Archbishop of Cologne and tutor to the son of Emperor Frederick II, Engelbert was a reforming prelate and protector of the mendicant orders. He was assassinated in 1225 by his relative, the Count of Isenberg, after defending the property of the Abbey of Essen against the latter's pillaging. He died praying for his executioners after receiving forty-seven wounds.
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SAINT ENGELBERT, ARCHBISHOP OF COLOGNE,
Origins and Episcopal Election
Born into the nobility, Engelbert was elected Archbishop of Cologne in 1216 after having refused the bishopric of Munster.
Engelbert Engelbert Archbishop of Cologne and martyr, regent of the Empire. was born into an illustrious family; he was the son of Engelbert, Count of Berg, and Margaret, daughter of the Count of Guelders. From childhood, he showed happy dispositions; he was amiable, generous, and humble. He refused the bishopric of Munster at eighteen years of age. After the great troubles caused by the Archbisho ps of C Cologne Archiepiscopal see and burial place of the saint. ologne, Adolph and Theodoric, the Sovereign Pontiff having ordered the election of a new archbishop to replace the deposed Theodoric, Engelbert was elected on February 22 of the year 1216. He conferred numerous benefices upon the churches and colleges of his diocese, paid the debts contracted by his predecessors, and recovered the fiefs and properties belonging to the Church of Cologne, which had been either taken by force or lost through negligence or inability. He received with gr eat kindnes Dominicains Religious order to which Magdeleine belonged. s the Dominicans, Franciscains Religious order welcomed by Engelbert in Cologne. the Fran ciscans, Chartreux Religious order welcomed by Engelbert in Cologne. and the Carthusians, who came to Cologne around the year 1220; he protected and defended them against the malicious who criticized and attacked them spitefully. Engelbert performed his pontifical functions to the great edification of those present; he upheld the dignity of his ministry through the splendor of worship; but, beneath all this brilliance, compunction filled his heart, and the tears that ceaselessly flowed from his eyes were a tangible proof of it.
Restoration and reception of the mendicant orders
He restored the finances of his diocese and protected the arrival of the Dominicans, Franciscans, and Carthusians in Cologne.
His paternal charity made no distinction of persons; he greatly honored religious; he admitted poor priests to his table in preference to great lords; he covered them with his own garments. The oppressed always found him ready to help them. More than once he compelled the indigent to eat from his plate and drink from his glass. During a famine, he bought a large quantity of wheat to feed the religious and the poor. Filled with tender piety toward the Mother of God, he often visited the places consecrated to her worship, and, every Wednesday, he fasted in her honor. Chosen by Emperor Frederick II as tutor to his son Henry, and as adm l'empereur Frédéric II Holy Roman Emperor. inistrator of the Empire on th Henri Son of Emperor Frederick II, ward of Engelbert. is side of the Alps, he raised the royal child as his own son, honored him as his master, and caused peace to reign throughout the extent of the Empire, maintaining everywhere the faith and obedience to the Holy See and to the Emperor. He was the refuge of the afflicted and the terror of the wicked. By a very special grace of God, he united magnanimity and humility, magnificence and affability, gentleness and vigor. He had acquired such great authority for the good of the Empire that a letter, or any sign from him, sufficed for the safety of travelers. He defended ecclesiastical liberty with invincible courage, mainly against the advocates, and it is thus that he paved his way to martyrdom.
Regent of the Empire and protector of the poor
Guardian of the son of Emperor Frederick II, he administered the Empire with justice while practicing heroic charity toward the destitute.
Frederick, Count of Isenberg Frédéric, comte d'Issembourg Relative and assassin of Saint Engelbert. , his relative, had made himself advocate or defend er of the Abbe abbaye d'Essen Nuns' monastery pillaged by the Count of Isenburg. y of Essen; but he had only intended to plunder the goods of the nuns; so much so that they were often obliged to take refuge in Cologne to implore the protection of the archbishops. The Pope and the Emperor, informed of what was happening, charged Engelbert to remedy the evil, and even to depose the advocate if he did not put an end to his vexations and rapine. Engelbert first employed the ways of gentleness, and even offered a considerable pension to his relative, to induce him to conduct himself in accordance with the rules of equity. His efforts being useless, he did not let him remain ignorant of the mission with which he was charged.
Defense of the Abbey of Essen
Engelbert opposes his relative Frederick of Isenberg to protect the nuns of Essen from his pillaging.
The Count of Isenberg became furious: he formed the plan to take the life of the Archbishop of Cologne, and brought into his party lords and princes to whom his family was allied. However, he still attended the meeting that the Archbishop had set for him at Soest, in Westphalia, to consider some means of reconciliation; he even feigned peaceful intentions. Engelbert was warned of the danger, but he was not at all frightened. The next morning, he made a general confession of his whole life to the Bishop of Minden, to prepare himself for death in case God should call him. He made this confession with such an abundance of tears that his entire chest was soaked. He had barely finished when the Bishops of Munster and Osnabrück, who had joined the conspiracy of Frederick, their brother, came to visit him. The Archbishop told them what he had learned, but they endeavored to mislead him. Engelbert therefore went to Soest, as had been agreed. Everything went well on the surface, and they promised to meet again at the Diet of Nuremberg. Frederick knew that, the following day, the Archbishop was to go to dedicate a church at Schwelm. He stationed assassins on the road and departed with Engelbert. When they arrived at the designated place, the Count struck the first blow against the Archbishop; then the assassins rushed upon him and pierced him with forty-seven serious wounds. He died praying for his enemies, on November 7, 1225, after ten years of episcopacy. His body was deposited, on February 24 of the following year, in the metropolitan church of Saint Peter in Cologne. Later, Archbisho p Ferdinand exhumed him Saint-Pierre de Cologne Archiepiscopal see and burial place of the saint. , enclosed hi m in a reliquary, and l'archevêque Ferdinand Archbishop of Cologne who carried out the translation of the relics. placed it on the main altar. God illustrated the tomb of His Martyr with many miracles.
The conspiracy and the assassination
A victim of an ambush near Schwelm, he was assassinated by the partisans of the Count of Isenberg and died praying for them.
He is depicted being assassinated by the men of Count Frederick and blessing his executioners.
Veneration and posterity
His body rests in Cologne Cathedral and his tomb became a place of miracles.
Proper of Cologne.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Election as Archbishop of Cologne on February 22, 1216
- Welcomed the Dominicans, Franciscans, and Carthusians to Cologne around 1220
- Appointed guardian of Henry, son of Emperor Frederick II
- Conflict with Frederick of Isenberg regarding Essen Abbey
- Assassinated with forty-seven wounds on November 7, 1225
- Translation of the relics on February 24, 1226
Miracles
- Numerous miracles at his tomb