope Hadrian II, who sent an embassy under Wibod, Bishop of Parma
, carrying his letters of acceptance. His appointment was made rapidly in order to foil any attempt by Louis's rival, Charles the Bald
, to fill the vacant see with a candidate favourable to him. Charles did succeed in placing Bertulf
in power in the Archdiocese of Trier.
Willibert received the contested pallium
from Pope Hadrian II in 875. He extended the cathedral for use in holding synod
s, held the first provincial synod of his province there in 887, and was the first archbishop buried in the cathedral in 889. On 26 September 870, a German synod, attended by Liutbert and Bertulf, was held in Cologne with all the bishops of Saxony
. The cathedral, desecrated by Gunther, was reconsecrated to Saint Peter.
In 876, Charles the Bald plotted to capture and blind his nephew Louis the Younger
, with whom he was disputing Lotharingia
. Willibert discovered the plot and tried to dissuade him but failing warned Louis instead.
Cologne was pillaged and razed by Vikings in 881–882, but Liutbert of Mainz assisted in rebuilding it. Willibert and Henry of Franconia
met the Viking leader Godfrid, Duke of Frisia, at Herespich, an island in the confluence of the Rhine and the Waal. At the meeting, Godfrid was killed and Willibert persuaded Gisela, his wife, to leave the island and pursue a policy of peace.
Willibert was originally a priest in 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...
. On 7 January 870, following the excommunication and deposition of Gunther
Gunther of Cologne
Günther of Cologne was a Roman Catholic archbishop of Cologne in Germany who was excommunicated and deposed.Günther belonged to a noble Frankish family and, if we may believe the poet Sedulius Scottus , was a man of great ability.He was consecrated Archbishop of Cologne on 22 April 850 Günther of...
, Willibert was appointed archbishop by Louis the German
Louis the German
Louis the German , also known as Louis II or Louis the Bavarian, was a grandson of Charlemagne and the third son of the succeeding Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye.He received the appellation 'Germanicus' shortly after his death in recognition of the fact...
and consecrated by Liutbert, Archbishop of Mainz
Liutbert, Archbishop of Mainz
Liutbert was the Archbishop of Mainz from 863 until his death. He also became Abbot of Ellwangen in 874 and is reckoned the first Archchancellor of Germany...
, and some of his suffragans, including Odilbald of Utrecht, with the consent of the clergy and people of the diocese and of Pope Hadrian II, who sent an embassy under Wibod, Bishop of Parma
Wibod, Bishop of Parma
Wibod was the Bishop of Parma from 855 until his death. He was, during the reigns of Louis II, Carloman, Charles III, and Berengar I, the most important power-broker in Emilia.Wibod was a frequent ambassador for Louis II after 860...
, carrying his letters of acceptance. His appointment was made rapidly in order to foil any attempt by Louis's rival, Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
, to fill the vacant see with a candidate favourable to him. Charles did succeed in placing Bertulf
Bertulf, Archbishop of Trier
Bertulf was the Archbishop of Trier from 869 until his death.On 26 September 870, Bertulf attended a synod at Cologne along with the other Rhenish metropolitans, Liutbert and Willibert, and reconsecrated Cologne Cathedral.-Sources:*...
in power in the Archdiocese of Trier.
Willibert received the contested pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
from Pope Hadrian II in 875. He extended the cathedral for use in holding synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
s, held the first provincial synod of his province there in 887, and was the first archbishop buried in the cathedral in 889. On 26 September 870, a German synod, attended by Liutbert and Bertulf, was held in Cologne with all the bishops of Saxony
Duchy of Saxony
The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein...
. The cathedral, desecrated by Gunther, was reconsecrated to Saint Peter.
In 876, Charles the Bald plotted to capture and blind his nephew Louis the Younger
Louis the Younger
Louis the Younger , sometimes Louis III, was the second eldest of the three sons of Louis the German and Emma. He succeeded his father as the King of Saxony on 28 August 876 and his elder brother Carloman as King of Bavaria from 880...
, with whom he was disputing Lotharingia
Lotharingia
Lotharingia was a region in northwest Europe, comprising the Low Countries, the western Rhineland, the lands today on the border between France and Germany, and what is now western Switzerland. It was born of the tripartite division in 855, of the kingdom of Middle Francia, itself formed of the...
. Willibert discovered the plot and tried to dissuade him but failing warned Louis instead.
Cologne was pillaged and razed by Vikings in 881–882, but Liutbert of Mainz assisted in rebuilding it. Willibert and Henry of Franconia
Henry of Franconia
Henry , a son of Count Poppo of Grapfeld, one of the first Babenbergs, was the most important East Frankish general during the reign of Charles the Fat. He was variously titled Count or Margrave of Saxony and Duke of Franconia....
met the Viking leader Godfrid, Duke of Frisia, at Herespich, an island in the confluence of the Rhine and the Waal. At the meeting, Godfrid was killed and Willibert persuaded Gisela, his wife, to leave the island and pursue a policy of peace.
Sources
- The Annals of Fulda. (Manchester Medieval series, Ninth-Century Histories, Volume II.) Reuter, Timothy (trans.) Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1992.