Diet of Pentecost facts for kids
The Mainzer Hoffest (which means "Mainz court festival") was a huge gathering of important people from the Holy Roman Empire. It was also called the Diet of Pentecost. Emperor Frederick I organized it in Mainz on May 20, 1184. It took place on an island called Maaraue, where the Main River meets the Rhine River. This event was a big deal because so many people came. It showed off the knightly way of life and the great power of the Hohenstaufen family, who were the emperors.
Planning the Big Event
In 1183, Emperor Frederick I had just won some political battles in Italy. He had also brought Henry the Lion, a powerful duke, back under his control. Because of these successes, the Emperor announced a huge court gathering in Mainz for the next year.
A special temporary city was built just for this event. It was made of wooden buildings and many tents. In the middle of this temporary city, a palace for the emperor and a church were built. Since the event was announced a year ahead of time, visitors came from all over Europe. People arrived from France, Spain, England, Italy, and the Balkan areas. Of course, many people also came from the Emperor's own lands north of the Alps.
Fun and Festivities
The Diet of Mainz started on May 20, 1184. A special church service was held in the wooden church. The Emperor and Empress, wearing their crowns, attended this service.
During the event, the Count of Hainaut had the important job of carrying the Emperor's sword. This was a very high honor. Some people at the time said there was a disagreement among the princes about who should carry the sword. But it seems the Emperor wanted to show special favor to the Count of Hainaut. This was because the Count was important for the Emperor's plans in the Lower Rhine region. It was also a way to show the Count's place within the Emperor's powerful system. The Count was even made an Imperial Prince at this event.
After the church service, a huge feast took place. Important leaders of the empire helped serve at the banquet. They took on special roles like innkeeper or marshal.
The next day was very exciting. The Emperor's two sons, Henry and Frederick, became knights. The Emperor himself performed the "accolade" ceremony for them. This is when a person is formally made a knight. Many other princes followed their example. They gave gifts like horses, fancy clothes, gold, and silver to knights and performers.
Then came a riding event called a "gyrum." Knights showed off their skills with shields, banners, and lances. It's said that about 20,000 people, including the Emperor and his sons, took part. The riding events continued the next day. More games were planned for the following week in Ingelheim. However, a big storm hit. Several tents and even the wooden church collapsed. Some people were hurt or died. People at the time thought this was a sign from God. So, the celebration was stopped.
Important Decisions
During the gathering, the Emperor also had serious talks. He met with Henry the Lion, who was protected by Archbishop Conrad. They talked about forming an alliance with England against France. But these talks did not succeed.
Another very important political event happened. It was a disagreement about where Abbot Konrad of Fulda should sit. According to a writer named Arnold of Lübeck, Abbot Konrad said it was his old right to sit to the left of the Emperor. Usually, only the Archbishop of Cologne sat there.
The Emperor then asked the Archbishop of Cologne, Philipp of Heinsberg, to let the Abbot of Fulda have that seat. Archbishop Philipp felt the Emperor was trying to weaken his position. Where you sat showed how important you were. So, Philipp asked to leave the festivities and go back to his lodging. This was like saying "no" to the Emperor's request. Many of the Archbishop's followers, including the Count Palatine (who was the Emperor's brother), also wanted to leave. This caused a big scene.
Then, the Emperor's son Henry quickly stood up. He went to the Archbishop and begged him, "Please, dearest father, stay here! Don't turn our joy into sadness." Because of this, Philipp was allowed to keep his usual seat on the Emperor's left. The Abbot of Fulda had to sit in a lower spot. This showed that the Archbishop's high rank was respected.
