John I (archbishop of Trier)

Among his first duties as archbishop were the reorganization and strengthening of the archdiocese (in both its ecclesiastical and its secular aspects), the fortification of the city of Trier, and the acquisition of a number of castles.

John established the "Liber annalium jurium," a comprehensive reckoning of all the properties and privileges of the archbishopric (similar to the English Domesday Book of William the Conqueror) and one of the most important historical sources for the city and territory of Trier.

In early 1196 Archbishop John had the legendary "Holy Robe" of Christ displayed again in the west choir of the Cathedral of Trier.

In 1198, the archbishop attained the release of both the archbishopric and the city of Trier from the suzerainty of the Count Palatine of the Rhine.

In 1203, having been threatened with excommunication by Pope Innocent III due to his fluctuating support of the rival imperial candidates, the Staufen Philip, Duke of Swabia and the papal favorite, the Welfic Otto of Brunswick, John undertook a journey to Rome and was formally rehabilitated.

Silver denier of John I, Archbishop of Trier. Obverse shows the mitered archbishop with a crosier and a book, with the motto IOHANN.; the reverse shows the profile of Saint Peter , the patron saint of the cathedral , with the motto PETRVS.