ENGELBERTO I of COLONIA, saint. - Born about 1185. Son of Count E. of Berg, he studied at the cathedral school of Colonia. In the conflict for the imperial throne between Ottone IV and Filippo di Svevia, he was excommunicated and deposed by Pope Innocenzo III because of his policy; but in 1208 he submitted to the Pontiff and in 1212 fought, as penance, against the Albigensians. Elected archbishop of Colonia in 1216, he was consecrated in 1217. He concerned himself with the politics of the Empire; he was guardian of Enrico, son of Federico II, and regent of Germany; he protected ecclesiastical institutions, thereby incurring the hatred of the nobles, and was killed by his own nephew Federico di Isenburg on 7 Nov. 1225. The celebration of his feast (7 Nov.) dates only from 1618.
Engelbert I of Cologne, Saint
BIBL.: Life written by Cesario di Heisterbach, in Acta SS. Nannodris, III, Bruxelles 1910, pp. 644-649; J. Ficker, E. der Heilige, Colonia 1853; R. Knipping, Die Regesten der Erzbischöfe von Köln im Mittelalter, III, ibid. 1901 (v. indice); H. Forster, s. V. in LTbK, III, cols. 697-92. Lucchesio Späthig
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“ENGELBERTO I DI COLONIA, SANTO.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. V (1950), p. 239. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/engelberto-i-di-colonia-santo.