Gerlach of Nassau – Kloster Eberbach

Archbishop of Mainz (* 1322 - † 1371)

The figure panel on the right is dedicated to Archbishop Gerlach of Nassau from Mainz. Not only was he buried in Eberbach, but a macabre memento of his death was also kept here. He was destined for a clerical career at an early age and became a canon in Mainz at the age of 14. From 1340 to 1344, he spent time studying in Bologna. In 1345, he was appointed dean of Mainz Cathedral and canon in Erfurt and Trier. On April 7, 1346, Gerlach was appointed Archbishop of Mainz. His predecessor, Heinrich III of Virneburg, had previously been deposed by Pope Clemens VI. Gerlach of Nassau had problems asserting himself as archbishop, as his predecessor refused to accept his deposition. Lengthy disputes ensued, which only ended with Heinrich's death in 1353. Gerlach's position was no longer contested in the period that followed.

Gerlach endeavored to establish his nephew Adolf as his successor as Archbishop of Mainz. However, his plan failed due to his early and unexpected death. Archbishop Gerlach died in 1371 in his Aschaffenburg residence in great pain from a bladder stone. In accordance with his wishes, his body was transferred to Eberbach Monastery and buried there. There was once a closet near Gerlach's tomb in which the bladder stones that caused the archbishop's death were kept. The bladder stones had been removed during the post-mortem and placed in a small box. A parchment tablet with details of the circumstances of the archbishop's death was attached to the box and then placed in the closet. The bladder stones were apparently already lost around 1600, while the parchment tablet is said to have still been there. Today it is also lost.

Source: German Inscriptions Online (43, No. 102), Academy of Sciences Mainz

Image of the tomb: Michael Leukel

Tombstones

These are fascinating life stories that can be found carved in stone in Eberbach - and which are now being told with the help of a QR code project.

Learn more