Matthäus Schiner

Matthew Schiner (* um 1465 in Mill creek at appointment; † October 1, 1522 in Rome) was bishop of Sion, Cardinal, papabile, co-author of the Edict of Worms. He acquired for large parts of present-day Switzerland Ticino, was the architect of the special papal- Swiss alliance, which spawned the Swiss Guard, and wore massive responsibility in the Battle of Marignano, by which Switzerland lost its temporary superpower position.

Life

Ascent to the bishop of Sion

His exact date of birth is not known. He was born about 1465 in Mill creek at appointment as the son of a farmer and carpenter Peter Schiner and Catherine Zmitweg.

He was consecrated on April 21, 1489 in Rome to study at the Cathedral School in Sion and in Como priest. In 1496 he became pastor and chaplain of appointment and already in 1492 Secretary of the popular leader Jörg on the Flue (Georg Supersaxo ), his protector and later bitter political enemy. Schiner participated in the removal of the infamous custom of former Prince-Bishop of silenes Jost (1482-1496), who appeared in the Valais as governor of France. Tolerated for this purpose or he supported the otherwise condemned by him Valais form of the popular uprising that matzo.

On September 20, 1498 Schiner was of Pope Alexander VI. appointed bishop and received on October 13, 1499 the diocese of Sion. The geographical location of the country pass through the Valais and Italy France's policy Schiner soon acquired a key political position and attacked as a skillful diplomat and military leaders confidently into the European policy. Schiner came with all his might against the French. In the Peace of Arona ( 1503) he secured the possession of Switzerland Bellinzonese and Blenio.

Ascent to the cardinal and papal legate

The Confederates he motivated to form an alliance with Pope Julius II and was thus indirectly obstetrician of the papal Swiss Guard. With the help of the Confederates succeeded in two battles at Pavia in 1512 and 1513 in Novara, the French under King Louis XII. to displace from Italy. For this act, the Pope Schiner awarded the honorary title of " liberator of Italy and protector of the Church." On September 22, 1511 he was appointed by the already sick Julius II to Cardinal of Santa Pudentiana and the provost of Würzburg and the papal legate. Between 1512 and 1517 he also led the diocese of Novara in Italy. He is rumored that he had the connection of Milan and Genoa considered to Switzerland and thought possible.

After the defeat at the Battle of Marignano in 1515, however, in the Schiner the Swiss mercenary troops of the Pope had ushered without sufficient political hedge, he had to bury his plans. He became a victim of the politics of reconciliation between Pope Leo X (1513-1521) and France, trying now is to draw as an envoy of Emperor Maximilian Henry VIII of England in an alliance against France. 1517 denied him his former political mentor Jörg on the Flue (now allied with the French ) to return to his diocese in customs and forced him to flee. Thereupon Schiner took up residence in Zurich, but remained influential. Also thanks to his influence was Maximilian's grandson Charles I of Spain as Charles V, and not elected Francis I of France to the emperor. Schiner Charles V introduced himself immediately as a consultant. Succeeded in 1521 at the instigation of in an imperial order against the vice swung to the French side, the reconquest of Milan Swiss mercenaries at the Battle of Bicocca, which sealed the win for Milan, Habsburg and also the end of the Swiss big dreams of power in northern Italy.

Erasmians and papabile

Schiner was devoted to humanistic ideas and was a friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam and Huldrych Zwingli. Same convinced of the need for reform of the Church, Schiner but rejected the break with Rome decisively. 1521, he was therefore one of the most influential opponent of Martin Luther and was co-author of the Edict of Worms.

In the papal election after the death of Leo X in 1522 he received a significant number of votes. Due to the opposition from the faithful to France Cardinals Schiner was not elected Pope. Agreement was reached on the proposed Schiner and Cardinal Cajetan compromise candidate Adrian VI .. Schiner died on October 1, 1522 in Rome of the plague and was buried in the church of Santa Maria dell'Anima. His tomb apparently fell victim to the Sack of Rome, for there is no trace of it.

Appreciation

Schiner was considered a equipped with shiny gifts of the Spirit Church politician who thought in large dimensions, made European politics and climb a steep career to the highest offices. He is commonly considered one of the very biggest and honorable church men. He recognized the need to reform the church, but to him the Reformation as both Luther Zwingli went too far. Francis I, whose grave in the basilica of Saint- Denis, a relief image of the Battle of Marignano adorns the Schiner shows on horseback surrounded by the Swiss mercenaries, described him with these words:

" Rude homme que ce Schiner, dont la parole m'a fait plus de mal que toutes les lances de ses montagnards. "

" A rough block like this Schiner whose words have hurt me more than all the lances of his mountain people. "