Walram of Jülich
Encyclopedia
Walram of Jülich was Archbishop of Cologne from 1332 to his death in 1349.
and his wife Elisabeth of Brabant-Aarschot. From 1316 to 1330 he studied in Orléans
and Paris
. From 1327 he was a canon
in Cologne
, as well as a provost
in Maastricht
.
In 1332 the Archbishopric of Cologne fell vacant. The cathedral chapter
had requested the appointment of the Francophile Bishop of Liège, Adolf II of the Mark. However, Walram's brother, Count William V of Jülich
, spent enormous sums of money on procuring Walram's election as archbishop (sums which Walram by the time of his death had still not been able to repay completely), in which he was successful. Walram thus became Archbishop of Cologne on 27 January 1331/32, with the support of Pope John XXII
.
At this time Walram was still living in France. His appointment clearly rested on his high birth and the wealth and political will of his brother rather than on his own ability. At the beginning of his time in office the tensions which had been building up over the previous decade between the Archbishopric of Cologne and the County of Jülich were dispersed and a formal accord set in place between the two states, in which the dominant partner was Count William V of Jülich. Peace was thus established on the lower Rhine early in the new archbishop's reign. This enabled him to concentrate his forces on the ongoing feud between the Archbishopric and the County of the Mark in Westphalia
and in 1345 to neutralise the County temporarily as a political power. The rulers of southern Westphalia had far-reaching connections however, particularly through their family relationships, and were soon able to escalate the conflict into a full-scale local war, to which in 1347 and 1349 it was eventually possible to negotiate a peace treaty.
This military activity put such a strain on Cologne's finances that the cathedral chapter exercised its right of co-rulership and bound the archbishop to seek its consent for all future decisions. This curtailment of his powers, together possibly with a realisation of his personal weaknesses, persuaded him to withdraw from day-to-day government in 1347, leaving charge of the finances and later also of other administrative duties to the knight Reinhard von Schönau.
Walram was not however entirely lacking in achievements. In the first years of his reign he agreed a pact of friendship between the Archbishopric and the City of Cologne. In 1334, before the start of his troubles, he founded Cologne Charterhouse
, thus at last establishing a Carthusian
presence in the birthplace of the order's founder, Bruno of Cologne
. He was able in the 1340s to obtain in return for his vote in the election of Emperor Charles IV
significant concessions and money, which he used to extend the territory of the Archbishopric. In 1344 he entirely rebuilt with improved defences the town of Menden
after it was destroyed by Count Adolph II of the Marck
, having granted it municipal rights earlier in his reign. (As a result of its unfortunate position on the border of the County of the Mark Menden was unusually subject to damage in the repeated conflicts between Cologne and the Counts of the Mark, and had been destroyed several times in the previous century by both sides).
In 1349 he began a journey to France with a small retinue, ostensibly for the purpose of saving the chapter the great expenses of maintaining a court. In the course of the journey he died on 14 August 1349 in Paris. His body was returned to Cologne and is buried in the quire of the cathedral.
Life
Walram was one of the younger sons of Count Gerhard V of JülichGerhard V of Jülich
Gerhard V of Jülich , Count of Jülich , was the youngest son of William IV, Count of Jülich and Richardis of Guelders, daughter of Gerard III, Count of Guelders....
and his wife Elisabeth of Brabant-Aarschot. From 1316 to 1330 he studied in Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. From 1327 he was a 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 Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site...
, as well as a 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...
in Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
.
In 1332 the Archbishopric of Cologne fell vacant. The cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
had requested the appointment of the Francophile Bishop of Liège, Adolf II of the Mark. However, Walram's brother, Count William V of Jülich
William V, Duke of Jülich
William V, Duke of Jülich , the first Duke of Jülich, was the eldest son of Gerhard V of Jülich and Elisabeth of Brabant-Aarschot, daughter of Godfrey of Brabant....
, spent enormous sums of money on procuring Walram's election as archbishop (sums which Walram by the time of his death had still not been able to repay completely), in which he was successful. Walram thus became Archbishop of Cologne on 27 January 1331/32, with the support of 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...
.
At this time Walram was still living in France. His appointment clearly rested on his high birth and the wealth and political will of his brother rather than on his own ability. At the beginning of his time in office the tensions which had been building up over the previous decade between the Archbishopric of Cologne and the County of Jülich were dispersed and a formal accord set in place between the two states, in which the dominant partner was Count William V of Jülich. Peace was thus established on the lower Rhine early in the new archbishop's reign. This enabled him to concentrate his forces on the ongoing feud between the Archbishopric and the County of the Mark in Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
and in 1345 to neutralise the County temporarily as a political power. The rulers of southern Westphalia had far-reaching connections however, particularly through their family relationships, and were soon able to escalate the conflict into a full-scale local war, to which in 1347 and 1349 it was eventually possible to negotiate a peace treaty.
This military activity put such a strain on Cologne's finances that the cathedral chapter exercised its right of co-rulership and bound the archbishop to seek its consent for all future decisions. This curtailment of his powers, together possibly with a realisation of his personal weaknesses, persuaded him to withdraw from day-to-day government in 1347, leaving charge of the finances and later also of other administrative duties to the knight Reinhard von Schönau.
Walram was not however entirely lacking in achievements. In the first years of his reign he agreed a pact of friendship between the Archbishopric and the City of Cologne. In 1334, before the start of his troubles, he founded Cologne Charterhouse
Cologne Charterhouse
Cologne Charterhouse was a Carthusian monastery or charterhouse established in the Severinsviertel district, in the present Altstadt-Süd, of Cologne, Germany. Founded in 1334, the monastery developed into the largest charterhouse in Germany until it was forcibly dissolved in 1794 by the invading...
, thus at last establishing a Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
presence in the birthplace of the order's founder, Bruno of Cologne
Bruno of Cologne
Saint Bruno of Cologne , the founder of the Carthusian Order, personally founded the order's first two communities...
. He was able in the 1340s to obtain in return for his vote in the election of Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
significant concessions and money, which he used to extend the territory of the Archbishopric. In 1344 he entirely rebuilt with improved defences the town of Menden
Menden (Sauerland)
Menden is a town in the district Märkischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located at the north end of the Sauerland near the Ruhr river.-History:...
after it was destroyed by Count Adolph II of the Marck
Adolph II of the Marck
Adolph II of the Marck was Count of the Marck.He was the eldest son of Engelbert II of the Marck and Mechtild of Arenberg....
, having granted it municipal rights earlier in his reign. (As a result of its unfortunate position on the border of the County of the Mark Menden was unusually subject to damage in the repeated conflicts between Cologne and the Counts of the Mark, and had been destroyed several times in the previous century by both sides).
In 1349 he began a journey to France with a small retinue, ostensibly for the purpose of saving the chapter the great expenses of maintaining a court. In the course of the journey he died on 14 August 1349 in Paris. His body was returned to Cologne and is buried in the quire of the cathedral.
Memorials
Apart from his grave in Cologne Cathedral, his name is honoured by a street and a school - the Walram-Gymnasium and the Walramstraße - in Menden.Sources
- Janssen, Wilhelm, 1970: 'Walram von Jülich (1304-1349) in: Rheinische Lebensbilder, vol. 4, Düsseldorf/Cologne 1970 (2nd ed Cologne 1980), pp. 37-56