Diether of Nassau

Diether of Nassau, (c. 1250 – Trier, 23 November 1307) was a clergyman from the Walramian branch of the House of Nassau. From 1300 to 1307 he was Archbishop and Elector of Trier as Diether III. Life Diether was the eldest son of Count Walram II of Nassau and Adelheid of Katzenelnbogen. It is believed that after his father died in 1276, Diether's mother and sister led a very devout life at Klarenthal Abbey in Wiesbaden. His younger brother, Count Adolf of Nassau, was elected King of Germany in 1292 and died in 1298 in the Battle of Göllheim. Diether was a dominican at Mainz since 1292, and a Doctor of Theology. Later, as archbishop, he supported the Dominican Order energetically. From 1295 Diether was in the service of Pope Boniface VIII. Not only did Boniface VIII occasionally use Diether to influence King Adolf; Diether was also sent by Adolf as a negotiator to King Philip IV "the Fair" of France in 1297 when Adolf, in exploring the state of his alliance with King Edward I of England, thought he could achieve political double play.