Lang von Wellenburg, Matthäus#

Lang von Wellenburg, Matthaeus, b. Augsburg (Germany), 1468, d. Salzburg, March 30, 1540, diplomat, Archbishop of Salzburg, humanist. 1494 Secretary to Maximilian I, charged with diplomatic missions in Hungary (Congress of Vienna, 1515) and Italy; 1519 governor of the Lower and Upper Austrian territories, provost in Augsburg and Constance, 1505-1522 Bishop of Gurk and 1535 of Abano; 1511 cardinal, 1519 Archbishop of Salzburg (only then took holy orders). Suppressed citizens´ efforts to obtain autonomy (1523) and a resurrection of peasants with the aid of the Swabian League (1525/26), improved relations between Salzburg and neighbouring territories (1529). Modernized the civil service, brought in important laws and reinforced the sovereignity of archbishops. Hated by the people for his nepotism; opponent of Protestants and Anabaptists and popular with humanists; was typical of the political and ecclesiastical princes of the 16th century.

Literature#