Adalbert of Mainz

Adalbert I von Saarbrücken (died 1137), Archbishop of Mainz (1111–1137), played a key role in opposing Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor and in securing the election of Lothar III, Holy Roman Emperor.

Life

Of the family of the counts of Saarbrücken, he served as imperial chancellor under Emperors Henry IV and Henry V. In 1110 he was sent to Rome as part of an embassy to arrange for Henry V's coronation as emperor. In exchange for supporting the Emperor in his quest to regain the rights to investiture (which Henry received from Pope Paschal II in 1111), he was given the position of archbishop of Mainz.

Following this, however, Adalbert turned against the Emperor, due to personal dislikes as well as territorial ambitions. Henry ended up imprisoning Adalbert for three years (1112–1115) without trial after the archbishop refused to hand over control of the imperial castles.

Following his release, caused by a revolt by the people of Mainz, he actively worked against the Emperor, using the latter's excommunication as a pretext. Strong papal campaigning had meanwhile turned much of the German clergy against the Emperor, and Adalbert soon became the leader of the anti-Imperialist bishops.

When Henry left for Italy in 1116, Adalbert raised much of the country against the Emperor, and the conflict continued. After Pope Calixtus II gained power in 1119, he made the archbishop a papal legate, following which Henry attacked Mainz. In response, Adalbert convinced the Saxon...
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