Peter Aspelt was Archbishop of Mainz from 1306 to 1320, and an influential political figure of the period. He brought the archbishopric to its peak of power.

He was born at Aspelt

Aspelt

Aspelt is a small town in the commune of Frisange, in southern Luxembourg. In 2005, its population was 970.Aspelt Castle in the centre of the town is a Baroque residence built in 1590 on the site of a medieval castle from the 11th century. There are now plans to renovate the building....

, Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

, and was appointed to the leadership of the Archbishopric of Trier

Archbishopric of Trier

The Archbishopric of Trier was a Roman Catholic diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Its suffragans were the dioceses of Metz, Toul and Verdun. Since the 9th century the Archbishops of Trier were simultaneously princes and since the 11th...

, with John Gylet. He was Bishop of Basel from 1296 to 1306. Once personal physician to Rudolf of Habsburg, he became an opponent of the Habsburgs on the wider European stage.

He was chancellor to Wenceslaus II, and supported Henry, Count of Luxemburg in his election as Holy Roman Emperor

Holy Roman Emperor

The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...

. He administered Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

 during the minority of Henry's son, John of Luxemburg, whom he helped become King of Bohemia. He also promoted, as an Elector, the cause of Henry's successor Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor

Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor

Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....

.

A 1310 confrontation with the Knights Templar

Knights Templar

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...

led in due course to his taking a protective line towards them.