Reinhard of Blankenburg (11th century – 1123) was
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
of
Halberstadt
Halberstadt (; Eastphalian dialect, Eastphalian: ''Halverstidde'') is a town in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany, the capital of Harz (district), Harz district. Located north of the Harz mountain range, it is known for its old town ...
from 1107 to 1123.
He was related to the later comital family. Reinhard may have not have been native in Saxony, but had Saxon relations.
As a young man, he went to
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
to study
theology
Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...
at the school established under the noted theologian,
William of Champeaux, at the newly founded
Abbey of St. Victor, which William had established.
His nephew, Count
Poppo I of Blankenburg
Poppo I of Blankenburg (c. 1095–1161 or 1164) probably came from the House of Reginbodonen and was Count of Regenstein- Blankenburg in the Harz in central Germany.
His father was Conrad, Count of Blankenburg. His uncle, Reinhard of Blankenbu ...
, the son of Count Conrad of Blankenburg, seems not to have been from Saxony, but Reinhard assisted him by granting him an estate. Another nephew by his brother, later known as
Hugh of St. Victor, entered a local
priory
A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. They were created by the Catholic Church. Priories may be monastic houses of monks or nuns (such as the Benedictines, the Cistercians, or t ...
of
canons regular
The Canons Regular of St. Augustine are Catholic priests who live in community under a rule ( and κανών, ''kanon'', in Greek) and are generally organised into Religious order (Catholic), religious orders, differing from both Secular clergy, ...
, but civil unrest in the region led the bishop to advise his nephew to transfer to the abbey where he himself had studied, which Hugh did, and where he gained a reputation as a teacher and
mystic.
[''CE'']
Reinhard died on 2 March 1123.
References
External links
Medieval genealogy
12th-century German Roman Catholic bishops
11th-century births
1123 deaths
Roman Catholic bishops of Halberstadt
Saxon nobility
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