Uriel of Gemmingen (1468 - 9 February 1514) was the Archbishop of Mainz from 1508 until 1514.
Uriel was the tenth child of Keckhans of Gemmingen. Uriel was first educated in St Peter and St Paul in Bad Wimpfen. In 1483 he was promoted to the cathedrals of Mainz and Worms. With the support if his brother George, Uriel became a doctor in Padua in 1488. In 1501 he was an Imperial administrator in Speyer, and in 1505 was made a deacon in the cathedral chapter of Mainz. In 1506 he acquired Kostheim in Hesse. On 24 September 1508 Uriel was elected the Archbishop of Mainz, and was invested the following year.
In 1510 Uriel argued with Johannes Pfefforkern, who began a book-burning of Jewish material. He appointed Matthias Grünewald to decorate the castle at Aschaffenburg. In 1513 he appointed a rabbi the chief of all Jews in the prince-archbishopric, and freed him from all taxes. This began a long-running controversy which continued past Uriel's death. In 1514 Uriel was surprised during the night to find his cellar-master stealing wine, and he killed him in rage. Uriel was overcome by grief at this, and he crossed the River Rhine alone to go to Martinsburg, despite thick fog. Uriel quickly got sick and died after a few days.
It was also reported that Uriel faked his death and replaced his body with that of the cellar-master, and he went to Italy to live the rest of his days in a small abbey. In 1724 his tomb in Mainz was opened and a bishops mitre, staff and insignia were found. The actual events of Uriel's death are not known, nor is it known which version of events is true.
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Preceded by: |
Uriel of Gemmingen |
Succeeded by: |
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| Jacob of Liebenstein | Archbishop of Mainz 1508 - 1514 |
Albert III of Brandenburg |