Melchior of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
Melchior von Braunschweig- Grubenhagen (* 1341, † June 6, 1384 ) was from 1369 to 1375 Bishop of Osnabrück, and from 1376 to 1384 Bishop of Schwerin.
Life
Melchior von Braunschweig- Grubenhagen came from the House of Guelph and was the youngest son of Duke Henry II de Grecia of Brunswick- Grubenhagen and his second wife Heilwig, a daughter of lusignanschen Royal House of Jerusalem and Cyprus.
About his early life little is known. He was a canon in the diocese of Hildesheim. In 1358 he is also called as canon with benefices of St. Otto in Szczecin. On September 30, 1358 providierte Pope Innocent VI. the still very youthful Duke Melchior with a canonry in Mainz. Melchior said to have been Damal 17 years old.
After the death of Bishop John II hat followed in Osnabruck an almost three-year Sedisvakanz. On the succession of the pin Vicar Dietrich von der Mark, the cathedral chapter was unable to agree a majority. Finally, Bernard of Schaumburg has been selected. The Pope has this option but not recognized. Therefore, the spiritual affairs of a vicar in Spritualibus and worldly transactions were still operated by Dietrich von der Mark with success. The Curia finally appointed Duke Melchior von Grubenhagen bishop.
He came in 1369 to the bishopric and performed on July 18, 1369 before the chapter the inaugural oath, he was about 28 years old. He has the old rights summoned. First, he joined with the Bishop of Minden Wittekind II of Schalk Mountain, the city of Minden and the County of Hoya a limited two-year public peace. Dietrich von der Mark seems to have left the castles him. At least this is true for the Iburg. At other actions has not prevented him Dietrich, but he and his followers reported to compensation payments. In order to make these payments, the clergy had to pay his income from tithes. As this was not enough, the Bishop pledged various castles and possessions. Among the Gogericht Grönenberg was with no fewer than 16 parishes. These were for the most part permanently at the county Ravens lost mountain. The Iburg with the same name and six other parishes was pledged to the Count of Tecklenburg. Melchior of Grubenhagen support the Bishop of Münster Florence from Wevelinghoven in the fight against the rebellious servants. He was involved in the siege of the castle Dinklage 1371. He joined the great Westphalian Peace Country. Due to various disputes marched the Count of Hoya into the Bishopric of Osnabrück. The city of Osnabrück refused participation in military countermeasures. Finally forsook him during a battle and his last knights and Melchior was captured. As a consequence, lawlessness broke out in the pen. Negotiations for a release proved to be difficult. The requested sum of 10,000 guilders could not muster Melchior. He recommended that self- Dietrich von der Mark again to become the administrator of the congregation. This, the Office has finally taken over again.
Melchior of Grubenhagen went to the papal court to Avignon to litigate there against the deprivation of rights. Pope Gregory XI. prepared the mess a swift end. Melchior of Grubenhagen was moved to Schwerin on October 17, 1375.
From the reception of episcopal ordination is not known. The acquisition of the new office also was not smooth vonstatte. Schwerin Cathedral Chapter had already chosen the provost of Prämonstratenserinnenklosters Rehna Marquard Bermann the new bishop. Bishop Melchior initially withdrew into the Pomeranian diocese share and tried from there to lead his diocese entrusted to Schwerin. This was achieved only gradually, with the support of the Emperor Charles IV. Under the July 17, 1376 we find him in Barth and after a long dispute he sits under excommunication with a comparison with the Dukes Albrecht, Henry and Magnus von Mecklenburg for possession the episcopal palaces of brawn and Eikhof by. Bishop Melchior was not happy with what has been achieved, soon there were clashes between the cathedral chapter and the Dukes Henry and Magnus von Mecklenburg because of violent deprivation of another pin ownership to the city Brüel and in place Jürgenshagen. Since 1377 Melchior was then generally recognized under the agreement with Duke Albrecht on April 10 in Tangermünde and uncertificated personally Biitzow.
The bishop was on good terms with his chapter, but said to have been extremely unpopular because of his immoral life. Only 40 years old, died Bishop Melchior on June 6, 1384 in Biitzow. The cause of death was given poison, which was in effect exacerbated by alcohol and enjoyed strawberries. His grave stone in the collegiate church of Biitzow has been lost. The inscription reads: In the Year of Our Lord 1381 Frytag after Pentecost or the next day to St. Bonifacii the Reverend Father in Christ, Mr. Melchior, Hertzog Brunswick and Bischoff Schwerin, died and is buried Allier; pray for him.
After his death Potho was determined by Pothenstein by the pope as his successor. Schwerin Cathedral Chapter, however, chose John IV boy to (counter ) Bishop.
Seal
From Bishop Melchior are from his tenure Schwerin two different seals known.
A large elliptical seal. In a narrow niche with a rounded coronation without gothic gable a bishop sitting with his right hand raised and with his staff in his left hand; right, partly in the open field, half in the space of inscription is above the other, the Episcopal bishop shield with two bars left a shield with two lions.
The inscription reads: ... ChIORIS DEI GRA ... ENSIS ET D ' UC ' BRUSWICENSIS
A small, round seal. On this stands in a large rosette dreiblätterigen a multiply divided shield, in which two and two opposite fields on two of the Bishop Family Crest ( two lions among themselves ), on two of the episcopal coat of arms is schwerinsche.
The inscription reads: S MELChORIS EPI ZWERINEN
Also from the Osnabrück tenure are known two seals.
Image
From the Bishop Melchior are of Osnabrück his duties two images known.
A picture of the bishop hangs in the great hall of the castle and Benedictine to Iburg. It shows him clad in armor with pectoral cross in a white cloak ( cloak ), which could also be a pluvial. In his right hand he holds a staff, on the fingers of the bishop's ring can be seen. The Left touched a white miter, holding a cleric. The beige passed inscription identifying the sitter and also mentions the translation to Schwerin.
The second picture of him should be in Bergers Bishop book that is in the possession of the Museum of the City of Osnabrück.