Ruprecht of the Palatinate (Archbishop of Cologne)
Ruprecht of the Palatinate (* February 27, 1427; † July 16, 1480 at Burg Blankenstein ) was Archbishop and Elector of Cologne ( 1463-1480 ).
Life
His parents were Elector Ludwig III. of the Palatinate and Mechthild of Savoy. Ruprecht was elected on March 30, 1463 to the Archbishop. It was only confirmed by the Pope in August 1464, he should not diminish its weak energy in the stands Kurkölns their rights and grant the archbishopric by its origin external security. At the same time he should solve the internal problems of the Archdiocese.
After a good government it was confirmed for the first years of his episcopate, the impatient Ruprecht but came into conflict with his counselors, and plunged into foreign policy activities. A 1467 this alliance should lead to the recapture of the cities Soest, Xanten and Rees. After receiving the regalia in August 1471 by the Emperor, he called in the fall of the stands to increase tax. To get to this, he held the lien held by the cathedral chapter in town Zons. This led to an irreparable split with the cathedral chapter.
He also tried to curtail the privileges of the towns within the archdiocese, but was defeated at the siege of Neuss 1474/75. Militarily, assisted by his brother Frederick I the Victorious, he began the pen feud of Cologne. Ruprecht then called Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy to help.
Now he also announced the estates on the loyalty and lodged a complaint with the pope and the emperor. In an open rebellion broke out the Estates, as they proclaimed the canons of Hermann Hesse to captain and protector of the archdiocese. Only some minor masters of the knights and cities were still behind him.
Still in December 1473 tried Kaiser Friedrich III. to mediate in the Cologne pin feud, but failed. Rather, Ruprecht tied more closely to its allies and called the Duke of Burgundy as his guardian.
Over time, the position of the Archbishop became weaker and weaker, until finally only the offices of Kempen and Altenahr stood by him when he got into Hessian captivity in March 1478. On Blankenstein Castle in Gladenbach in captivity, they admitted him under jülich - bergischer switching to the retention of his title as archbishop and a decent living. For this purpose, he should however refrain from the Archbishopric of Cologne.
Even before acceptance of his resignation by the Pope died Ruprecht and was buried in Bonner Münster. His successor was the defender of the city of Neuss, Hermann IV of Hesse.
Ruprecht, who had received episcopal ordination on Palm Sunday, 1468, could look back on successes in the monastery reform of his diocese. Even the rare hl. Celebratory Mass, he was yet to read the Mass every day. In the autumn of 1478 he had his auxiliary bishop, Henry of Rübenach, hold a diocesan synod in Buederich. Unlike many of his predecessors, he followed the consequences of the Pope imposed on him excommunication and not ignored him.
The Archbishop was an avid hunter and fowler.