Karl Theodor Anton Maria von Dalberg

Karl Theodor Anton Maria baron von Dalberg ( he signed with Carl ) ( born February 8, 1744 Mannheim, † February 10, 1817 in Regensburg ) was archbishop and statesman, writer, Popular philosopher and friend of the Weimar poet and member of many scientific academies.

As bishop, he stood before the bishoprics of Constance, Worms, Mainz and Regensburg. As archbishop of Mainz and (from 1805) Regensburg, he was elector and Reichserzkanzler. He was re-equipped as Kurerzkanzler with the principalities of Aschaffenburg and ( until 1810 ) and Regensburg with the county Wetzlar By Reichsdeputationshauptschluss. After the end of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation ( 1806), he became Prince-Primate of the Confederation of the Rhine, and its territory, now Prince Prima Phonetic State, has been extended to Possession in the Spessart and around Frankfurt am Main. In 1808 he founded Charles University in Aschaffenburg, over which he presided as rector. In 1810 he had to renounce to the Principality of Regensburg and received instead the principalities of Fulda and Hanau and the title of Grand Duke of Frankfurt, which he remained until 1813. After that he kept only the items of the Rector of Charles University until 1815, and his ecclesiastical until he died in 1817.

Life

Origin and the beginning of a spiritual career

The son of the imperial chamberlains Franz Heinrich from the baronial family of Dalberg chose without any parental coercive religious career. The gifted child enjoyed a Catholic education which gave him a versatile knowledge. As a young man he devoted himself in Heidelberg the Study of Law, he graduated there in 1761 and then continued in Mainz. End of 1762, he embarked on his educational trip to Italy and France, of which he returned after two years. In Rome he met the archaeologist Johann Joachim Winckelmann know and in Pavia, he continued his legal studies. Beginning in 1765, he joined Electoral Mainz services, was soon entrusted with important tasks and was able to show his skills in numerous areas of the administration. Since 1754 Domizellar in Mainz, he was a canon in 1779 in Würzburg, as well as in 1786 canon of Mainz. More Domkanonikate he possessed in Worms and consistency. After 1780 he was Rector of the University of Würzburg, the Elector - Archbishop of Mainz in 1771 appointed him to the main hiss governor of Erfurt ( 1771-1802 ), which he had to manage the Thuringian part of the country. In 1780 he was provost of exchange Marketers angle and 1797 also provost in Würzburg. In 1789 he was elected a member of the Scholars Academy Leopoldina; still he was a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.

The 70s and 80s in Erfurt were the happiest time in Dalberg's life and were characterized by neighborly connections to Musenhof in Weimar, the reorganization of the University of Erfurt, the promotion of public education and the general welfare within the meaning of the Enlightenment. Yet for all the openness him particularly religious education, priest training, preaching and catechesis at heart. He was a member of the Illuminati order under the name ' Baco di Verulam ' and ' prefect ' of the Illuminati in Erfurt. Dalberg was despite opposing view in the research literature is not a member of the Masonic covenant, however, was well disposed towards him. From him the word is handed down, who wanted to be a Freemason, as a Christian, like a rider who is looking for his horse, although he was already sitting on it, which he emphasizes the ethical compatibility between Christianity and Freemasonry.

Acquisition episcopal Would

On June 5, 1787 he was elected to the Prussian support coadjutor of the Archbishop of Mainz. On June 18, 1787 election was followed by Coadjutor Bishop of Worms, and on June 18, 1788 election as coadjutor of the Bishop of Constance. In the meantime, Dalberg had been consecrated in Bamberg on November 11, 1787 priests. On March 10, 1788 the Pope appointed him Titular Archbishop of Tarsus in Cilicia, and on 31 August 1788, he received episcopal ordination in Aschaffenburg.

As Dalberg was then on January 17, 1800 finally became reigning prince bishop of Constance, his star was already in the shadow of the collapse of the old order. On July 25, 1802, he was also the last reigning Elector - Archbishop of Mainz and Bishop of Worms. Here, however, now the only one in the east of the Rhine -lying areas. Although the fate of the imperial church had already been decided, he strove to preserve the bishoprics. However, if he could not preserve the temporal power of them, so he wanted to continue to see at least im jus dioecesanum what he could actually prevail, but was still hardly noticed by the prince.

Primate of the German church 1803-1817

For the protection of the spiritual life Dalberg was fighting for the creation of the office of Primate under the authority of the Church's life could be then obtained. Although he was a child of its time, it was never Dalberg here to create a free papst National Church, but actually only the preservation of the Church in Germany. The Reichsdeputationshauptschluss transferred in 1803 because Mainz was now fallen finally to France, the dignity of the Elector of Mainz, the office of Reichserzkanzlers as well as offices of the Archbishop of Mainz and Primate of Germany from Mainz to the diocese of Regensburg. The rights of the new Metropolitan Archdiocese should expand in the future to the whole right bank German Empire, except the territories of Prussia and Austria. The election for the seat of the Imperial Chancellor had fallen to Regensburg, because there was assembled the Reichstag. § 25 of the Reichsrezesses states that "If an elector, imperial arch-chancellor, Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate of Germany " forever should be connected to the Bishop of Regensburg chair. The Metropolitan jurisdiction extended to all German dioceses, with the exception of Austria and Salzburg under the Prussian. For this purpose was from the area of the Principality of Aschaffenburg, the imperial city (now county) Wetzlar and the Principality of Regensburg, Electorate been built. The Principality of Regensburg consisted at that time of the Regensburg bishopric with the dominions Donaustauf, Worth and High Castle, the Imperial City of Regensburg, the Abbey of St. Emmeram, the kingdom pins Obermünster and Niedermünster and all possessions of indirect Abbeys in Regensburg.

Since the previous Bishop of Regensburg, however, was still alive, Dalberg be limited merely to its state affairs. Only with the death of the bishop on April 4, 1803, he left the cathedral chapter in his canonical rights occur, which now chose a vicar and Dalberg the administratio antrug in spiritualibus. However, it took them only subject to the papal confirmation and turned to give canonical force to Pope Pius VII, asking the right bank transfer of the seat of Mainz to Regensburg. Since Bavaria wanted to avoid a Primate in Regensburg, tried by all means, including slander regarding schismatic - national church plans to oppose Dalberg. So Dalberg acquired on July 15, 1803, only the provisional administration over the diocese of Regensburg as Prince-Bishop and received his appointment as Archbishop of Regensburg until February 1, 1805. Occasion of the coronation of Napoleon I, he wanted to respect with Pope Pius VII of the ecclesiastical reorganization Germany entered into negotiations. Although he was kindly received, received from the hands of the Pope and the pallium, but not receiving the title of Primate Germaniae in the bull, which is probably due to the opposition of the Curia. Nevertheless, he received the verbal commitment of the Pope, that he was entitled to use the title. He bore the title Primate of Germany until his death.

Since Dalberg State was on a weak foundation and only Napoleon certain church policy, Dalberg chose Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Joseph Fesch, in 1806 to his coadjutor. These unlawful appointment, was denied a religious commitment, a fatal step of desperation to save the German church was and was himself severely resented by friends. With the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine to Dalberg by Napoleon was persuaded to become the head of the new state structure as Primate. This step, which was dismissed on other princes as a political necessity, it has placed at Dalberg as a betrayal. His association with Napoleon brought him to an ever schieferes light, each of these rugged treated the Pope and the outrage in Germany rose against the French. 1810 gave Napoleon Dalberg's Principality of Regensburg in Bavaria, while Dalberg, received the newly formed Grand Duchy of Frankfurt, which was unrelated to his spiritual dignity as Grand Duke ( 1810-1813 ).

End of life

1811 Dalberg traveled to France and took part in the Paris National Council, where he advocated the release of the Pope. With the fall of Napoleon, he then lost his temporal power in 1814 so that he has not left for long periods of time since March 1814 Regensburg. Henceforth he devoted himself entirely to the ministry. He died of a stroke and was buried in the nave of the Regensburg Cathedral. Today you can still find there his epitaph in Carrara marble by Luigi Zandomeneghi (1778-1850), an Italian sculptor. His heart was buried in a silver casket / urn heart in the Collegiate Church of Aschaffenburg. The heart box is still visible there today.

Aftermath

As a sovereign and Bishop Dalberg was scrupulously conscientious in his administration of Kantian sense of duty, but this by winning human kindness and great helpfulness. So often he stayed in Regensburg or Constance, he held the Pontifikalhandlungen itself and took in Regensburg also usually at the Konsistorialsitzungen part. All his life he had a strong belief in the good possibilities in people and it was quite a regent in the spirit of the Enlightenment. Theologically, well formed, though not a theologian in the strict sense, he was influenced febronianisch in his church thinking. His successor as Grand Duke Prince Eugène de Beauharnais should be. However, it was because of the power decline of Napoleon after the Battle of Leipzig no longer causes the Grand Duchy was dissolved.

1816 decreed Dalberg in a commemorative volume that its collections at Schloss Johannesburg in Aschaffenburg should be inalienable property of the City and its citizens. After his death, his heirs processed, the princes von der Leyen, for years the legacy. Some time probably handed out paintings are now (2011) to be lost.

After the Dalberg Dalberg Award of transdisciplinary junior research is named, which is awarded annually by the Academy of Sciences in Erfurt profit.

Castle ruins Dalberg

Mature Dalberger court in Mainz

Younger Dalberger Hof in Mainz

Mainz Lieutenancy in Erfurt

Schloss Johannesburg in Aschaffenburg

Residence in Regensburg from 1802-1810

Silver casket / urn heart of Karl Theodor von Dalberg Aschaffenburg in collegiate