CHRISTIAN, Archbishop of Mainz. - Born around 1130 into a comital family of Thuringia. Having early distinguished himself by military valor, knowledge of languages and diplomatic skill, he already found in 1161 supporters who wanted him as archbishop of Mainz. His candidacy then fell through; but his qualities won him the favor of the emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who took him along with him to Italy in 1162, appointed him chancellor and from 1164 imperial legate in Tuscany. Toward the end of that year he led troops against Rome to install there the antipope Paschal III. In 1165 he went to Genoa to reconcile it with Pisa. Conrad of Wittelsbach having been deposed in that same year from the archiepiscopal see of Mainz, C. was elected there, but consecrated only two years later (5 March 1167).
The spiritual care of the vast archdiocese interested him less than politics and war. John of Salisbury calls him «non Christianus sed Antichristus». In 1167 he freed Rainald von Dassel, besieged at Tusculum by the Romans, defeated them at Monte Porzio (29 May 1167) and with the Emperor obtained the capitulation of Rome. Rainald having died there of plague, he succeeded him as general chancellor. In Apr. 1168 he helped the Romans, by then allies of the Germans, to destroy Albano. The following year he had the son of Barbarossa, Henry, elected king of the Romans. In 1170 he was ambassador to Constantinople. Returned to Italy, he did not succeed in winning over Genoa and Tuscany to the emperor; better fortune he had in the Romagna, except for Ancona. Aided by the Venetians, he laid close siege to it, but without success (Apr.-Oct. 1173). Engaged in central Italy, he could not hasten to the aid of Barbarossa at Legnano. He then advised the emperor to make peace with Alexander III, and led to Anagni the ambassadors sent to negotiate it (1176). The following year, at Venice, he abjured the schism and was absolved from excommunication. Remaining in central Italy to safeguard imperial policy there, he set about reconciling with Alexander III the surviving schismatics and forced the antipope Callistus III to beg forgiveness. He took part in the Third Lateran Council of 1179. Taken prisoner by his enemies (Sept. 1179), he bought his freedom with a large ransom and the promise to leave Italy (1180), which he then did not carry out. Summoned by Lucius III against the Romans at war with the papal town of Tusculum, he died there of fever on 25 Aug. 1183.
Bibliography3 works
Ireneo Daniele