Dietrich of Nieheim (Niem orNyem) (c. 1345 – 22 March 1418), medievalhistorian, was born atNieheim, a small town subject to thesee of Paderborn.[1]
Nothing is known about his family, and but little about his life previous to his entry into the service of the papal Curia. He spent some time in Italy in the study of law, but never obtained the degree of Doctor. He became a notary of the papal court of the rota atAvignon, to keep which he had to take orders, if he had not already done so. WhenPope Gregory XI returned to Rome in 1377, Dietrich accompanied him.[2]
Urban VI here took particular notice of him, made him an abbreviator to the papal chancery, and in 1383 took him with him in his visit toCharles III of Naples at Naples, an expedition which led to many unpleasant adventures, from which he escaped in 1385 by leaving the Curia. In 1387 he is again found among the abbreviators, and in 1395Pope Boniface IX appointed him to thePrince-Bishopric of Verden. His attempt to take possession of the see, however, met with successful opposition.[1] About Easter, 1401, Dietrich was at Erfurt in Germany, where he matriculated at the university.
Towards the end of the fourteenth century Johann Peters of Dordrecht had founded at Rome a hospital for German pilgrims, known as Santa Maria dell' Anima, still in existence and united with the German national church at Rome. Dietrich was an energetic promoter of the new foundation, to such an extent that after Peters he deserves to be considered its chief founder.[2]
He had to resume his work in the chancery, where his name again appears in 1403. Dietrich had begun to write a chronicle, of which only fragments are extant. His chief importance, however, lies in the part he took in the controversies arising out of theGreat Schism. He accompaniedGregory XII toLucca in May 1408. He took no part in theCouncil of Pisa itself, being then in Germany, but he adhered to the pope elected by the council of Pisa (Alexander V) and to his successor,Antipope Pope John XXIII resuming his place at the Curia. In view of the increasing confusion in the Church, however, he became one of the most ardent advocates of the appeal to a general council. He was present at the council of Constance as adviser to the German "nation." He died atMaastricht on 22 March 1418.[1]
Dietrich wrote about events in which he either had an intimate personal share or of which he was in an excellent position to obtain accurate information. His most important works are theNemus unionis and theDe schismate. Of these the first, compiled at Lucca after the breach with Gregory XII, is a collection of documents which had fallen into his hands during the negotiations for union: papal pronouncements, pamphlets, letters written and received by himself, and the like.
TheDe schismate libri III, completed on 25 May 1410, describes the history of events since 1376 as he had seen them. It was continued in theHistoria de vita Johannis XXIII.[1] The abundance of its materials makes this work one of the most important authorities for the last stages of the schism. His judgments, however, concerning persons and facts must be taken with caution, Dietrich being strongly partisan.[2]
Other works are:
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved. Find sources: "Dietrich of Nieheim" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
A passage from Dietrich of Nieheim'sDe schismate libri III is used as an epigraph at the beginning of the second chapter ofArthur Koestler's novel,Darkness at Noon:[3]
When the existence of the Church is threatened, she is released from the commandments of morality. With unity as the end, the use of every means is sanctified, even deceit, treachery, violence, usury, prison, and death. Because order serves the good of the community, the individual must be sacrificed for the common good.
However, this is actually a paraphrase of Dietrich's position in the treatiseDe modis, as expressed by the German historianLudwig von Pastor, in his bookGeschichte der Päpste seit dem Ausgang des Mittelalters (History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages), vol. 1, p. 149.De modis is credited in German editions ofDarkness at Noon, but von Pastor is not. The paraphrase is about how Dietrich wanted the Holy Roman Emperor to call a General Council, the Pope to bow to the will of Emperor and Council, and for Emperor and Council to do whatever they felt necessary to end the antipope schism.
Here is the actual quote fromDe Modis, from the section 'De modis, loco trium malorum Pontificum, unum bonum eligendi, in Universalis Concilio Constantienst':
Therefore, pay attention, o faithful. For obeying such quarrelers, and supporting those dividing the Church, we see as sinning most gravely and mortally -- dividing, I say, the Body of Christ among their wickednesses and sins. For I believe you have been freed from these tyrannical lordships already, if your obedience were not cherished.
But if these two or three [popes and antipopes] will not concede voluntarily, it remains to proceed to stronger remedies. That is, overthrowing them and segregating them from the community of the Church, and, as I said before, taking away obedience from them.
Then, if the Church will not be able to accomplish it in this way, then by way of deceit, fraud, arms, violence, power, promises, gifts and money, and finally, prison and death, it is appropriate to procure in any way whatever the most holy union and conjoining of the Church.
Close to what was said by TulliusCicero inDe Officiis [III v 23]: 'This is what the laws look for, this is what they will: [the city] to be conjoined safely. So those who break the laws are punished by death, exile, chains, and fines.'
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Niem, Dietrich of".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 671. This article cites as bibliography:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.For further bibliography see:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Dietrich von Nieheim".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.Dietrich of Nieheim Born: ca. 1345 inNieheim Died: 22 March 1418 inMaastricht | ||
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regnal titles | ||
| Preceded by | Prince-Bishop of Verden 1395–1398/1401 (de facto/de jure) | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
