Mainz Diocesan Feud

In 1459 the Domkustos, Diether of Isenburg, was elected with a small majority, beating Adolph of Nassau to become the new Archbishop of Mainz.

Because Diether was able to achieve his papal confirmation only with some difficulty and by paying a large amount of money (Servitiengeld, 20,000 guilders), he opposed the political, legal, and financial demands of both Emperor and Pope.

In summer 1462, those on the side of the alliance under Adolph of Nassau believed rumours that Count Palatine Frederick and his troops were holding on in Bavaria in order to stand by the Duke in a feud against the Margrave of Ansbach.

Margrave Charles had to pay 25,000 guilders, hand over Sponheim as a pledge and agree Pforzheim as a fief of the Electorate of the Palatinate.

Further battles cost many lives and resulted in the devastation of all the settlements, and the town of Mainz itself suffered severe damage.

400 men lost their lives and Adolph's people plundered and sacked parts of the town including the former Dominican monastery.

He himself was paid off with a considerable sum of money and a small principality, created from the Mainz estate, consisting of the towns of Höchst, Steinheim, and Dieburg.

After the death of Adolph in 1475, Diether of Isenburg was once more elected as archbishop by the Mainz cathedral chapter and confirmed by Pope Sixtus IV.