Thiemo

Blessed Thiemo
Modern portrait of Thiemo in stained glass, Liesing parish church, Vienna
Archbishop of Salzburg and Martyr
Born	about 1040
Died	1101/02 Ashkelon(?)
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Feast	28 September
Attributes	Spindle
Patronage	Sculptors, engravers

Blessed Thiemo (Thimo, also called Dietmar or Theodinarus; c. 1040 – 28 September 1101/02) was Archbishop of Salzburg from 1090 until his death. He is venerated as a Christian martyr.

A scion of the Bavarian comital House of Vornbach (Formbach), Thiemo reportedly was a talented painter and sculptor. He entered the Benedictine abbey of Niederaltaich and in 1077 became abbot of the St. Peter's Monastery in Salzburg. Under Archbishop Gebhard, he was caught up in the fierce Investiture Controversy as a papal supporter in opposition to German king Henry IV. While Henry had the archbishop expelled, Thiemo likewise, in 1081, went into exile, at first to Mönchsdeggingen and Hirsau Abbey in Swabia, later to Admont, Styria.

In 1086 Thiemo was able to return to Salzburg, together with Gebhard, whom he succeeded after his death two years later. Elected archbishop on 25 March 1090, he received the holy orders on April 7, confirmed by Pope Urban II.

In 1095 Archbishop Thiemo attended the Council of Piacenza, while a domestic conflict with anti-bishop Count Berthold of Moosburg, who had been appointed by Henry IV in 1085, continued. He was defeated by Berthold's troops in 1097 and escaped to Carinthia, where he was arrested at Friesach by the forces of the Gurk bishop. Freed by a loyal monk, Thiemo found a refuge in the diocese of befriended Bishop Gebhard of Constance at Petershausen Abbey.