Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt
Encyclopedia
Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt (1582–1647) was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz
from 1629 to 1647.
was the son of Eberhard Wambolt Umstadt (1546–1601) and Anna von Reiffenberg (d. 1583). He was born on November 30, 1582, most likely in Speyer
, where his father was an official in the Reichskammergericht
. His father had been a Calvinist, but converted to Catholicism
in 1581.
After being educated by the Jesuits, Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt was admitted to the cathedral chapter
of Mainz Cathedral
in Mainz
in 1596. He spent 1596-97 studying at the Collegium Germanicum in Rome
and 1597-99 at the University of Würzburg
. He then spent three years studying philosophy
and theology
in Rome.
He returned to Mainz
in 1604, and was ordained
as a deacon
on May 22, 1605, at which time he became a member of the cathedral chapter. He then spent the next two years studying law
at the University of Padua
.
In June 1608, Archbishop of Mainz Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg
named him a member of his Hofrat, becoming its president in January 1609, a position he held until 1618. During this period, he often served as the archbishop's representative to members of the Catholic League
. In 1619, he became Amtmann
of Mombach
, a post he held until 1629. He was also rector
of the University of Mainz from 1620 to 1624.
On August 6, 1629, the Mainz cathedral chapter elected Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt at the new Archbishop of Mainz. Pope Urban VIII
confirmed his election on January 28, 1630.
With the Thirty Years War raging, on Christmas 1631, forces under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
occupied Mainz
, though the archbishop had already fled to Cologne
. The city was recaptured from Swedish forces in December 1635, and the archbishop returned on June 22, 1636. On December 22, 1636, at Regensburg
, he crowned Ferdinand III
as King of the Romans
. In 1644, French troops occupied Mainz, and the archbishop fled to Frankfurt
.
An ardent supporter of the Catholic
position during the Thirty Years War, his intransigence was partially responsible for delaying the signing of the Peace of Westphalia
until after his death.
After concluding a peace with the French, Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt died in Frankfurt on October 9, 1647.
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
from 1629 to 1647.
Biography
Anselm Casimir Wambold von UmstadtGroß-Umstadt
Groß-Umstadt is a town in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany. It is near Darmstadt and Frankfurt on the northern border of the Odenwald and is on the edge of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region. The highest point of the town is the Heidelberg .The population is...
was the son of Eberhard Wambolt Umstadt (1546–1601) and Anna von Reiffenberg (d. 1583). He was born on November 30, 1582, most likely in Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
, where his father was an official in the Reichskammergericht
Reichskammergericht
The Reichskammergericht or Imperial Chamber Court was one of two highest judicial institutions in the Holy Roman Empire, the other one being the Aulic Council in Vienna. It was founded in 1495 by the Imperial Diet in Worms...
. His father had been a Calvinist, but converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in 1581.
After being educated by the Jesuits, Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt was admitted to the cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
of Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral or St. Martin's Cathedral is located near the historical center and pedestrianized market square of the city of Mainz, Germany...
in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
in 1596. He spent 1596-97 studying at the Collegium Germanicum in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and 1597-99 at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
. He then spent three years studying philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Rome.
He returned to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
in 1604, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on May 22, 1605, at which time he became a member of the cathedral chapter. He then spent the next two years studying law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
.
In June 1608, Archbishop of Mainz Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg
Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg
Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1604 to 1626.-Early Life, 1553-1604:Born on July 15, 1553, Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg was the third son of Hartmut XIII von Kronburg and his wife Barbara von Sickingen...
named him a member of his Hofrat, becoming its president in January 1609, a position he held until 1618. During this period, he often served as the archbishop's representative to members of the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
. In 1619, he became Amtmann
Amtmann
Amtmann can be :*a feudal, administrative and/or gubernatorial title, such as Bezirksamtmann . Amtmann, ammann and amman were a kind of bailiff in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and in Brussels....
of Mombach
Mombach
Mombach, with about 13,000 inhabitants, is a borough in the northwest corner of Mainz, Germany. Mombach can be reached via Mainz-innenstadt or Bundesautobahn 643.- Location :...
, a post he held until 1629. He was also rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Mainz from 1620 to 1624.
On August 6, 1629, the Mainz cathedral chapter elected Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt at the new Archbishop of Mainz. Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
confirmed his election on January 28, 1630.
With the Thirty Years War raging, on Christmas 1631, forces under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
occupied Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, though the archbishop had already fled to Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. The city was recaptured from Swedish forces in December 1635, and the archbishop returned on June 22, 1636. On December 22, 1636, at Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, he crowned Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
as King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
. In 1644, French troops occupied Mainz, and the archbishop fled to Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
An ardent supporter of the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
position during the Thirty Years War, his intransigence was partially responsible for delaying the signing of the Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
until after his death.
After concluding a peace with the French, Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt died in Frankfurt on October 9, 1647.