CORRADO di WITTELSBACH. - One of the most eminent figures of the German episcopate of the 12th century, b.
c. 1130 to Ottone V of Scheyern-Wittelsbach, of the counts palatine of Bavaria, and Heilika of Lengenfeld, d. 25 Oct. 1200. Educated at Salisburgo, he went to Paris for higher studies and there was a fellow student of Pietro di Blois. Having become a canon of Salisburgo, at the Council of Lodi in 1161 he was appointed by Federico Barbarossa archbishop of Magonza, and subsequently imperial archchancellor.
Imperial favor did not, however, prevent C. from openly taking the side of Alessandro III when the conflict between the two broke out in all its violence. Banished by the emperor, he took refuge in the Curia and became one of Alessandro’s closest collaborators. On 18 Dec. 1162 he was appointed by him cardinal priest of the title of S. Marcello, while retaining his archiepiscopal dignity. Promoted the following year to the episcopal see of Sabina, he continued to sign himself «Moguntinus archiepiscopus et Sabinensis episcopus». In Aug. 1177 he took part in the Congress of Venezia; he resigned Magonza because of the arrangements made necessary by the peace, and in exchange received the archbishopric of Salisburgo. From 1183, following the death of Archbishop Cristiano, he reappears in his original church without relinquishing that of Sabina.