Rudolf van Diepholt

Who was Rudolf van Diepholt?

Rudolf van Diepholt was a bishop of Utrecht from 1423 to 1455 and bishop of Osnabrück from 1454 to 1455.

Rudolf van Diepholt was one of the most influential Prince-Bishops of Utrecht in the late Middle Ages. Rudolf was the son of Johann III, Lord of Diepholz, and Countess Kunigunde von Oldenburg; he was brother of Konrad IX, Lord of Diepholz, and uncle of Otto IV, Lord of Diepholz.

Before his appointment as bishop, Rudolf van Diepholt was Canon in Cologne. Utrecht was divided by a faction-struggle between the Lichtenbergers and Lokhorsten when a new bishop had to be chosen in 1423. Rudolf was a candidate of the Lichtenbergers, and was elected by the chapters thanks to support from the towns and nobles. The Lokhorsten, however, refused to cease the support of their candidate Zweder van Culemborg. Pope Martin V attempted to resolve the conflict on 7 June 1424, by appointed his own favourite; Rhabanus van Helmstatt. Unfortunately Rhabanus did not want the appointment, and withdrew, at which the pope appointed Zweder on 6 February 1425 as bishop of Utrecht. This period is called the Utrecht Schism. Zweder used violence to gain control of the bishopric, but he was driven out of the city in 1426 by the Lichtenbergers. Rudolf was excommunicated by the pope, but he managed to maintain himself, even though Zweder was initially supported by the duke of Guelders and duke Philip the Good, also count of Holland.