Wenrich of Trier
Wenrich of Trier was a German ecclesiastico-political writer of the eleventh century. In 1080 he wrote a pamphlet regarding the Investiture Controversy between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor.[1]
Biography
He was a canon at Verdun, and afterwards scholasticus at Trier.[1]
Sigebert of Gembloux (Patrologia Latina, CXL, 584 sq.) calls him also Bishop of Vercelli.[2] However, the early documents of the diocese leave no place for him in the list of bishops.
Work
Wenrich authored a controversial treatise on behalf of Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV during his struggle with Pope Gregory VII (the Conflict of Investitures).[1] The form is that of an open letter to the pope; the tone is friendly, as though what he had to say was painful to the author. Wenrich disputes the efficiency of the emperor's excommunication (1080), opposes the laws of celibacy promulgated by the pope, condemns the inciting of the people against the emperor, defends investitures by texts of Scripture and the history of the Church, upbraids Gregory for being an accomplice in the setting up of a rival king, and reminds the pope that he himself has been accused of unlawful striving after the papal dignity, and even of the use of force to attain this end.[3]
A reply was written by Manegold of Lautenbach.[4]
Notes
- ^ a b c Wattenbach, Wilhelm (1896). "Wenrich oder Winrich". Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 41, p. 724. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ H. Bresslau, Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Libelli de lite imperatorum et pontificum, Tomus 1 (Hannover: Hahn 1891), p. 628: "De tempore, quo Wenricus ad episcopatum Vercellensem accessit, certi nihil statui potest, cum iam a. 1080. in actis synodi Brixinensis (Jaffé, Biblioth. V, p. 136) nomen Regengeri inveniatur: Regengerus Vercellensis episcopus subscripsit. Unde, Bresslavio monente, dubitari potest, num rêvera Wenricus episcopatum illum umquam adeptus sit." Schwartz, p. 139.
- ^ Mirbt, Carl (1896). "Wenrich of Treves". Schall Encyclopedia. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Robinson, p. 126 and p.155.
Sources
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Wenrich of Trier". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External links
- Thomas Bauer (1998). "Wenrich, Scholaster in Trier". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 13. Herzberg: Bautz. cols. 763–767. ISBN 3-88309-072-7.