Editing Ulrich of Augsburg (section)

== Life ==
=== Early years ===
Much of the information concerning Ulrich is derived from the ''Life of St Ulrich'' written by Gerhard of Augsburg sometime between 982 and 993. Ulrich was born in 890 at [[Kyburg, Zürich|Kyburg]] in present-day [[canton of Zürich]] in Switzerland. He was the son of Hupald, Count of Dillingen (d. 909) and Dietpirch of Swabia (also known as Theoberga).<ref name=schmid>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15123a.htm Schmid, Ulrich, "St. Ulrich", Catholic Encyclopedia], Vol. 15, New York, Robert Appleton Company, 1912, 25 January 2014.</ref> His maternal grandfather was Adalbert II the Illustrious, Count of [[Thurgau]]. His family was connected with the dukes of Alamannia and the [[Ottonian dynasty]]. An unnamed sister served as a nun in [[Buchau]].

As was customary, his parents presented him as an [[oblate]] to the church while he was still a child.<ref name=Abels>[https://www.usna.edu/Users/history/abels/hh315/udalrich.html Abels, Richard; "The "Church" and the Lay Aristocracy, c. 950 - The Case of Saint Ulrich of Augsburg"], USNA.</ref> A sickly child, at the age of seven he was sent to the [[abbey of St. Gall|monastery of St. Gall]], where he proved to be an excellent scholar. While there, he became friends with [[Wiborada]] – a recluse living near the monastery – who then foretold that her young friend was destined to become a bishop.<ref name=butler>[https://books.google.com/books?id=umn3JEADSTQC&pg=PA29 Butler, Alban; ''Lives of the Saints'', Liturgical Press, (1995)], p. 29 {{ISBN|9780814623770}}.</ref> He resolved to enter the priesthood but was in doubt whether to enter the Benedictine Abbey of St. Gall or to become a secular priest. Sometime before April 910, he was sent for further training to a kinsman, Adalbero von Augsburg, Bishop of Augsburg, who made him [[Chamberlain (office)|chamberlain]]. Upon Adalbero's death (28 April 910) Ulrich returned home.<ref name=schmid/> The [[Duke of Swabia]] presented him at the court of [[Henry the Fowler]], where Ulrich became one of the household retainers.

=== Bishop of Augsburg ===
[[File:Meister von Meßkirch - Linker Flügel eines Altares, Hl. Ulrich - 8696 - Bavarian State Painting Collections.jpg|thumb|160px|Left wing of an altar: St. Ulrich by the [[Master of Meßkirch|Master of Messkirch]] (1535 and 1540)]]

Through the influence of his maternal uncle, [[Burchard II, Duke of Swabia]], and other relatives, Ulrich was appointed [[bishop of Augsburg]] by Henry the Fowler and was consecrated on 28 December 923.<ref name=Tyler>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mTr53kV5riAC&dq=Bishop+Hartmann+of+Dillingen&pg=PA87 Tyler, J. Jeffery; ''Lord of the Sacred City - The Episcopus Exclusus in Late Medieval and Early Modern Germany''], Boston, [[Brill Publishers]], 1999, p. 77 {{ISBN|9789004111202}}</ref> He sought to improve the low moral and social condition of the clergy. The See of Augsburg reached the period of its greatest splendor under Ulrich; he raised the standard of training and discipline among the clergy by the reformation of existing schools and the establishment of new ones, and by canonical visitations and synods; he provided for the poor, and rebuilt decayed churches and monasteries. He built churches in honor of St. Afra and St. John and founded the monastery of St. Stephen for Benedictine nuns.<ref name=lins>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02073b.htm Lins, Joseph; "Augsburg", Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, New York, Robert Appleton Company, 1907, 25 January 2014]</ref> For purposes of obtaining relics he went on two journeys to Rome, in 910, and in 952 or 953.<ref name=schmid/> German emperor [[Otto the Great]] granted Ulrich the right to mint coins.

During the struggle between Otto and his son [[Liudolf, Duke of Swabia]], Ulrich remained loyal to Otto,<ref>[http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/religion-past-and-present/ulrich-of-augsburg-SIM_026208 Hehl, Ernst-Dieter; "Ulrich of Augsburg", Religion Past and Present, Brill Publishers, 2015, Reference, 26 March 2015]</ref> holding for him the castle of [[Schwabmünchen]], which was within the territorial jurisdiction of the Bishop of Augsburg.<ref name=Abels/> When in the summer of 954 father and son were ready to attack each other at [[Illertissen]] in [[Swabia]], at the last moment Ulrich and Bishop Hartbert of [[Chur]] were able to mediate between Otto and Liudolf. Ulrich succeeded in persuading Liudolf and [[Conrad, Duke of Lorraine]], Otto's son-in-law, to ask the king's pardon on 17 December 954.

=== Against the Magyars ===
[[File:Rueland Frueauf d. J. - Votivtafel mit hl. Anna Selbdritt und den Heiligen Leopold, Ulrich und Andreas - 4956 - Kunsthistorisches Museum.jpg|thumb|left|[[Votive offering|Votive]] tablet depicting the [[Virgin and Child with Saint Anne]] and [[Leopold III, Margrave of Austria|Saint Leopold]], Ulrich and [[Andrew the Apostle|Andrew]] by [[Rueland Frueauf the Younger]]]]

[[Hungarian invasions of Europe|Magyars repeatedly attacked]] in the territories of [[Bavaria]] and Swabia. Ulrich served as general in the defense of Augsburg. He built a stone wall fortification around the city. During these attacks many churches and buildings were destroyed, which Ulrich later rebuilt. Ulrich attended several imperial meetings and [[synod]]s, such as at [[Ingelheim]] in 948, Augsburg in 952, Rome in 972 and again at [[Ingelheim]] in 972.

Soon after, the Magyars entered Germany, plundering and burning as they went, and in 955 advanced as far as Augsburg, which they besieged. It was due to Ulrich's ability and courage that Augsburg was able to hold out against the besiegers until Emperor Otto arrived. According to his biographer Gerhard, Bishop Ulrich took the lead in the defense of the city. On the first day of the attack, Bishop Ulrich rode out to encourage the towns' soldiers in their defense of the city's gate. While the battle raged, the bishop, dressed in his ecclesiastical robes, inspired his men, with the [[Psalm 23|23rd Psalm]] ("Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"). While this defense was going on, the King was raising an army to march south.{{sfn|Delbrück|1982|p=115}} The fiercest fighting probably took place on 8 August 955 at the eastern gate, which the Hungarians tried to storm in large numbers. The Bishop's men defended the gate bravely and killed the leader of the attack, forcing the Hungarians to withdraw. That evening Ulrich returned to the city to direct throughout the night the repair and strengthening of its walls.<ref name=Abels/> The next day the Hungarians launched a wider general attack. During the battle, Berchtold of Risinesburg arrived, which heralded the approach of the German army. At the end of the day, the siege was suspended.{{sfn|Delbrück|1982|p=678}} Ulrich's ability to hold out during the siege bought precious time for the emperor.<ref name=Tyler/>

Ulrich subsequently contributed much to the decisive victory at the [[Battle of Lechfeld]] (10 August 955), where the invaders were finally defeated.<ref name=lins/> However, Ulrich Schmid maintains that "The later assertion that Ulrich himself took part in the battle is incorrect".<ref name=schmid/>