Albert Suerbeer

Seal of Archbishop Albert Suerbeer ofPrussia,Livonia,andEstonia.

Albert Suerbeer(c. 1200– 1273) was the firstArchbishopofRigainLivonia.

Life

Suerbeer was an aggressive supporter ofpapalpower and tried to take over the whole easternBaltic areafor theHoly See.His efforts failed, however, and he was forced to submit to theLivonian branchof theTeutonic Knights.

Suerbeer was born inCologne.He studied inParis,received a degree of magister, and became the canon inBremen.After the death ofAlbert of Rigain 1229, he was appointed Bishop of Riga byArchbishop of BremenGerhard of Oldenburg. The canons of Riga did not recognize his appointment and elected their own candidate Nicholas, who was confirmed byPope Gregory IXin 1231.

In 1240, Suerbeer becameArchbishop of Armaghand Primate ofIreland,where he was known as Alberic the German. After taking part in theFirst Council of Lyonin 1245, he left Ireland, asPope Innocent IVneeded him in Germany in his struggle against EmperorFrederick II.Upon returning to Germany, however, the Pope appointed him Archbishop ofPrussia,Livonia,andEstonia,and later also a legate toGotland,Holstein,Rügen,andRussia.In 1246 he was given also the vacantDiocese of Lübeckin Germany.

TheTeutonic Knightswere wary of Suerbeer and warned him to stay away from Prussia. After Bishop Nicholas of Riga died in 1253, Suerbeer finally received the Bishopric of Riga he had claimed over 10 years. According to a compromise arranged byWilliam of Modena,Albert promised to stop his activities against the Teutonic Order.Suffraganbishoprics subordinate to Riga includedDorpat,Ösel-Wiek,Courland,Sambia,Pomesania,Warmia (Ermland),andCulmerland.

His activities regarding the proselytisation of thepagansand the foundation of achurch unionwith theRussianprincipalities brought him into conflict with the Teutonic Order. While Suerbeer's proselytisation and power policy eventually yielded little success, the competing Teutonic Order attained papal support more easily than the archbishop, thanks to its supraregional presence and comparative wealth.

In 1267, however, Suerbeer allied himself with Gunzelin, a son of CountGunzelin III of Schwerin,who had come to Livonia as a crusader. He appointed Gunzelin an advocate (governor) of his diocese which resulted in deep conflict with theLivonian Order.While Gunzelin was recruiting troops in Germany, the Order arrested Suerbeer and kept him imprisoned with only bread and water. Suerbeer was forced to recognize the authority of the Order. Suerbeer died in Riga in 1273.

References

• Wilhelm Mantels (1875), "Albert II. (Suerbeer)",Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie(in German), vol. 1, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 202–204
• Heinrich Laakmann (1953),"Albert II. Suebeer",Neue Deutsche Biographie(in German), vol. 1, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 130–131
• Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz (1975). "Albert II. Suerbeer". In Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm (ed.).Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL)(in German). Vol. 1. Hamm: Bautz. col. 84.ISBN3-88309-013-1.