Conrad von Bibra

Painting of Conrad von Bibra

Image by Johann Salver

Conrad von Bibra grave

by Johann Octavian Salver

Conrad von Bibra (or Konrad III von Bibra), Duke in Franconia (1490–1544) was Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1540 to 1544. 

Biography

Born in 1490, he studied at the universities of Cologne, Bologna, Erfurt and Ingolstadt. His whole life Conrad seemed to have had a hard time making up his mind about being a priest. Three times between 1520 and 1532 he entered a priestly position and then resigned. In 1525 during the Peasant Revolt, Conrad was among the defenders of the Fortress Marienberg at Würzburg which was under siege. Afterwards he served on the commission determining damages. Finally in February 1539 he entered a priestly position again. April 28, 1540 he became Provost of Neu Münster in Würzburg. Already on July 1, 1540, he was surprisingly elected Prince Bishop. Afterwards he showed an independent even uncooperative attitude. Seven times he put off his ordination as a priest and bishop. Also despite the Kaiser's admonitions, he gave excuses and refused to personally attend meetings of the Reichstag.

In 1542 when the plague broke out in Würzburg, he moved his court to Aschach and Neustadt. In August of 1544 after reigning only four years he died which apparently solved the problem of his never having completed his ordination vows or formal installation as bishop.

Grumbach-Zobel Affair

Just before dying, Conrad gave Wilhelm von Grumbach 10,000 gold florins as a gift, without obtaining the consent of the Cathedral Chapter. When, after the death of Conrad, Melchior Zobel of Giebelstadt, the new Prince Bishop asked for the money back from Grumbach. Grumbach paid, but the harmonious relationship between lord and vassal were destroyed.

Conrad left behind two natural children named Conrad and Katherine Biber. Katherine married a Christoph Kretzen. Kretzen later murdered the next prince bishop, Meichior von Zobel (as well as Florian Geyer) on behalf of his employer Wilhelm von Grumbach. Grumbach's adventures including this incident made him famous. The spot was marked next to the All Saints Bridge in Würzburg on the fortress side.

Family

Main article: von Bibra

Conrad was a member of the aristocratic Franconian von Bibra family which among its members were Lorenz von Bibra, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in Franconia (1459-1519), Lorenz’ half brother, Wilhelm von Bibra Papal emissary, Heinrich von Bibra, Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda (1711-1788) and Ernst von Bibra (*1806 ; † 1878), naturalist and author.

Grave

The main part of his body was buried at the Würzburg Cathedral. His tomb monument (#32) by Peter Dell the Elder and the bronze plate (#37) are both on display. The bronze plate was apparently damaged in WWII. Photo of undamaged bronze plate is linked.

References

• THEOBALD FREUDENBERGER, Die Fürstbischöfe von Würzburg und das Konzil von Trent, Reformationsgeschichtliche Studien und Texte, 128. Münster: Aschendorffsche Verlagsbuchhandlung,ISBN 3402037750 : 9783402037751, 1989;
• WERNER WAGENHÖFER, Die Bibra: Studien und Materialien zur Genealogie und zur Besitzgeschichte einer fränkischen Niederadelsfamilie im Spätmittelalter, Verlag Degener & Co, 1998, 699 pages, ISBN 3-7686-9147-0;
• WILHELM FRHR. VON BIBRA, Geschicte der Familie der Freiherrn von Bibra, 1870;
• WILHELM FRHR. VON BIBRA, Beiträge zur Familien Geschichte der Reichsfreiherrn von Bibra, Zweiter Band (vol. 2), 1882;
• ALFRED WENDEHORST, Das Bistum Würzburg: Teil 3. Die Bischofsreihe von 1455 -1617, 1978, ISBN 3-11-007475-3, pp. 100-109;

External links

• German Biography
• Conrad von Bibra Page on vonbibra.net include photo of bronze grave plate prior to WWII damage
• Page on Conrad's Grave