Christoph von Stadion

Christoph von Stadion (1478–1543) was Prince-Bishop of Augsburg from 1517 to 1543.

Coat of arms of the noble family of Stadion

Christoph von Stadion was born in Schelklingen in Mid-March 1478, the son of Nikolaus von Stadion (d. 1507) and his wife Agatha von Gültlingen (d. 1504). In 1490, he began his studies at the University of Tübingen, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1491 and a master's in 1494. He then studied at the University of Freiburg, moving on to the University of Bologna in 1497. Finally, he studied at the University of Ferrara, from which he received a doctorate in law.

He became a canon in the cathedral chapter of Augsburg Cathedral in September 1506. In 1515, he was elected dean of the cathedral chapter. He was ordained as a priest in 1515.

In March 1517, shortly before the death of Heinrich von Lichtenau, Prince-Bishop of Augsburg, the cathedral chapter elected him coadjutor bishop, a selection confirmed by Pope Leo X on April 20, 1517, shortly after the death of Heinrich von Lichtenau. Christoph von Stadion was consecrated as a bishop by Gabriel von Eyb, Bishop of Eichstätt, on July 5, 1517.

He held a canonical visitation in the bishopric of Augsburg in 1518 and 1523. In the wake of the papal bull Exsurge Domine (1520), he moved to suppress the Reformation in the bishopric, particularly after 1522. He was unable, however, to halt the spread of Protestant ideas in Augsburg. As a result, he sought to chart a middle course with the Reformers, supporting moderation at the 1530 Diet of Augsburg. He was unable to prevent the expulsion of the Catholic clergy from the city of Augsburg in 1537.

He died in the Monastery of St. Egidien in Nuremberg on April 15, 1543, and was buried in the parish church in Dillingen an der Donau.

Wood engraving from 1517 with the coat of arms of both Augsburg bishops Heinrich von Lichtenau (ca. 1445-1517) and Christoph von Stadion (1478-1543). Each on the left side (in genealogical terms "right") Bisphopric Augsburg and on the right side (in genealogical terms "left") the paternal coat of arms

• 1517: Statuta diocesana Reverendissimi in christo patris et domini domini Christophori Episcopi Augustensis in celebratione Sinodi feria tercia post Galli Anno domini Millesimi quingentesimi decimiseptimi publicata. Auguste 1517 (Complete text PDF http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00001964/image_1 with coat of arms of the bishop on image 3: Bishopric Augsburg und family of Stadion).
• 1518: Synodalrede. (Complete text PDF http://www.mdz-nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn=urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb10366045-1).
• 1537: Warhaffte verantwurtung (...). (Complete text PDF http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0002/bsb00025024/image_1).