Godfrey of Spitzenberg

Godfrey of Spitzenberg (1132 – July 8, 1190 in Antioch) was a close confidant of Emperor Frederick I and bishop of Regensburg and Würzburg.

He belonged to the Sigmaringen-Spitzenberg family which was formed by the marriage of Richinza, daughter of Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia, and Louis of Sigmaringen, progenitor of the House of Helfenstein.

In 1186, Bishop Reginhard von Abenberg died in Würzburg, and Godfrey was elected successor and thus retired from the imperial service.

On 27 March 1188, at the Diet of Mainz, Godfrey preached a crusade sermon and Frederick asked the assembly whether he should take the cross.

[3] The army, which Godfrey also joined, had marched across the Balkans and crossed Asia Minor against fierce resistance, until Emperor Frederick I drowned in the Saleph River in 1190.