Albert of Mainz

Cardinal Albert of Hohenzollern (German: Albrecht; June 28, 1490 in Cölln – September 24, 1545 in Aschaffenburg), Elector and Archbishop of Mainz and Archbishop of Magdeburg, was the younger son of John Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg.

Related Topics:
June 28 - 1490 - Cölln - September 24 - 1545 - Aschaffenburg - Elector - Archbishop of Mainz - Archbishop of Magdeburg - John Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg

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After their father's death, Albert and his older brother Joachim I Nestor became margraves of Brandenburg in 1499, but only his older brother held the title of an elector of Brandenburg.

Related Topics:
Joachim I Nestor - Margraves of Brandenburg - 1499 - Elector of Brandenburg

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Having studied at the university of Frankfurt an der Oder,

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Albert entered the ecclesiastical profession, and in 1513 became

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archbishop of Magdeburg and administrator of the Diocese of Halberstadt.

Related Topics:
Archbishop - Magdeburg - Diocese of Halberstadt

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In 1514 he obtained the Electorate of Mainz,

Related Topics:
1514 - Electorate of Mainz

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and in 1518 was made a cardinal. Meanwhile to pay for the pallium of the see of Mainz and to discharge the other

Related Topics:
1518 - Cardinal - Pallium

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expenses of his elevation, Albert had borrowed 21,000 ducats from Jacob Fugger, and had obtained permission from Pope Leo X to conduct the sale of indulgences in his diocese to

Related Topics:
Ducat - Jacob Fugger - Pope Leo X - Indulgences

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obtain funds to repay this loan, as long as half the collection was forwarded to the Papacy. An agent of the Fuggers subsequently traveled in the Cardinal's retinue in charge of the cashbox. For this work he procured

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the services of John Tetzel, and so indirectly exercised a

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potent influence on the course of the Reformation.

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When the imperial election of 1519 drew near, the elector's vote was

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eagerly solicited by the partisans of Charles (afterwards

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the emperor Charles V) and by those of Francis I, King of France, and he appears to have received a large amount of

Related Topics:
Charles V - Francis I

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money for the vote, which he cast eventually for Charles.

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Albert's large and liberal ideas, his friendship with Ulrich von Hutten, and his political ambitions, appear to have raised

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hopes that he would be won over to Protestantism; but

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after the Peasants' War of 1525 he ranged himself definitely

Related Topics:
Peasants' War - 1525

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among the supporters of Catholicism, and was among the princes

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who met to concert measures for its defence at Dessau in July

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1525.

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His hostility towards the reformers, however, was

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not so extreme as that of his brother Joachim I, Elector of

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Brandenburg; and he appears to have exerted himself in the

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interests of peace, although he was a member of the League of Nuremberg, which was formed in 1538 as a counterpoise to the League of Schmalkalden.

Related Topics:
League of Nuremberg - 1538 - League of Schmalkalden

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The new doctrines nevertheless

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made considerable progress in his dominions, and he was

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compelled to grant religious liberty to the inhabitants

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of Magdeburg in return for 500,000 florins. During his

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latter years indeed he showed more intolerance towards the

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Protestants, and favoured the teaching of the Jesuits in his

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dominions.

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Albert adorned the collegiate church (Stiftskirche) at Halle (Saale) and

Related Topics:
Collegiate church - Halle (Saale)

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the cathedral at Mainz in sumptuous fashion, and took as his

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motto the words Domine, dilexi decorem domus tuae (Latin for: "Lord, I admired the adornment of your house."). A generous

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patron of art and learning, he counted Erasmus among his

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friends.

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He died at Aschaffenburg on September 24, 1545.

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