William I (Bishop of Utrecht)

William I of Utrecht ( † April 27, 1076 ) was bishop of Utrecht since 1056. He built the secular rule in the Bishopric of Utrecht, and stood in the Investiture Controversy entirely on the side of Henry IV

Life

He came probably from the nobility of the county funds, he may have been even brother of Count Dietrich of funds. From his early years nothing is further known. His appointment as bishop, he has probably owe Anno II of Cologne. Although even his critics have granted him scholarship, he has hardly excelled spiritually.

He has tried to strengthen the temporal power of the bishops of Utrecht particularly in the West. In the time of William the secular power of the bishops of Utrecht probably reached its greatest extent. The counts in West Friesland, was conquered in 1064. Henry IV has the Bishopric of Utrecht transferred the county rights in most of West Friesland. Also in other parts of the diocese, he was able to achieve successes to consolidate his worldly influence. In the time of William the integration of the diocese of Utrecht took place in the imperial church system to an end.

In 1064 Wilhelm was accompanied by a large entourage Archbishop Siegfried of Mainz on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He could just barely a raid by Bedouin missed.

Politically he was a staunch supporter of Henry IV and, as such, opponents of Gregory VII As the conflict between emperor and pope broke open, Wilhelm turned entirely on the side of Henry. At the Diet of Worms Council in 1076, he played a significant role and has drawn many doubters into the royal camp. The Absetzungssentenz for Gregor he signed after the archbishops as the first bishop. This led to the excommunication and deposition of a command of the Pope. Wilhelm has but his office still further provided. Even after many other bishops were intimidated by excommunication, Wilhelm has maintained its position. At the Synod of Utrecht in the same year he excommunicated himself Gregor in the presence of the Emperor. His death has severely weakened the party of Henry.

After the Pope a long time had been denied a funeral, William was eventually buried in the cathedral church in Utrecht.