Jan III van Diest
Encyclopedia
John or Jan van Diest was bishop of Utrecht from 1322 to 1340.
Jan descended from a noble family from Brabant
, and was initially provost
of Cambrai
. In 1322 Jan was proposed as candidate for the Bishopric of Utrecht by William III, Count of Holland and Reginald II of Guelders
, much against the wishes of the Utrecht chapters
, who had chosen Jan van Bronkhorst. The latter was confirmed by the archbishop of Cologne, but Pope John XXII
intervened, declaring the choice of the Utrecht chapters void, and personally consecrated
Jan van Diest in Avignon
. It was not until 1327 that Jan was dedicated as priest
.
Jan's reign was a low point for the bishopric of Utrecht. It was characterised by financial abuses and nepotism
on a large scale. Upon taking office, Jan immediately inherited a large debt from his predecessors. Jan made the situation even worse through the purchase of goods in the Oversticht. Not only did the local nobility profit from this, but the counts of Holland and Guelders also saw their chances. They lend the bishop large amounts of money, which made the bishop completely dependent on them. In 1331 the counts of Holland and Guelders signed an agreement where they would divide the lands of the bishopric amongst themselves. William III threatened to take over the Nedersticht
, and it was only because of the resistance of its citizens that the independence of the bishopric was maintained.
Jan van Diest was buried in the Dom Church.
Jan descended from a noble family from Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
, and was initially 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 Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
. In 1322 Jan was proposed as candidate for the Bishopric of Utrecht by William III, Count of Holland and Reginald II of Guelders
Reginald II of Guelders
Reginald II of Guelders , called "the Black" , was Count of Guelders, and from 1339 onwards Duke of Guelders, and Zutphen, in the Low Countries, from 1326 to 1343...
, much against the wishes of the Utrecht chapters
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
, who had chosen Jan van Bronkhorst. The latter was confirmed by the archbishop of Cologne, but Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
intervened, declaring the choice of the Utrecht chapters void, and personally consecrated
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
Jan van Diest in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
. It was not until 1327 that Jan was dedicated as priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
.
Jan's reign was a low point for the bishopric of Utrecht. It was characterised by financial abuses and nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
on a large scale. Upon taking office, Jan immediately inherited a large debt from his predecessors. Jan made the situation even worse through the purchase of goods in the Oversticht. Not only did the local nobility profit from this, but the counts of Holland and Guelders also saw their chances. They lend the bishop large amounts of money, which made the bishop completely dependent on them. In 1331 the counts of Holland and Guelders signed an agreement where they would divide the lands of the bishopric amongst themselves. William III threatened to take over the Nedersticht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
, and it was only because of the resistance of its citizens that the independence of the bishopric was maintained.
Jan van Diest was buried in the Dom Church.