DERNBACH, BALTHASAR. - Benedictine, born in 1548, died at Fulda on 15 March 1606. Of a Protestant family, having converted, he was prince-abbot of Fulda from 1570 and one of the champions of the Catholic reform; in his principality he favored the Jesuits, prohibited the introduction of heretical books, restored Catholic practices (administration of Baptism in Latin, processions, etc.), and sought to improve the education of the clergy, despite the fierce opposition of the supporters of the Augsburg Confession, backed by the prince-elector of Saxony, the two landgraves of Hesse, etc. D. was assisted by the canons who broke away from the nobles and from the Emperor. Having acted against the immorality of the canons, however, the Chapter again allied itself against him with the nobility.
The attempt to depose the abbot by appointing an administrator found the agreement of Bishop Giulio of Würzburg, who feared that the principality would fall into Protestant hands unless a compromise were attempted. This policy led to a rebellion against D., who ceded the administration of the abbey to Bishop Giulio. Gregory XIII demanded D.’s reinstatement. Because of the disagreement among the princes, on 5 Oct. 1576 Massimiliano II ordered the abbey to be placed under imperial sequestration. D. waited 26 years to be readmitted to his abbey (1602).