Diether von Isenburg

Diether von Isenburg ( 14127 May 1482) was twice Archbishop (1459–1461 and 1475–1482) and founder of the University of Mainz. As Archbishop of Mainz, he was ex officio Elector and Lord Chancellor of Germany. Biography Diether was a son of Diether I, count of Isenburg-Büdingen. Early in childhood he was sent into a religious life. He was educated in Cologne and later Erfurt. In 1427 he became a member of Mainz Cathedral, in 1434 a rector in Erfurt, and in 1453 a cathedral vicar. In 1456 the cathedral chapter of Trier elected John II of Baden against Diether. On 18 June 1459 he was elected the Archbishop of Mainz with a clear majority over Adolph of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein, although never confirmed by the Pope. In 1461 he went to Nuremberg for Imperial and Papal reform, and its recommendations earned him the wrath of both the Emperor Frederick III and Pope Pius II.