Melchior von Meckau

Melchior of Meckau (also Meggau ) (* 1440, † March 3, 1509 in Rome) was provost in Meissen, Prince-Bishop of Brixen ( 1488-1509 ) and Cardinal.

Family

Melchior of Meckau came from a native to the bishopric of Meissen ministerial family. His father Melchior († 1443 ) was lord of Kohren.

Life

It seems that he was a priest in the diocese of Naumburg, for in Rome he appears 1463-1486 under the name of " clericus Nuemburgensis " - as owner of various administrative offices. He spent years of study before 1460 in Leipzig, and Bologna.

With the acquisition of Domkustodie of Naumburg (before 1470 ), a Domkanonikats ( 1471 ) and the provost in Meissen ( 1482 ), the provost of Magdeburg ( 1479 ) and the deaneries of the Kollegiatstiften Zeitz (1477 ) and Wurzen.

1476 and 1478 he undertook on behalf of and as representative of the Prince-Bishop of Brixen George Gols the ad limina visits to Rome. 1482 ordered him George Gols his coadjutor and Archduke Maximilian, the future emperor, appointed him then to his counselor. 1488 took over from Melchior Meckau by Prince Bishop George Gols the entire line of the Diocese of Brixen, he was the direct successor Golsers and new Prince-Bishop in the year 1488th In the following year went ahead of Meckau the Diocesan Synod. 1496 he appointed the Brixen canons Christoph von Schroffenstein to his coadjutor, who succeeded him in 1509 as Prince-Bishop.

Importance was Melchior of Meckau as supporters of Maximilian I and patron of the arts in his diocese. He is considered the first humanist to the Bishop of Brixen chair. He supported Maximilian I repeatedly by the protrusion of large sums of money, which he was enabled by the mining industry in the Diocese of Brixen. He also soldiers, as in the Engadine War of 1498 and 1499th From procured Maximilian Thanks for Melchior von Meckau of Pope Alexander VI. the dignity of Cardinal. He was initially charged on May 31, 1503 pectore cardinal priest, which was confirmed in 1507. He was assigned the titular church of Santo Stefano al Monte Celio.

In Brixen the present parish church was built during his tenure, the artist Valentin showers and Champion Christoph probably made ​​on his behalf in 1490 a bust of St.. Agnes from sketches of the Brixen Mayor Hans Klocker. It is handed down that Meckau of the Brunecker Begin house was a new rule.

Melchior of Meckau died in 1509 in Rome and was buried in the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli on the Capitol.