Johann von der Leyen

Johann von der Leyen (1510–1567) was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1556 to 1567.

Johann von der Leyen was born in Saffig in 1510, the son of Bartholomäus von der Leyen, chancellor of the Archbishopric of Cologne, and his wife Katharina von Pallandt. He became Domizellar of the Cathedral of Trier in 1528, during which time he studied at the University of Leuven. In 1532, he became a canon of the Cathedral of Trier. Additional canonicates at Würzburg Cathedral and at Münster Cathedral allowed him to continue his studies at the University of Paris, the University of Freiburg, the University of Orléans, and the University of Padua. He became chaplain of the Cathedral of Trier in 1535 and then Archdeacon in 1548. (Archdeacon is the highest clerical rank attained by Johann von der Leyen and he was never ordained as a priest or bishop.)

When Archbishop of Trier John of Isenburg-Grenzau fell ill, the cathedral chapter of the Cathedral of Trier elected Johann von der Leyen as coadjutor archbishop on 22 October 1555. He became archbishop upon the death of his predecessor on 13 February 1556. He was enthroned as archbishop on 25 April 1556.

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