Johann Gebhard von Mansfeld-Vorderort, born circa 1525-30, was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. He died in Frankfurt

Frankfurt

Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...

 on 2 November 1562.

Career

Both Gebhard and his older brother were founding members of the Schmalkaldic League

Schmalkaldic League

The Schmalkaldic League was a defensive alliance of Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire during the mid-16th century. Although originally started for religious motives soon after the start of the Protestant Reformation, its members eventually intended for the League to replace the Holy...

. A dispute between Gebhard and his brother, Johann Albert, Graf von Mansfeld zu Arnstein (1522-1586) in 1546, led to mediation by 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...

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In 1558, Gebhard of Mansfeld was elected archbishop of Cologne. During his tenure, the Diocese of Utrecht ceased to be a suffragan of Cologne, and the Deanery of Zyfflich was incorporated with the newly founded diocese of Roermond

Diocese of Roermond

The Diocese of Roermond is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The diocese is one of the seven Roman-Catholic dioceses suffragan to the Archdiocese of Utrecht....

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Family

As Domherr, a member of the Cathedral chapter, he lived in concubinage. He had at least one surviving child, a daughter Sybilla, who married, first, Eduard (Egbert) von Bocholtz (died after 1590); and second, Johann Eggenoy (died before 1616).