Lothar von Metternich

Lothar von Metternich ( born August 31, 1551 Castle in County Vettel Hoven, † September 17, 1623 in Koblenz ) was 1599-1623 Elector and Archbishop of Trier.

Family

His parents were Johann (Hans) von Metternich ( 1500-1562 ), Lord of Vettel Hoven and bailiff of Saffenberg, and his fourth wife, Katharina von der Leyen to Adendorf ( 1528-1567 ), out of the house von der Leyen. He had an older sister Anna Katharina von Metternich (1548-1572), who was married to Johann Ludwig Hausmann of Namedy, and a younger brother, Johann Dietrich von Metternich ( 1553-1625 ). His half-brother Bernhard von Metternich from the second marriage of his father to Catherine of your mountain took over in 1566, the paternal inheritance, followed by Tommy's stepbrother Dam quad of Landskron, the eldest son from his first marriage with Catherine Hermann Quad Landskron. About his mother Lothar von Metternich was a nephew of Trier Archbishop and Elector Johann VI. von der Leyen, his third predecessor in the later office of archbishop. He was the chancellor Prince Klemens Urururgroßonkel of the famous Wenzel Lothar von Metternich - Winneburg.

Biography

Due to the Jesuits of the linguistically gifted man was top notch and fully trained, followed joined Studies at the Universities of Cologne from 1567 to 1577, in Perugia from 1577 to 1579 and in Padua from 1579 by 1581, as well as educational trips to Italy and France. He spoke fluent Flemish, French, Italian and Latin. In 1570 he was candidate for the canonry ( Domizellar ), canon 1575 and 1590 Domscholaster of the Trier Cathedral. In April 1599 the incumbent Archbishop Johann von Schönberg appointed him to his coadjutor. After his death on May 1, the Trier cathedral chapter elected him on June 7, 1599 the new archbishop, gave him the priesthood on June 13, 1599 Papal Nuncio in Probationshaus of the Jesuits in Trier. The consecration as bishop was held in the church of St. Florin in Koblenz on July 30, 1599. His worldly trappings ( regalia ) were awarded to him in 1600 by Emperor Rudolf II, after which he also head of the secular rule of the Electorate of Trier was so.

His most urgent measure was the financial consolidation of economically and financially weakened state from various new taxes and an increased coinage. Because of the expensive accession in 1610 to the league and repeated costly military operations ( such as the tax dispute with the abbey of St. Maximin and Luxembourg 1601), the development of Ehrenbreitstein since 1600 and of the fortification of Koblenz in 1611 remained its remedial measures without success. He engaged extensively in national politics, was absent from hardly a major national assembly, took part in the elections of Emperor Matthias in 1612 and Ferdinand II in 1619 and arbitrating the dispute between Union and League. During his tenure, the beginning of the devastating Thirty Years' War falls.

As the chief minister and ecclesiastical leader he continued the ecclesiastical reforms of his predecessors, notably by he promoted the Priesteraus - and in-service training and reinforced Jesuits, Capuchins, Franciscans ( OFM) and the displaced pastoral care, parish missions, teaching catechism and general education from England teaching sisters, the so-called "English Miss " involved. Furthermore, he is intensely committed a, said faith congregations to provide adequate shelter, such as the new college building of the Jesuits, which was built from 1611 to 1614 in addition to the Trier Jesuit Church.

Lothar von Metternich was a highly intelligent and well-read man of simple living, to have called with friendly manners and high, strict morality, which Pope Paul V is said to have caused him as the pattern of a bishop (Latin for " exemplum espiscopi "). After long illness, he died on September 17, 1623 and was desirably buried in the south aisle of the Trier Cathedral at the " Allerheiligenaltar " which he already in his tenure in 1614 as a grave altar by master sculptor Hans Ruprecht Hoffmann the Elder, had built. He also founded in 1600 the Kreuztragungsaltar the Heimersheimer parish church in memory of his parents.

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