Wilhelm von Bibra

Wilhelm von Bibra (1442–1490) (Eques auratus) was a Papal Emissary.

Wilhelm functioned as a Papal Emissary for both the archbishop of Cologne and Kaiser Friedrich. Wilhelm’s half brother, Prince Bishop Lorenz von Bibra of Würzburg, in 1487 wrote a letter of introduction to Pope Innocent VIII for Wilhelm who was being sent to the Vatican as emissary of Archbishop Herman of Cologne. As an emissary, he traveled to Rome three times: 1483, 1487, and 1490. By July 8, 1490, Wilhelm was referred to as "miles auratus" (a reference to him being a Knight of the Golden Spur). In 1490, Wilhelm became ill when returning from Rome as an emissary of the emperor Frederick III. He was a guest at the Palazzo of the countly Pellegrini family when he died August 28, 1490. Wilhelm's tomb stone is still to be seen in the Pellegrini Chapel of the Santa Anastasia in Verona. Originally, it was on the floor and was moved to the wall in summer of 1804.

Wilhelm was a member of the aristocratic Franconian von Bibra family which among its members were Wilhelm’s half brother, Lorenz von Bibra Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in Franconia, Conrad von Bibra, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in Franconia (1490-1544), Heinrich von Bibra, Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda (1711-1788) and Ernst von Bibra (1806-1878), naturalist and author.

Lithograph from Geschicte der Familie der Freiherrn von Bibra, 1870. Note gilded (gold) armor) as a Knight of the Golden Spur, an honoree by July 8, 1490

Costumes Historiques des XIIe, XIIIe, XIVe, et XVI siecles' by Camille Bonnard published in Paris by A. Levy Fils 1860. In 1827 Camille Bonnard began a gallery of 13th to 15th century European costumes, published in 75 parts over the next two years, with hand-colored plates by Paul Mercuri.

Nobilis et stren,. Doms. Gulielmus de Bibra

Eques aureus, Ducatu Franciae Orientalis

Oriundus, Sereniss. D. Frederici III◦ Caesoris

victiss, et Massimiliani eius nati, incliti

Romanorum Regis Consiliar ad S.D.N.

Archiepiscp.) Innocentiu Pap. VIII◦

Orator et Nuntius, atque Reverendiss.

D. Hermani Archiepiscopi Coloniensis

Principis Electoris Magister Curiae et

consiliarius completa legatione ex Ro.

Domus regreditur. Obiit in hac inclita

Urbe Veronae die. S.S. August: anno 1490.

Cuius anima requiescat in pace.

In piedi ancora queste parole:

Peregrinorum familia pietatis gratia nunc

mihi soli in hoc sacello tu mulum

concessit An. MLXXXX.