Thiemo
Encyclopedia
Blessed Thiemo (about 104028 September 1101/02) was a martyr and Archbishop of Salzburg
from 1090 until his death.
A scion of the Bavarian
comital House of Vornbach
(Formbach), Thiemo reportedly was a talented painter and sculptor. He entered the Benedictine
abbey of Niederaltaich
and in 1077 became abbot of St. Peter's
in Salzburg
. Under Archbishop Gebhard
he was caught up in the Investiture Controversy
, as a papal supporter in opposition to German king Henry IV
. In 1081 he went into exile, at first to Mönchsdeggingen
and Hirsau
, later to Admont
. In 1086 he was able to return to Salzburg, together with Archbishop Gebhard, whom he succeeded in 1090, confirmed by Pope Urban II
.
In 1095 Archbishop Thiemo attended the Council of Piacenza
, while the domestic conflict with antibishop Berthold of Moosburg, who had been appointed by Henry IV, continued. He was defeated by Berthold's troops in 1097 and escaped to Carinthia
, where he was arrested at Friesach
by the forces of the Gurk bishop
. Freed by a loyal monk, Thiemo found a refuge in the diocese of befriended Bishop Gebhard of Constance
at Petershausen Abbey
.
In 1101 Thiemo decided to join Duke William IX of Aquitaine on his crusade
to Palestine
and did not return. Several traditions concerning his death exist. He may have been taken captive by the Seljuqs of Rûm
at Ereğli (Heraclea) in Anatolia
in September 1101 or was imprisoned by the Fatimid Caliphate at Ashkelon
in the following year. His martyrdom is described being tortured and killed by pulling the intestines out of his body with a spindle.
He was never formally canonized
but is commemorated
as a martyr by the Catholic Church. His name day
is 28 September.
Archbishopric of Salzburg
The Archbishopric of Salzburg was an ecclesiastical State of the Holy Roman Empire, its territory roughly congruent with the present-day Austrian state of Salzburg....
from 1090 until his death.
A scion of the Bavarian
History of Bavaria
The history of Bavaria stretches from its earliest settlement and its formation as a stem duchy in the 6th century through its inclusion in the Holy Roman Empires to its status as an independent kingdom and, finally, as a large and significant Bundesland of the modern Federal Republic of...
comital House of Vornbach
Vornbach Abbey
Vornbach Abbey was a monastery of the Benedictines in Neuhaus am Inn in Bavaria, Germany.-History:...
(Formbach), Thiemo reportedly was a talented painter and sculptor. He entered the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbey of Niederaltaich
Niederaltaich Abbey
Niederaltaich Abbey or Niederaltaich Monastery is a house of the Benedictine Order founded in 731 , situated in the village of Niederalteich on the Danube in Bavaria....
and in 1077 became abbot of St. Peter's
St. Peter's Archabbey, Salzburg
St Peter's Archabbey, otherwise St Peter's Abbey in Salzburg is a Benedictine monastery in Austria. It is considered one of the oldest monasteries in the German-speaking area, if not in fact the oldest.-History:...
in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
. Under Archbishop Gebhard
Gebhard of Salzburg
Blessed Gebhard of Salzburg , also occasionally known as Gebhard of Helfenstein, was Archbishop of Salzburg from 1060 until his death. He was one of the fiercest opponents of King Henry IV during the Investiture Controversy....
he was caught up in the Investiture Controversy
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
, as a papal supporter in opposition to German king 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 1081 he went into exile, at first to Mönchsdeggingen
Mönchsdeggingen
Mönchsdeggingen is a municipality in the district of Donau-Ries in Bavaria in Germany....
and Hirsau
Hirsau Abbey
Hirsau Abbey, formerly known as Hirschau Abbey, was once one of the most prominent Benedictine abbeys of Germany. It was located in the town of Hirsau, in the Diocese of Speyer, near Calw in the present Baden-Württemberg.-History:...
, later to Admont
Admont Abbey
Admont Abbey is a foundation of the Benedictines on the River Enns in the town of Admont in Austria and is the oldest remaining monastery in Styria...
. In 1086 he was able to return to Salzburg, together with Archbishop Gebhard, whom he succeeded in 1090, confirmed by 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...
.
In 1095 Archbishop Thiemo attended the Council of Piacenza
Council of Piacenza
The Council of Piacenza was a mixed synod of ecclesiastics and laymen of the Roman Catholic Church, which took place from March 1 to March 5, 1095, at Piacenza....
, while the domestic conflict with antibishop Berthold of Moosburg, who had been appointed by Henry IV, continued. He was defeated by Berthold's troops in 1097 and escaped to Carinthia
Duchy of Carinthia
The Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
, where he was arrested at Friesach
Friesach
Friesach is a historic town in the Sankt Veit an der Glan district of Carinthia, Austria. First mentioned in a 860 deed, it is known as the oldest town in Carinthia.-Location:...
by the forces of the Gurk bishop
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gurk
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gurk is a diocese comprising the Austrian state of Carinthia and is part of the Ecclesiastical province of Salzburg. Due to the presence of Carinthian Slovenes the Slovenian language is, together with Latin and German, the language of the liturgy in the Southern parts...
. Freed by a loyal monk, Thiemo found a refuge in the diocese of befriended Bishop Gebhard of Constance
Gebhard (III) of Constance
Gebhard III was Bishop of Constance and defender of papal rights against imperial encroachments during the Investiture Controversy.He was a son of Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia, and a brother of Berthold II, Duke of Swabia...
at Petershausen Abbey
Petershausen Abbey
Petershausen Abbey was a Benedictine monastery at Petershausen, now a district of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-History:...
.
In 1101 Thiemo decided to join Duke William IX of Aquitaine on his crusade
Crusade of 1101
The Crusade of 1101 was a minor crusade of three separate movements, organized in 1100 and 1101 in the successful aftermath of the First Crusade. It is also called the Crusade of the Faint-Hearted due to the number of participants who joined this crusade after having turned back from the First...
to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and did not return. Several traditions concerning his death exist. He may have been taken captive by the Seljuqs of Rûm
Sultanate of Rûm
The Sultanate of Rum , also known as the Anatolian Seljuk State , was a Turkic state centered in in Anatolia, with capitals first at İznik and then at Konya. Since the court of the sultanate was highly mobile, cities like Kayseri and Sivas also functioned at times as capitals...
at Ereğli (Heraclea) in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
in September 1101 or was imprisoned by the Fatimid Caliphate at Ashkelon
Ashkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
in the following year. His martyrdom is described being tortured and killed by pulling the intestines out of his body with a spindle.
He was never formally canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
but is commemorated
Commemoration (prayer)
In the Roman Rite, when a higher-ranked liturgical celebration impedes the celebration of a lesser one that, either permanently or by coincidence, falls on the same day, the prayer of the lower-ranked celebration is usually added to that of the higher...
as a martyr by the Catholic Church. His name day
Name day
A name day is a tradition in many countries in Europe and Latin America that consists of celebrating the day of the year associated with one's given name....
is 28 September.