Bruno von Schauenburg

Bruno von Schauenburg (also known as Bruno Olomucensis; 1205 – 1 or 17 February 1281 in Kroměříž) was a nobleman and Catholic priest of German descent, bishop of Olomouc in 1245–1281. He was one of the main advisors and diplomats of the Czech kings: Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, and especially Ottokar II of Bohemia, for whom he was the "right hand". As a bishop in history of Moravia he is known thanks to colonization and his role in founding many new towns. Life He came from an old North German noble family, and was born at the family seat of Schauenburg castle, on the river Weser in Lower Saxony, about 50 km southwest of Rinteln. He was born as the third son of the Holstein and Schoenenberg Count Adolf III, between 1200 and 1205. He performed many church functions. In 1229 he became a priest of the cathedral chapter in Lübeck. In 1236 he was a parish priest in Hamburg, and in 1238 he was elected pastor in Magdeburg. However, his opponent in this election was wounded and the accused Bruno escaped. In addition, the Magdeburg Archbishop excommunicated him. Bruno, however, went to Rome and obtained from Pope and forgiveness. In 1244, the Pope Innocent IV appointed him a papal priest. On 20 September 1245, the same Pope appointed him a Bishop of Olomouc. It ended with numerous disputes regarding the election of the local bishop. He was ordained bishop in 1247. This year, the Bishop was also accepted by the Czech King Wenceslaus I. Bishop Bruno received special favor from the king after he stood on the side of Wacław in his dispute with his son Przemysl and later helped to reconcile father and son. In ecclesiastical matters, Bishop Bruno actively sought to reform the ecclesiastical administration. He renewed the old and established a new deanery. He called synod, he established new church offices. He also dealt with church property. Near the old settlement, he founded a new town of Kroměříž with a castle. After the fire damaged the Saint Wenceslas Cathedral in Olomouc in 1265, he renewed it in the Gothic style. He is considered to be a pioneer of the colonization of medieval Moravia, he had previously inhabited uninhabited areas, mainly in the central part (Drahaner Bergland) and in the north of Moravia (areas between Oder and Ostravice). For example, in his 1267 letter, for the first time Ostrava (Moravian) was mentioned. In addition to the castle in Kroměříž, he also founded the castles Mírov, Blansek, Fulštejn, Šaumburk and others.