Burchard of Basle
Encyclopedia
Burchard of Basle, also known as Burchard of Hasenburg or of Asuel, was a Bishop of Basle in the eleventh century and a warm partisan of Henry IV (1056–1106).
family of the counts of Neuenburg or Neuchatel, and was born towards the middle of the eleventh century. Having entered the ecclesiastical state he was made Bishop of Basle in Switzerland (1072) by Emperor Henry IV
; in recognition of this favour he was loyal to the king, and became one of his advisers. In Henry's first difficulties with the Saxons (1073–75) Burchard rendered him full assistance.
When the conflict of Investiture between the king and Pope Gregory VII
(1073–85) broke out, Burchard was among the bishops who assembled at Worms
(January 1076), proclaimed the deposition of the pope, and wrote him an insulting letter. Together with Bishop Huzmann of Speyer
he also went to Northern Italy for the purpose of inducing the Lombard bishops to take similar action with regard to the pope. In this he was successful; a synod was assembled at Piacenza
, and the Lombard bishops renounced obedience to Gregory. For these acts Burchard was excommunicated and deposed by the pope in the Lenten synod of 1076; a similar sentence was inflicted on other bishops and on Burchard's royal master. King Henry obtained absolution at Canossa
in January 1077; and Burchard, who accompanied him on the penitential pilgrimage, was reinstated in office.
During the civil war in 1077 and the following years, between Henry and his rival, Duke Rudolf of Suabia, raised to the throne by many princes, Burchard stood on the side of Henry, in whose interest he fought repeatedly, both against Rudolf and his supporter, Berthold of Zahringen. In 1078 Burchard and his friend suffered a crushing defeat, and he saved his life by a rapid flight. But the fortunes of war turned; Burchard and his partisans ravaged the country of Alemannia or Suabia, the home of Rudolf and Berthold, and many cruelties were committed. Churches, sanctuaries and perhaps monasteries as well were destroyed by the soldiery. But it all helped the cause of Henry and weakened that of his rival, who was finally vanquished and killed in 1080. Henry rewarded Burchard for his services with grants of land. It is not certain that he was present in the synod held at Brixen
(in Tyrol) in June, 1080, where the partisans of Henry again deposed Gregory VII and elected in his stead Wibert, Archbishop of Ravenna. He was certainly with Henry, however, when the king took possession of Rome on 21 March 1084, and it may be taken for granted that he assisted at the installation of the antipope Clement III
(1084–1100) on March 24 and at the imperial coronation of Henry, events occurring on 31 March respectively. Shortly afterwards Burchard returned to Germany with his royal master.
Two synods were held there during the year 1085, in which Burchard, though not present, was directly concerned. The first, in the latter part of April, was held at Quedlinburg
by the partisans of Gregory VII; it condemned all adversaries of the pope, including Bishop Burchard. Henry's faction held its synod at Mainz
in the early part of May; Pope Gregory and all the bishops loyal to him were deposed. For the next twenty years Burchard was less active in the cause of Henry, but he remained to the end loyal to his king. When Henry was hard pressed in Italy by his son Conrad (in rebellion since 1093) and by other enemies, Burchard was one of the very few bishops of Germany who brought him any comfort. In 1095 he appeared at the king's court at Padua
, and after Henry's return to Germany he paid several other visits to the royal court. How much Henry counted on the loyalty of Burchard was made evident in a letter which the monarch wrote to the princes of the empire from Liège in the early part of the year 1106, shortly before his death. Henry asked the princes to give him time to consult with the princes and bishops about the matters relating to his abdication or reconciliation with his rebellious son Henry V
(1106–25), and among the bishops faithful to him he mentioned the name of Burchard of Basle.
After the death of Gregory VII, particularly after the election of Pope Urban II
(1088–99), Burchard sought a reconciliation with the Holy See; and he became instrumental in the erection of several monasteries and other religious institutions. Among those founded by him were St. Alban's Abbey in Basle and the monastery of St. John, or Erlach Abbey
, erected partly by his brother and partly by himself at Erlach
in the neighbourhood of his ancestral castle. He also built the chapter house
of Moutier-Grandval Abbey. In spite of his attachment to Henry IV he died on 12 April 1107 reconciled with the pope.
Biography
He belonged to the SwissSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
family of the counts of Neuenburg or Neuchatel, and was born towards the middle of the eleventh century. Having entered the ecclesiastical state he was made Bishop of Basle in Switzerland (1072) by Emperor Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
; in recognition of this favour he was loyal to the king, and became one of his advisers. In Henry's first difficulties with the Saxons (1073–75) Burchard rendered him full assistance.
When the conflict of Investiture between the king and Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
(1073–85) broke out, Burchard was among the bishops who assembled at Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
(January 1076), proclaimed the deposition of the pope, and wrote him an insulting letter. Together with Bishop Huzmann of 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...
he also went to Northern Italy for the purpose of inducing the Lombard bishops to take similar action with regard to the pope. In this he was successful; a synod was assembled at Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
, and the Lombard bishops renounced obedience to Gregory. For these acts Burchard was excommunicated and deposed by the pope in the Lenten synod of 1076; a similar sentence was inflicted on other bishops and on Burchard's royal master. King Henry obtained absolution at Canossa
Canossa
Canossa is a comune and castle town in Emilia-Romagna, famous as the site where Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV did penance in 1077, standing three days bare-headed in the snow, in order to reverse his excommunication by Pope Gregory VII...
in January 1077; and Burchard, who accompanied him on the penitential pilgrimage, was reinstated in office.
During the civil war in 1077 and the following years, between Henry and his rival, Duke Rudolf of Suabia, raised to the throne by many princes, Burchard stood on the side of Henry, in whose interest he fought repeatedly, both against Rudolf and his supporter, Berthold of Zahringen. In 1078 Burchard and his friend suffered a crushing defeat, and he saved his life by a rapid flight. But the fortunes of war turned; Burchard and his partisans ravaged the country of Alemannia or Suabia, the home of Rudolf and Berthold, and many cruelties were committed. Churches, sanctuaries and perhaps monasteries as well were destroyed by the soldiery. But it all helped the cause of Henry and weakened that of his rival, who was finally vanquished and killed in 1080. Henry rewarded Burchard for his services with grants of land. It is not certain that he was present in the synod held at Brixen
Brixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
(in Tyrol) in June, 1080, where the partisans of Henry again deposed Gregory VII and elected in his stead Wibert, Archbishop of Ravenna. He was certainly with Henry, however, when the king took possession of Rome on 21 March 1084, and it may be taken for granted that he assisted at the installation of the antipope Clement III
Antipope Clement III
Guibert or Wibert of Ravenna was a cleric made antipope in 1080 due to perceived abuses of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy, a title that lasted to his death....
(1084–1100) on March 24 and at the imperial coronation of Henry, events occurring on 31 March respectively. Shortly afterwards Burchard returned to Germany with his royal master.
Two synods were held there during the year 1085, in which Burchard, though not present, was directly concerned. The first, in the latter part of April, was held at Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
by the partisans of Gregory VII; it condemned all adversaries of the pope, including Bishop Burchard. Henry's faction held its synod at 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 the early part of May; Pope Gregory and all the bishops loyal to him were deposed. For the next twenty years Burchard was less active in the cause of Henry, but he remained to the end loyal to his king. When Henry was hard pressed in Italy by his son Conrad (in rebellion since 1093) and by other enemies, Burchard was one of the very few bishops of Germany who brought him any comfort. In 1095 he appeared at the king's court at Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, and after Henry's return to Germany he paid several other visits to the royal court. How much Henry counted on the loyalty of Burchard was made evident in a letter which the monarch wrote to the princes of the empire from Liège in the early part of the year 1106, shortly before his death. Henry asked the princes to give him time to consult with the princes and bishops about the matters relating to his abdication or reconciliation with his rebellious son Henry V
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
(1106–25), and among the bishops faithful to him he mentioned the name of Burchard of Basle.
After the death of Gregory VII, particularly after the election of Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
(1088–99), Burchard sought a reconciliation with the Holy See; and he became instrumental in the erection of several monasteries and other religious institutions. Among those founded by him were St. Alban's Abbey in Basle and the monastery of St. John, or Erlach Abbey
Erlach Abbey
Erlach Abbey, also known as St. Johannsen Abbey , was a Benedictine monastery in Gals, Canton of Bern, Switzerland....
, erected partly by his brother and partly by himself at Erlach
Erlach, Switzerland
Erlach is the capital municipality of the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Erlach is first mentioned in 1185 as Erilacho and in 1274 as Cellie. In French it was called Cerlier. In 1264/66 Erlach received a Handfeste or document of rights from Count...
in the neighbourhood of his ancestral castle. He also built the chapter house
Chapter house
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room attached to a cathedral or collegiate church in which meetings are held. They can also be found in medieval monasteries....
of Moutier-Grandval Abbey. In spite of his attachment to Henry IV he died on 12 April 1107 reconciled with the pope.