bavarikon4UDescription
The foundation of the Bamberg bishopric by Emperor Henry II (r. 1002-1024) did not happen without some resistance. In particular, the Würzburg Bishop Heinrich I (r. 996-1118), who together with his Eichstätt colleague had to give up part of his diocese, objected to it. Even though he had originally given his consent, he took it back when it became clear that he could not expect the hoped for rise in rank to an archbishopric. In the end, Henry II needed to call for yet another episcopal synod in Frankfurt. The Würzburg bishop, however, did not attend out of protest. The synodic report – the only one to be preserved from these times – does not recount the differences of opinion described by Tietmar von Merseburg (975-1018, 1009-1018 bishop of Merseburg) during the event. The bishops present signed the written version of the foundation deed with a cross before or after their names. Only the Cologne Archbishop Heribert (r. 999-1021), a brother of the Würzburg bishop, wrote down “ad votum sinodi” (“at the request of the synod”). Nevertheless, Henry II had gained his aim. On the same day, 1 November 1007, he appointed his chancellor Eberhard (r. 1007-1040) as the first bishop of Bamberg.