ECHTER, JULIUS. - Bishop, b. at Mespelbrunn (Spessart) on 28 March 1545, d. at Würzburg on 13 Sept. 1617. He studied at Paris, Angers, Pavia, and elsewhere; having obtained a degree in law, on 1 Dec. 1573 he was appointed bishop of Würzburg, where he had been dean of the cathedral since 1570; he was ordained priest and bishop in May 1575).
He devoted himself zealously to the application of the Tridentine reform, thus restoring his diocese permanently to Catholicism. Endowed with religious spirit, firm resolve, and keen intelligence, he founded a seminary, raised the Jesuit College of Würzburg to the rank of a University (1582), established three boarding schools, and built approximately 300 churches and the celebrated Juliuspital (1579). The influence of his reforming activity also extended into the neighbouring territories of Fulda and Bamberga. He governed the diocese for 43 years and is remembered as the most eminent bishop of his city.