Johann Christoph von Freyberg-Allmendingen
Encyclopedia
Johann Christoph Reichsritter von Freyberg-Allmendingen (1616–1690) was the Prince-Provost
of Ellwangen Abbey
from 1660 to 1674, and the Prince-Bishop of Augsburg
from 1665 to 1690.
on September 28, 1616, the son of Kaspar von Freyberg zu Altheim und Worndorf and his wife Anna Regina von Rechberg. He was enrolled in the University of Dillingen
at age 10, on October 22, 1626. He was made a canon
of Augsburg Cathedral
in 1630. He then began his studies at the University of Ingolstadt
in 1635. He became a canon of Ellwangen Abbey
in 1638. He became scholaster of Ellwangen Abbey in 1641, a post he would hold until 1655.
He was ordained
as a priest
in Augsburg
on April 5, 1642. He became dean of Augsburg Cathedral in 1655, and its provost
in 1660. On May 11, 1660, he became Prince-Provost
of Ellwangen Abbey
, a position he held until resigning on April 13, 1674. He became diocesan administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg
in 1661.
On August 18, 1665, he was selected as the new Prince-Bishop of Augsburg
, with Pope Alexander VII
confirming his appointment on October 11, 1666. Kaspar Zeiler, Auxiliary Bishop
of Augsburg, consecrated him as a bishop
on April 17, 1667.
He died in Dillingen an der Donau on April 1, 1690, and is buried in Augsburg Cathedral.
Prince-Provost
Prince-Provost is a rare title for a monastic superior with the ecclesiastical style of provost who is a Prince of the Church in the sense that he also ranks as a secular 'prince' , notably a Reichsfürst of the Holy Roman Empire, holding a direct vote in the Reichstag assembly coequal to an actual...
of Ellwangen Abbey
Ellwangen Abbey
Ellwangen Abbey was the earliest Benedictine monastery established in the Duchy of Swabia, at the present-day town of Ellwangen an der Jagst, Baden-Württemberg about 100 km north-east of Stuttgart.-Imperial abbey:...
from 1660 to 1674, and the Prince-Bishop of Augsburg
Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg
The Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg was one of the prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire, which belonged to the Swabian Circle.-Early period:...
from 1665 to 1690.
Biography
Johann Christoph von Freyberg-Allmendingen was born in Altheim (Ehingen)Altheim (Ehingen)
Altheim is a municipality in the district of Alb-Donau in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
on September 28, 1616, the son of Kaspar von Freyberg zu Altheim und Worndorf and his wife Anna Regina von Rechberg. He was enrolled in the University of Dillingen
University of Dillingen
The University of Dillingen, at Dillingen an der Donau in southern Germany, existed from 1551 to 1803. It was located in Swabia, then a district of Bavaria.-Foundation:...
at age 10, on October 22, 1626. He was made a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Augsburg Cathedral
Augsburg Cathedral
The Cathedral of Augsburg is a church in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany, founded in the 11th century in Romanesque style, but with 14th century Gothic additions. Together with the Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra, it is one of the city's main attractions. It measures 113 x 40 m, and its towers...
in 1630. He then began his studies at the University of Ingolstadt
University of Ingolstadt
The University of Ingolstadt was founded in 1472 by Louis the Rich, the Duke of Bavaria at the time, and its first Chancellor was the Bishop of Eichstätt. It consisted of five faculties: humanities, sciences, theology, law and medicine, all of which were contained in the Hoheschule...
in 1635. He became a canon of Ellwangen Abbey
Ellwangen Abbey
Ellwangen Abbey was the earliest Benedictine monastery established in the Duchy of Swabia, at the present-day town of Ellwangen an der Jagst, Baden-Württemberg about 100 km north-east of Stuttgart.-Imperial abbey:...
in 1638. He became scholaster of Ellwangen Abbey in 1641, a post he would hold until 1655.
He 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 priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
on April 5, 1642. He became dean of Augsburg Cathedral in 1655, and its provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
in 1660. On May 11, 1660, he became Prince-Provost
Prince-Provost
Prince-Provost is a rare title for a monastic superior with the ecclesiastical style of provost who is a Prince of the Church in the sense that he also ranks as a secular 'prince' , notably a Reichsfürst of the Holy Roman Empire, holding a direct vote in the Reichstag assembly coequal to an actual...
of Ellwangen Abbey
Ellwangen Abbey
Ellwangen Abbey was the earliest Benedictine monastery established in the Duchy of Swabia, at the present-day town of Ellwangen an der Jagst, Baden-Württemberg about 100 km north-east of Stuttgart.-Imperial abbey:...
, a position he held until resigning on April 13, 1674. He became diocesan administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg
Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg
The Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg was one of the prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire, which belonged to the Swabian Circle.-Early period:...
in 1661.
On August 18, 1665, he was selected as the new Prince-Bishop of Augsburg
Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg
The Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg was one of the prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire, which belonged to the Swabian Circle.-Early period:...
, with Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
confirming his appointment on October 11, 1666. Kaspar Zeiler, Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Augsburg, consecrated him as a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
on April 17, 1667.
He died in Dillingen an der Donau on April 1, 1690, and is buried in Augsburg Cathedral.