Wilhelm von Bibra

Wilhelm von Bibra (1442–1490) (Eques auratus) was a Papal Emissary.

Photograph & Lithograph from Beiträge zur Familien Geschichte der Reichsfreiherrn von Bibra, Zweiter Band (vol. 2), Wilhelm Frhr. von Bibra, 1882

Papal Emissary

Wilhelm functioned as a Papal Emissary for both the archbishop of Cologne and Kaiser Friedrich. Wilhelm’s half brother, Prince Bishop Lorenz von Bibra of Würzburg, in 1487 wrote a letter of introduction to Pope Innocent VIII for Wilhelm who was being sent to the Vatican as emissary of Archbishop Herman of Cologne. As an emissary, he traveled to Rome three times: 1483, 1487, and 1490. By July 8, 1490, Wilhelm was referred to as "miles auratus" (a reference to him being a Knight of the Golden Spur). In 1490, Wilhelm became ill when returning from Rome as an emissary of the emperor Frederick III. He was a guest at the Palazzo of the countly Pellegrini family when he died August 28, 1490. Wilhelm's tomb stone is still to be seen in the Pellegrini Chapel of the Santa Anastasia in Verona. Originally, it was on the floor and was moved to the wall in summer of 1804.

von Bibra Family

Wilhelm was a member of the aristocratic Franconian von Bibra family which among its members were Wilhelm’s half brother, Lorenz von Bibra Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in Franconia, Conrad von Bibra, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in Franconia (1490-1544), Heinrich von Bibra, Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda (1711-1788) and Ernst von Bibra (1806-1878), naturalist and author.

Lithograph from Geschicte der Familie der Freiherrn von Bibra, 1870. Note gilded (gold) armor) as a Knight of the Golden Spur, an honoree by July 8, 1490

Costumes Historiques des XIIe, XIIIe, XIVe, et XVI siecles' by Camille Bonnard published in Paris by A. Levy Fils 1860. In 1827 Camille Bonnard began a gallery of 13th to 15th century European costumes, published in 75 parts over the next two years, with hand-colored plates by Paul Mercuri.

Description of inscription on grave

Nobilis et stren,. Doms. Gulielmus de Bibra
Eques aureus, Ducatu Franciae Orientalis
Oriundus, Sereniss. D. Frederici III◦ Caesoris
victiss, et Massimiliani eius nati, incliti
Romanorum Regis Consiliar ad S.D.N.
Archiepiscp.) Innocentiu Pap. VIII◦
Orator et Nuntius, atque Reverendiss.
D. Hermani Archiepiscopi Coloniensis
Principis Electoris Magister Curiae et
consiliarius completa legatione ex Ro.
Domus regreditur. Obiit in hac inclita
Urbe Veronae die. S.S. August: anno 1490.
Cuius anima requiescat in pace.

In piedi ancora queste parole:
Peregrinorum familia pietatis gratia nunc
mihi soli in hoc sacello tu mulum
concessit An. MLXXXX.

References

• Altfrankische Bilder 60. Jahrgang 1961, Universitaetsdruckerei H. Stuertz AG. Wuerzburg, p.4-5
• WILHELM FRHR. VON BIBRA, Geschicte der Familie der Freiherrn von Bibra, 1870;
• Wilhelm Freiherr von Bibra: Beiträge zur Familien Geschichte der Reichsfreiherrn von Bibra. (Vol. 2), 1882, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, P. 251-269.
• WERNER WAGENHÖFER, Die Bibra: Studien und Materialien zur Genealogie und zur Besitzgeschichte einer fränkischen Niederadelsfamilie im Spätmittelalter, Verlag Degener & Co, 1998, 699 pages, ISBN 3-7686-9147-0;

External links

• Wilhelm von Bibra Page
• A Cyclopaedia of Costume Or Dictionary of Dress, Including Notices of Contemporaneous Fashions on the Continent: A general history of costume in Europe, Volume 2 of A Cyclopaedia of Costume Or Dictionary of Dress, Including Notices of Contemporaneous Fashions on the Continent: A General Chronological History of the Costumes of the Principal Countries of Europe, from the Commencement of the Christian Era to the Accession of George the Third, James Robinson Planché, Publisher Chatto and Windus, 1879, page 136