Original scientific paper
Petar Kotter – Bishop of Zagreb with Confirmation of the Basel Council .
Tomislav Matić
orcid.org/0000-0003-3648-7407
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Peter Kotterer was a cleric from the city of Passau in the Southeastern part of the Holy Roman Empire. During the first half of the 15th century, thanks to his education and acquaintances with members of the ducal chancery of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, he managed to obtain high posts in the Austrian and Tyrolean Church. During the 1420s and 1430s, he served in the chanceries of Duke Frederick IV and his nephew Frederick V (who later became Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor). Probably due to disagreements with the latter, Kotter lost much of his prestige and income in 1439. Seeking employment, he became the chancellor of his former master’s worst enemy, his brother Duke Albert VI. His new master joined the dynastic struggle in the neighboring Kingdom of Hungary on the side of Queen Elizabeth, who fought against the Polish king Wladislas III Jagiellon. Thanks to the queen, Albert managed to get his chancellor presented to the bishop’s see of Zagreb in 1440. In accordance with Elisabeth’s, Albert’s, and probably his own ecclesiastical affiliation, Kottrer was confirmed as bishop not by the Roman pope Eugene IV, but by the anti-pope Felix V, who had been elected by the Council of Basel. After his confirmation, Peter managed to be recognized as bishop of Zagreb by King Wladislas, probably thanks to the king’s agreement with his master. It is unknown whether he ever really ruled his diocese. Count Frederick II of Celje had his own candidate for the bishop’s see of Zagreb, Benedict of Zvolen, who was confirmed by Pope Eugene IV and, in an unexpected twist of events, recognized by Queen Elizabeth. Peter’s career as Bishops of Zagreb ended in late 1443 when Duke Albert VI had him arrested on the suspicion of treason. He spent some time in a dungeon, but was later reconciled with the Duke and even returned to the post of his chancellor. Nevertheless, he never again had any real connections with the Diocese of Zagreb. Although his career as bishop was short, it proves that there were differing opinions among the members of the 15th-century Diocese of Zagreb, some favoring the Roman papacy, and some the conciliarist ideas embodied by the Council of Basel.
Keywords
Diocese of Zagreb, Middle Ages, 15th century, the Habsburgs, Counts of Celje, Council of Basel.
Hrčak ID:
250661
URI
Publication date:
12.8.2020.
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