He belonged a respected local family of Weißenau, descended from the ministeriales of Bolanden and related to the lords of Eppstein.
Pope Innocent IV and King William, however, refused to permit him to hold the two most powerful bishoprics in Germany simultaneously.
Innocent suggested the chapter chose Heinrich von Leiningen, the bishop of Speyer, but he was refused.
[1][2] He was consecrated archbishop by Konrad von Hochstaden, acting as papal legate, in July or August.
Christian was unenthusiastic about prosecuting the war against the Hohenstaufen, whom the pope had declared deposed in Germany in favour of William.