Burchard II, Bishop of Halberstadt
Encyclopedia
Burchard II (also Burckhardt, Bucco, or Buko) (ca. 1028 – 7 April 1088) was a German cleric and statesman, the Bishop of Halberstadt from 1059 until his death, and a nephew of the archbishops Anno II of Cologne
and Werner of Magdeburg.
In 1057, Burchard became provost
of the church of SS Simon and Judas in Goslar
. In 1059, through the intervention of his uncle, Anno, he succeeded Burchard I in the diocese of Halberstadt.
In 1062, it was the decision of a German-Italian synod held at Augsburg
to send Burchard, high in the favour of the regent of the young Henry IV
, Empress Agnes, to Rome
to mediate a disputed Papal election between the legitimate Pope Alexander II
and the Antipope Honorius II
. Although the German crown stood by Honorius, Burchard vowed to stand by Hildebrand
, the great Papal reformer
, and supported Alexander. In gratitude, Alexander bestowed on Burchard the coveted pallium
.
In the dead of winter 1067–1068, Burchard, crossing frozen marshland, invaded the country of the Wilzi, razed the pagan temple at Rethra, and returned to Saxony
riding the sacred black horse. As late as the early twentieth century, children of the region around Halberstadt
still sang nursery rhymes in memory of this feat:
In 1073, Burchard sided with the Saxon
rebels against Henry IV. On 13 July 1075, he was captured at Hohenburg on the Unstrut
and handed over to the Bishop of Bamberg. In 1076, he was banished to Hungary
, but he escaped and returned to Halberstadt. Thereafter, Burchard sided with every imperial opponent of Henry IV, including the anti-kings Rudolf of Rheinfelden and Herman of Salm. After a resolution in 1085, Henry sought to depose Burchard at the synod of Mainz
, but he was only briefly successful in removing him from his diocese.
Finally, Burchard entered into a dispute with Egbert II, Margrave of Meissen
, who sought to be elected anti-king in succession to Rudolf. The bishop was injured in a skirmish and died soon after at the monastery of Ilsenburg
in the Harz Mountains.
Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne
Saint Anno II was Archbishop of Cologne from 1056 to 1075.He was born around 1010, belonging to the Swabian family of the von Steusslingen, and was educated at Bamberg. He became confessor to the Emperor Henry III, who appointed him archbishop of Cologne in 1056...
and Werner of Magdeburg.
In 1057, Burchard became 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 church of SS Simon and Judas 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...
. In 1059, through the intervention of his uncle, Anno, he succeeded Burchard I in the diocese of Halberstadt.
In 1062, it was the decision of a German-Italian synod held at Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
to send Burchard, high in the favour of the regent of the young 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...
, Empress Agnes, 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...
to mediate a disputed Papal election between the legitimate Pope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II , born Anselmo da Baggio, was Pope from 1061 to 1073.He was born in Milan. As bishop of Lucca he had been an energetic coadjutor with Hildebrand of Sovana in endeavouring to suppress simony, and to enforce the celibacy of the clergy...
and the Antipope Honorius II
Antipope Honorius II
Honorius II , born Pietro Cadalus, was an antipope from 1061 to 1072. He was born at Verona and became bishop of Parma in 1046. He died at Parma in 1072....
. Although the German crown stood by Honorius, Burchard vowed to stand by Hildebrand
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
, the great Papal reformer
Gregorian Reform
The Gregorian Reforms were a series of reforms initiated by Pope Gregory VII and the circle he formed in the papal curia, circa 1050–80, which dealt with the moral integrity and independence of the clergy...
, and supported Alexander. In gratitude, Alexander bestowed on Burchard the coveted 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...
.
In the dead of winter 1067–1068, Burchard, crossing frozen marshland, invaded the country of the Wilzi, razed the pagan temple at Rethra, and returned to 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...
riding the sacred black horse. As late as the early twentieth century, children of the region around 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....
still sang nursery rhymes in memory of this feat:
Buko von Halberstadt,
Bring doch meinen Kinde wat.
"Wat sall ik em denn bringen?"
"Goldne Schoh mit Ringen."
Buko of Halberstadt,
Bring something to my child.
"What shall I bring to him?"
"Golden shoes with buckles."
In 1073, Burchard sided with the Saxon
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...
rebels against Henry IV. On 13 July 1075, he was captured at Hohenburg on the Unstrut
Unstrut
The Unstrut is a river in Germany and a left tributary of the Saale. It originates in northern Thuringia near Dingelstädt and its catchment area is the whole of the Thuringian Basin...
and handed over to the Bishop of Bamberg. In 1076, he was banished to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, but he escaped and returned to Halberstadt. Thereafter, Burchard sided with every imperial opponent of Henry IV, including the anti-kings Rudolf of Rheinfelden and Herman of Salm. After a resolution in 1085, Henry sought to depose Burchard at the synod of Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, but he was only briefly successful in removing him from his diocese.
Finally, Burchard entered into a dispute with Egbert II, Margrave of Meissen
Egbert II, Margrave of Meissen
Egbert II was Count of Brunswick and Margrave of Meissen. He was the eldest son of the Margrave Egbert I of the Brunonen family.Still a minor, he succeeded his father on the latter's death 11 January 1068 in Brunswick and Meissen...
, who sought to be elected anti-king in succession to Rudolf. The bishop was injured in a skirmish and died soon after at the monastery of Ilsenburg
Ilsenburg
Ilsenburg is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. It is situated under the north foot of the Harz Mountains, at the entrance to the Ilsetal valley of the small Ilse river, a tributary of the Oker, about six north-west of the town of Wernigerode. It received town privileges...
in the Harz Mountains.