David of Burgundy

David of Burgundy

David of Burgundy (Atrecht, ca. 1427 - Wijk bij Duurstede, 1496) was a bishop of Utrecht. The illegitimate son of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, he was made bishop of Utrecht by his father from 1456 to 1496 in an attempt to enforce more centralised Burgundian control over the Netherlands. He also served as bishop of Thérouanne from 1451 to 1456. He is the third longest-reigning bishop of Utrecht after Balderic and Willibrord.

Life

David of Burgundy was bishop of Terwaan from 1451. Thanks to a joint effort between the Cods and Burgundy, he was appointed as bishop of Utrecht by the pope. The Utrecht chapters, however, had elected the Hook-favoured provost Gijsbrecht van Brederode as bishop. But Philip the Good forced the Nedersticht to accept David's appointment on 3 August, 1456 at the treaty of IJselstein. The Oversticht had to be forcefully convinced as well. Deventer was besieged for five weeks before it surrendered. This situation led to a civil war, and David fled from Utrecht in 1459 to settle in the newly-acquired Wijk bij Duurstede. Thanks to Burgundian support and clever politics, his authority rose. A breakthrough meant the capture of Gijsbrecht van Brederode and his brother Reinoud in 1470. Another effective measure was the creation of the Schive, a central court of appeal that was above city law.

Because of the burgundian power of that time, David of Burgundy was one of the most powerful bishops in Europe. He appointed the schout, wrested criminal jurisdiction from the council, controlled the tolls and lessened the influence of the city on the farmlands. But the death of his half-brother Charles the Bold in 1477 changed everything. David's politics led to a revolt of supporters of the Hook party in 1481. A new civil war erupted and David was captured. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor had to intervene to free the bishop and end the revolt in 1483. David's last years were focussed on restoring the financial situation that had been ruined by the civil war of 1481-1483, and balancing the influence of the Habsburgs, that had by then come to possess Holland, and Guelders. David died in 1496 and was buried in the church of Wijk bij Duurstede.

David of Burgundy was an artlover; he attracted artists to his court and gave a powerful impulse to the construction of the Dom Church in Utrecht. He modernised his residence, the Duurstede Castle at Wijk bij Duurstede, and he is also responsible for the large church there. The Museum Catharijneconvent holds a beautiful Cope of David of Burgundy.

References

http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/molh003nieu10_01/molh003nieu10_01_0169.htm (Dutch)

Preceded by Gijsbrecht van Brederode

Bishop of Utrecht 1456–1496

Succeeded by Frederick IV of Baden