Wilhelm von Montfort

By the end of the abbacy of Berchtold von Falkenstein (died 10 June 1272), Count Rudolf of Habsburg began to restrict the influence the abbey had on the region of Thurgau.

An election for the successor of Berchtold ended in conflicting results, giving Rudolf the opportunity to seize more influence and become more involved in matters of the abbey (he was crowned king in 1273).

He was elected abbot from the dynasty of the counts of Montfort, which was hostile towards the abbey during Berchtold's abbacy and sided with Ulrich during the time of double rule.

Inhabitants of the abbey were so unhappy with Wilhelm's strict fiscal policies, and his orders that every monk should be ordained priest, that they lodged a complaint at the royal court.

Their accusations were backed by the court, and in 1287, Rudolf constricted Saint Gall's access to secular goods and used his influence on a papal legate to impose an anathema on Wilhelm.

When the ruling that Wilhelm was to be excommunicated was finalized, the king, followed by his sons Albert and Rudolf, appointed the abbot of Kempten, Konrad von Gundelfingen, to be "anti-abbot".

Bishop Friedrich was captured in a battle and died in 1290 when he attempted to escape from Werdenberg castle, which was controlled by Hugo von Montfort, who was on the king's side.

[3] When King Rudolf died on 15 July 1291, Wilhelm immediately sought negotiations with the citizens of the city of St. Gall, promising to restore their old rights.

After being granted assurances in the treaty of Schletstatt of 1 September 1297, the abbot consulted with King Adolf in the vicinity of Frankfurt to support him in his campaign against Albert I.

[3] However, Wilhelm had already fallen ill by the time Bishop Heinrich von Konstanz could report the settlement; he died on 11 October, five days before the completion of the peace treaty.