Bischof Gebhard I (1222-1232)

Bishop Gebhard I. (1222-1232)

Count of Pleyen, prince bishop, 35^th bishop of Passau from 1222 to 1232

1170	He was born as the youngest son of Count Liutpold of Pleyen and Hardeck and Countess Utta of Burghausen. Liutpold III was his brother.
18.06.1210	He obtains as canon of Passau the parish Grafenwörth, which is under the patronage of Gebhard’s brother Liutpold III. and his cousin Konrad.
March 1222	He is elected bishop of Passau: his relationship to the Staufer family played a significant role.
	Vigorous parish policy; therefore intense conflicts leading to independence-minded monasteries (trying to separate themselves from the bishop). In Niedernburg, St. Pölten, Kremsmünster and Ranshofen he was able to assert his authority.
17.03.1225	He enacts the first municipal law of Passau and builds the House of the Municipal Judges opposite the town hall (nowadays: Hotel ‘Zum Wilden Mann). He also integrates the ‘Örtl’ (area where the Danube meets the Inn) into the city.
1229	Pope Gregor IX. orders extensive clergy and monastery visitations which Gebhard carries out with high conscientiousness (excommunication of about 40 abbots, provosts and priests of his diocese). His rigorous proceeding led to conflicts with the chapter of the cathedral.
06.05.1231	Gebhard is accused of the cruel assassination of the canon Eberhard von Jahenstorf. But the citizens of Passau are also under suspicion.
1232	In the dispute between the pope and the emperor Gebhard stands on the pope’s side, the chapter of the cathedral although is on the emperor’s side. As a result of the arising disputes in Passau, the bishop resigns and leaves for Rome.
11.10.1232	He dies in Rome.

Evaluation: Bishop Gebhard belonged neither to the most influential imperial bishops nor to those of Passau’s bishops who took serious measures. Evaluation of his way of governance revealed that his pontificate was guided by constant efforts about the church of Passau (in ecclesiastical as well as worldly matters). His monastery policy referred mainly to the monasteries Niedernburg, St. Pölten, St. Nikola, St.Pölten and Ranshofen.

He spoke out in favour of a good relationship with the pope as well as with the imperial power of the Staufer family in order to secure the interests of Passau’s church.

He also tried to strengthen his position as a bishop with the help of the church reform.

Therefore he experienced the resistance of the monasteries, the chapter of the cathedral and the aristocracy. He had to compete against these three powers for the expansion of the prince bishop’s territory.

In the end he was little successful in looking after the interests of Passau, but he - as well as his predecessors - created the basis for a further territorial development of Passau’s church.

Cha Yonku: Bischof Gebhard von Passau (1222-1232); Studien zum Aufbau eines fürstbischöflichen Territoriums.Dissertation zur Erlangung des philosophischen Doktorgrades an der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität Passau, (Passau 1995/1996)
August Leidl: Die Bischöfe von Passau 739-1968 in Kurzbiographien,Neue Veröffentlichung des Instituts für Ostbairische Heimatforschung, Nr. 38, (Passau ²1978) S. 26/27
Franz Mader: Tausend Passauer.Biographisches Lexikon zu Passaus Stadtgeschichte (Passau 1993), S. 51,71/72

revised by: Nina Susanne Schöpf
translation by: Stefanie Paulus
(16.8.2004/13.5.2005)