Tile Kolup
Encyclopedia
Tile Kolup also known as Dietrich Holzschuh, was an impostor
who in 1284 began to pretend to be emperor Frederick II
. He took advantage of persistent rumors that the emperor, who had died in 1250, was not really dead and was about to return to put in order the matters of the empire. When Kolup first claimed to be the emperor in 1284 in Cologne
, he was laughed at and driven out of the city. He then found strong support in Neuss
, and issued his own documents with a fake seal. He joined the enemies of King Rudolph of Habsburg
who besieged the city unsuccessfully. In the summer of 1285 Tile Kolup went to Wetzlar
where he held court; the origin of the necessary money remains unclear. He even issued privileges under royal seal. Rudolph of Habsburg finally captured him in Wetzlar in the same year and had him burned at the stake
.
Impostor
An impostor or imposter is a person who pretends to be somebody else, often to try to gain financial or social advantages through social engineering, but just as often for purposes of espionage or law enforcement....
who in 1284 began to pretend to be emperor Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
. He took advantage of persistent rumors that the emperor, who had died in 1250, was not really dead and was about to return to put in order the matters of the empire. When Kolup first claimed to be the emperor in 1284 in 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...
, he was laughed at and driven out of the city. He then found strong support in Neuss
Neuss
Neuss is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the west bank of the Rhine opposite Düsseldorf. Neuss is the largest city within the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district and owes its prosperity to its location at the crossing of historic and modern trade routes. It is primarily known...
, and issued his own documents with a fake seal. He joined the enemies of King Rudolph of Habsburg
Rudolph I of Germany
Rudolph I was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg dynasty to a leading position among the Imperial feudal dynasties...
who besieged the city unsuccessfully. In the summer of 1285 Tile Kolup went to Wetzlar
Wetzlar
Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...
where he held court; the origin of the necessary money remains unclear. He even issued privileges under royal seal. Rudolph of Habsburg finally captured him in Wetzlar in the same year and had him burned at the stake
Execution by burning
Death by burning is death brought about by combustion. As a form of capital punishment, burning has a long history as a method in crimes such as treason, heresy, and witchcraft....
.