Conrad of Wittelsbach facts for kids

Conrad of Wittelsbach (born around 1120/1125 – died October 25, 1200) was a very important leader in the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. He served as the Archbishop of Mainz (known as Conrad I) and also as the Archchancellor of Germany. These were powerful roles from 1161 to 1165, and again from 1183 until his death. He was also a cardinal, which is a high-ranking official who advises the Pope.

Conrad of Wittelsbach: A Powerful Church Leader

Conrad was the son of Otto IV, Count of Wittelsbach, and the brother of Otto I of Bavaria. He studied in important cities like Salzburg and Paris.

Early Life and Challenges

In 1161, at a meeting called the Council of Lodi, Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, chose Conrad to become the Archbishop of Mainz. This was done to help end a disagreement within the church. At the same meeting, Barbarossa supported a different Pope, known as an antipope, instead of the official Pope Alexander III.

After the antipope died in 1164, another antipope was chosen. Conrad refused to support this new antipope. Because of this, he had a disagreement with Emperor Barbarossa. Conrad then had to leave Germany. He went to France and then to Rome in 1165. Even though the emperor gave Conrad's old job to someone else, Pope Alexander III still believed Conrad was the rightful archbishop. The Pope also made Conrad a cardinal, giving him even more important roles in the church.

Return to Mainz

In 1177, a peace agreement called the Treaty of Venice was made. As part of this agreement, the Pope had to accept the emperor's choice for Archbishop of Mainz. However, Conrad was given a new important position: he became the Archbishop of Salzburg.

Conrad always felt that he was the true Archbishop of Mainz. When the other archbishop died in 1183, Conrad was finally able to return to Mainz and take up his duties again. The city of Mainz had faced problems before, including damage to its defenses. Conrad worked hard to rebuild the city's walls and also renovated the important Mainz Cathedral. He also helped organize a huge gathering in 1184, which was known as one of the biggest feasts of the Middle Ages.

Crusades and Diplomacy

Conrad was involved in many important events. In 1187, he helped convince other church leaders to support the emperor. In 1188, a major meeting was held in Mainz where the Third Crusade was announced. A crusade was a religious war to take back holy lands.

Conrad himself led an army on a Crusade in 1197. This was the same year that Emperor Henry VI died. While Conrad was in the Holy Land, he acted as a special representative for Pope Celestine III. He tried to help decide who would rule in the Principality of Antioch, a Christian state in the Middle East.

In 1199, Conrad returned with new powers from Pope Innocent III. He successfully helped create a truce, or a temporary peace agreement, between two powerful groups in Germany: the Hohenstaufen and the Welf families. These families were often in conflict, so Conrad's work helped bring peace.

Later Life and Legacy

As a cardinal, Conrad signed many important church documents between 1166 and 1199. After another cardinal became Pope Lucius III in 1181, Conrad became the new leader of the College of Cardinals, which is the group of all cardinals.

Conrad was returning from the Kingdom of Hungary in October 1200. He had been there to help two brothers, Emeric of Hungary and Andrew II of Hungary, settle their disagreements. He died on his way back to Mainz, near a place called Neustadt. He was buried in the cathedral in Mainz, the very church he had helped to expand and improve.