Adalbert of Hamburg
Encyclopedia
This article is about Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen. For other uses, see Adalbert (disambiguation).
Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen (also Albert, Count Palatine of Saxony; probably in Goseck
, c. 1000 – 16 March 1072 in Goslar
) was a German prelate, who was Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen from 1043 until his death. He is also known as Adalbert I of the Palatinate of Saxony.
Adalbert was the son of Count Friedrich von Goseck, a political figure of the Holy Roman Empire
, papal legate
, Vikar des Nordens, one of the regents of Emperor Henry IV
.
Adalbert became subdeacon
to the Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen in 1032, later provost
of the Halberstadt
Cathedral, and Archbishop
of Hamburg-Bremen in 1043 or 1045 with supremacy over the Scandinavian Peninsula
and a great part of the Wend
lands, and all territory north of the Elbe
.
Having accompanied the Emperor Henry III
on a christianization
campaign in 1045, he also journeyed with him to Rome
in 1046. Adam of Bremen
rumours Adalbert to have refused a candidacy as pope
, resulting in the election of Clement II, to continue with the conversion of the Wends.
Adalbert worked to increase the influence of his patriarchate, and thereby also the influence of the Holy Roman Empire
, but met resistance from the Scandinavia
n kings who preferred to receive bishops consecrated in Canterbury
, then under Danish influence. King Sweyn II of Denmark
appealed to the Emperor and to Pope Leo IX
for an archbishop of his own, which would mean a loss to Hamburg of lands just yielding fruits after two hundred years of Christianization. The whole discussion was cut short by the death of both Pope (1054) and Emperor (1056).
Subsequently, Adalbert lost his hold on the imperial court, and the young Emperor, Henry IV
, fell under the influence of the Archbishop Anno of Cologne. However, Adalbert gained control of Henry's education, eventually superseding Anno in his confidence and esteem, but again forced to retire from court in 1066–1069.
Archbishop Adalbert is characterized by Adam of Bremen
as:
He died at Goslar
in 1072.
Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen (also Albert, Count Palatine of Saxony; probably in Goseck
Goseck
Goseck is a municipality lying on the Saale River, in the Burgenlandkreis district of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.-Geographic location:Goseck is located on the north bank of the Saale River about halfway between Naumburg and Weißenfels....
, c. 1000 – 16 March 1072 in Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
) was a German prelate, who was Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen from 1043 until his death. He is also known as Adalbert I of the Palatinate of Saxony.
Adalbert was the son of Count Friedrich von Goseck, a political figure of 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...
, 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....
, Vikar des Nordens, one of the regents of Emperor Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
.
Adalbert became subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
to the Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen in 1032, later 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...
of the Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
Cathedral, and Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Hamburg-Bremen in 1043 or 1045 with supremacy over the Scandinavian Peninsula
Scandinavian Peninsula
The Scandinavian Peninsula is a peninsula in Northern Europe, which today covers Norway, Sweden, and most of northern Finland. Prior to the 17th and 18th centuries, large parts of the southern peninsula—including the core region of Scania from which the peninsula takes its name—were part of...
and a great part of the Wend
Wends
Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used...
lands, and all territory north of the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
.
Having accompanied the Emperor Henry III
Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors...
on a christianization
Christianization
The historical phenomenon of Christianization is the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once...
campaign in 1045, he also journeyed with him to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1046. Adam of Bremen
Adam of Bremen
Adam of Bremen was a German medieval chronicler. He lived and worked in the second half of the eleventh century. He is most famous for his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum .-Background:Little is known of his life other than hints from his own chronicles...
rumours Adalbert to have refused a candidacy as pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, resulting in the election of Clement II, to continue with the conversion of the Wends.
Adalbert worked to increase the influence of his patriarchate, and thereby also the influence of 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...
, but met resistance from the Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n kings who preferred to receive bishops consecrated in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, then under Danish influence. King Sweyn II of Denmark
Sweyn II of Denmark
Sweyn II Estridsson Ulfsson was the King of Denmark from 1047 to 1074. He was the son of Ulf Jarl and Estrid Svendsdatter. He was married three times, and fathered 20 children or more, including the five future kings Harald III Hen, Canute IV the Saint, Oluf I Hunger, Eric I Evergood and Niels...
appealed to the Emperor and to Pope Leo IX
Pope Leo IX
Pope Saint Leo IX , born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg, was Pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. He was a German aristocrat and as well as being Pope was a powerful secular ruler of central Italy. He is regarded as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, with the feast day of April 19...
for an archbishop of his own, which would mean a loss to Hamburg of lands just yielding fruits after two hundred years of Christianization. The whole discussion was cut short by the death of both Pope (1054) and Emperor (1056).
Subsequently, Adalbert lost his hold on the imperial court, and the young Emperor, Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
, fell under the influence of the Archbishop Anno of Cologne. However, Adalbert gained control of Henry's education, eventually superseding Anno in his confidence and esteem, but again forced to retire from court in 1066–1069.
Archbishop Adalbert is characterized by Adam of Bremen
Adam of Bremen
Adam of Bremen was a German medieval chronicler. He lived and worked in the second half of the eleventh century. He is most famous for his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum .-Background:Little is known of his life other than hints from his own chronicles...
as:
Generous, prudent, and zealous as he was, his character was marred by indomitable pride, which has caused him to be depicted in the blackest colours.
He died at Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
in 1072.