Adolph II of Nassau

Adolf of Nassau- Wiesbaden- Idstein (c. 1423; † September 6, 1475 in Eltville ) served as Adolf II 1461-1475 Elector and Archbishop of Mainz.

He was born about 1423, the son of Count Adolf II of Nassau- Wiesbaden- Idstein and Margaret of Baden.

For the election of the Archbishop of Mainz in 1459 by the first chapter of Mainz Adolf underwent almost his rival candidates Diether von Isenburg. However, Diether was discontinued two years later because of its oppositional stance towards the Church and Emperor by Pope Pius II again. At the same time put the Pope Adolf of Nassau as the new archbishop. As city and cathedral chapter continued to hold to Diether, Adolf had to impose by force.

The devastating and bloody and costly Mainz pin feud lasted a year and culminated on 28 October 1462 as Adolf's troops invaded Mainz and about 500 people lost their lives and another 400 were expelled from the city. But only a year later, the defeated Diether resigned; Peace of Zeilsheim he renounced the Mainz Erzstuhl and was resigned to a mainly consisting of the cities of maximum, Steinheim and Dieburg own principality and a considerable sum of money.

Adolf II was inspired by the Mainz citizens all since the great privilege of freedom of Siegfried III. conferred by Eppstein privileges to hand and so ended the existence of the Free City of Mainz.

Adolf II decreed in 1470 the expulsion of all Jews from the Mainz Archbishopric.

After his death in 1475, Adolf of Nassau was buried in the basilica of Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau. Diether von Isenburg became his successor.