Konrad Stürtzel

Who was Konrad Stürtzel?

Konrad Stürzel von Buchheim was a German jurist for canon laws, knight and chancellor of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.

Konrad was born about 1435, the son of a citizen of Kitzingen in Lower Franconia. In 1453 he went to the university of Heidelberg and left as a Master of Arts five years later. In 1460 he was one of the first professors at the young University of Freiburg in Breisgau, which belonged to Austria at that time and became its president for the first time in 1469. At the same time he studied canon law and got his doctor's degree. In 1478/1479 he again became president of the University of Freiburg.

In parallel to his academic functions Konrad was advisor to Sigismund of Austria since 1474, he worked for the Archduke from 1481 and became his chancellor in 1486. When the upper classes of society of Tyrol became unsatisfied with his misgovernment Sigismund was compelled to hand over the leadership to King Maximilian I. In 1490 Konrad was significantly involved in setting up the agreement for transfer of power which was probably his greatest political success. Konrad was in attendance on the Roman-German King as his Chancellor of Tyrol. Obviously in return for his support during the negotiations with Sigismund he was ennobled by Frederick III. on January 24, 1488 which was confirmed three years later by his son Maximilian who granted the name Sturzl von Buchen on July 4, 1491 in Nuremberg.