Dernbach, Balthasar

DERNBACH, BALTHASAR. - Benedictine, b. in 1548, d. at Fulda on 15 March 1606. Of a Protestant family, after his conversion 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, reintroduced Catholic customs (administration of Baptism in Latin, processions, etc.), sought to raise the cultural level of the clergy, despite the bitter opposition of the supporters of the Augsburg Confession backed by the Elector of Saxony, by the two Landgraves of Hesse, etc. D. was helped by the canons who broke away from the nobles and by the Emperor. Since D. had acted against the immorality of the canons, the Chapter, however, allied itself once again against him with the nobility.

The attempt to depose the abbot by appointing an administrator found Bishop Julius of Würzburg consenting, since he feared that the principality would end up in the hands of the Protestants if a compromise were not attempted. This policy led to a rebellion against D., who ceded the administration of the abbey to Bishop Julius. Gregory XIII demanded the reinstatement of D. Because of the disagreement among the princes, Maximilian II on 5 Oct. 1576 ordered the abbey to be placed under imperial sequestration. D. waited 26 years to be readmitted to his abbey (1602).