BlessedHartmann of Brixen (1090 - 23 December 1164) was aGermanprelate of theCatholic Church, who served as theBishop of Brixen from his appointment in 1140 until his death.^[1] Hartmann served alongside theOrder of Saint Augustine - who oversaw his education - and he managed certain aspects of their order despite not being part of that congregation. He also supportedPope Alexander III during his struggle withFrederick Barbarossa and also earned the favor of the latter despite Hartmann's views of the schism.^[2][3]

His beatification was ratified underPope Pius VI in 1784.

Hartmann was born toBavarian nobles inPassau in 1090 and received his education at the Saint Nikolaconvent in Passau under the direction of theOrder of Saint Augustine.

Hartmann received hisordination to thepriesthood and was appointed as the dean of theSalzburg Cathedral in 1122. It was Salzburg's archbishopConrad who decided to reform his priests in 1122 and chose Hartmann to lead a group of priests under the rule ofSaint Augustine while being made prior of an Augustinian house at Herren-Chiemsee in 1128 and held that position until 1133.^[2][3]Pope Innocent II appointed him as theBishop of Brixen in 1140 and as such received hisepiscopal consecration a short while after. He was installed not long after and dedicated himself to the reform of priests in the diocese as well as acting as a benefactor to religious orders with a particular emphasis on the introduction of theOrder of Saint Benedict into the diocese.^[1] He also made the town ofRodeneck analod sometime in his tenure as bishop from 1140 to 1147. It was said he wore acilice under a plain robe instead of full liturgical episcopal garments.

In 1133 MargraveSaint Leopold III called him to lead a group of Augustinians at Klosterneuburg and remained as such until 1140 when he was appointed as a bishop. In 1137 he received a letter from Innocent II confirming papal approval for the group after it fell under papal protection back in 1134.^[2][3] Bishop Hartmann also earned the favor ofFrederick Barbarossa despite the fact that Hartmann supportedPope Alexander III during the schism.

Hartmann died on 23 December 1164 in Brixen.

The ratification fromPope Pius VI - on 11 February 1784 - of the late bishop's local 'cultus' (or popular devotion) acted as the formal act of beatification instead of following the normal requirement.

• Saints SQPN
• Catholic Hierarchy