Rudolf van Diepholt
Encyclopedia
Rudolf van Diepholt was a bishop
of Utrecht from 1423 to 1455 and bishop of Osnabrück
from 1454 to 1455.
Rudolf van Diepholt was one of the most influential Prince-Bishops of Utrecht in the late Middle Ages. Rudolf was the son of Johann III, Lord of Diepholz
(died 1422), and Countess Kunigunde von Oldenburg
; he was brother of Konrad IX, Lord of Diepholz (died 1426), and uncle of Otto IV, Lord of Diepholz (died 1481).
Before his appointment as bishop, Rudolf van Diepholt was Canon
in Cologne
. Utrecht was divided by a faction-struggle between the Lichtenbergers and Lokhorsten when a new bishop had to be chosen in 1423. Rudolf was a candidate of the Lichtenbergers, and was elected by the chapters
thanks to support from the towns and nobles. The Lokhorsten, however, refused to cease the support of their candidate Zweder van Culemborg
. Pope Martin V attempted to resolve the conflict on 7 June 1424, by appointed his own favourite; Rhabanus van Helmstatt. Unfortunately Rhabanus did not want the appointment, and withdrew, at which the pope appointed Zweder on 6 February 1425 as bishop of Utrecht. This period is called the Utrecht Schism. Zweder used violence to gain control of the bishopric, but he was driven out of the city in 1426 by the Lichtenbergers. Rudolf was excommunicated by the pope, but he managed to maintain himself, even though Zweder was initially supported by the duke of Guelders
and duke Philip the Good, also count of Holland
.
Rudolf, however, was able to sign agreements with both neighbouring rulers. When Martin V's successor, pope Eugene IV, also recognised Rudolf as bishop on 10 December 1432, Rudolf was finally able to make his official entrance as bishop in 1433. Zweder van Culemborg died the same year, but his claim was picked up by Walraven van Meurs, who was supported by the Council of Basel. Walraven eventually retracted his claim in 1448, ending the Utrecht Schism. Rudolf was now universally recognised, but in the same year he was driven out of the city by his subjects, who were unhappy with his tax-policies. In 1449 Rudolf violently returned, and he held his position until his death in 1455
When Hendrik van Meurs, bishop of Osnabruck died in 1450, Rudolf involved himself in a succession struggle that lasted for years. Rudolf attempted to put his nephew Koenraad van Diepholt, provost at Osnabrück, on the ecclesiastical seat. But in 1454 Rudolf dealt a heavy blow to his opponents, after which he became bishop of Osnabrück
himself. After his death his nephew succeeded him as bishop of Osnabrück.
Rudolf van Diepholt advanced the construction of the Dom Church, and he was interred in a chapel that carries his name.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Utrecht from 1423 to 1455 and bishop of Osnabrück
Bishopric of Osnabrück
The Diocese of Osnabrück is a diocese of the Catholic church in Germany; it was founded around 800. It was also a Prince-Bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire until 1803.- The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück :...
from 1454 to 1455.
Rudolf van Diepholt was one of the most influential Prince-Bishops of Utrecht in the late Middle Ages. Rudolf was the son of Johann III, Lord of Diepholz
Diepholz
Diepholz is a town and capital of the district of Diepholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Hunte, approximately 45 km northeast of Osnabrück, and 60 km southwest of Bremen....
(died 1422), and Countess Kunigunde von Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
; he was brother of Konrad IX, Lord of Diepholz (died 1426), and uncle of Otto IV, Lord of Diepholz (died 1481).
Before his appointment as bishop, Rudolf van Diepholt was Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. Utrecht was divided by a faction-struggle between the Lichtenbergers and Lokhorsten when a new bishop had to be chosen in 1423. Rudolf was a candidate of the Lichtenbergers, and was elected by the chapters
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
thanks to support from the towns and nobles. The Lokhorsten, however, refused to cease the support of their candidate Zweder van Culemborg
Zweder van Culemborg
Zweder van Culemborg was bishop of Utrecht during the Utrecht Schism.After the death of bishop Frederik III van Blankenheim in 1423, a succession-conflict had emerged between the two candidates for the bishopric's seat; Zweder van Culemborg and Rudolf van Diepholt...
. Pope Martin V attempted to resolve the conflict on 7 June 1424, by appointed his own favourite; Rhabanus van Helmstatt. Unfortunately Rhabanus did not want the appointment, and withdrew, at which the pope appointed Zweder on 6 February 1425 as bishop of Utrecht. This period is called the Utrecht Schism. Zweder used violence to gain control of the bishopric, but he was driven out of the city in 1426 by the Lichtenbergers. Rudolf was excommunicated by the pope, but he managed to maintain himself, even though Zweder was initially supported by the duke of Guelders
Guelders
Guelders or Gueldres is the name of a historical county, later duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries.-Geography:...
and duke Philip the Good, also count of Holland
County of Holland
The County of Holland was a county in the Holy Roman Empire and from 1482 part of the Habsburg Netherlands in what is now the Netherlands. It covered an area roughly corresponding to the current Dutch provinces of North-Holland and South-Holland, as well as the islands of Terschelling, Vlieland,...
.
Rudolf, however, was able to sign agreements with both neighbouring rulers. When Martin V's successor, pope Eugene IV, also recognised Rudolf as bishop on 10 December 1432, Rudolf was finally able to make his official entrance as bishop in 1433. Zweder van Culemborg died the same year, but his claim was picked up by Walraven van Meurs, who was supported by the Council of Basel. Walraven eventually retracted his claim in 1448, ending the Utrecht Schism. Rudolf was now universally recognised, but in the same year he was driven out of the city by his subjects, who were unhappy with his tax-policies. In 1449 Rudolf violently returned, and he held his position until his death in 1455
When Hendrik van Meurs, bishop of Osnabruck died in 1450, Rudolf involved himself in a succession struggle that lasted for years. Rudolf attempted to put his nephew Koenraad van Diepholt, provost at Osnabrück, on the ecclesiastical seat. But in 1454 Rudolf dealt a heavy blow to his opponents, after which he became bishop of Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
himself. After his death his nephew succeeded him as bishop of Osnabrück.
Rudolf van Diepholt advanced the construction of the Dom Church, and he was interred in a chapel that carries his name.