52 The Swiss and Their Neighbours, 1460–1560
conflict it maintained a less aggressive stance towards the Catholic cantons than
Zürich.312 But even at the end of the decade, despite persistent rumours,313 nothing
had changed.
Konstanz was left to deal with problems on its own doorstep, above all the
efforts of the new bishop, Johann von Lupfen (r. 1532–7), from 1535 onwards to
incorporate the Reichenau into his own ecclesiastical territory,314 which at last
came to fruition under his successor, Johann von Weeze (r. 1538–48) in 1540.315
The Catholic cantons were initially in favour, not simply because it would isolate
Konstanz but also because it would bolster the Catholic faith.316 But by the end
of the decade, as the Empire was increasingly riven between the Protestant
Schmalkaldic League and its Catholic adversaries, a more sombre mood prevailed.
While King Ferdinand was quite happy for the Reichenau to pass under episcopal
control,317 there was some uneasiness among the Catholic cantons. They recog-
nized that the Reichenau did not lie on Swiss territory, but rather beyond the
Rhine within the Empire, so that they had no business to interfere.318 They sensed
that the bishop might prove an uncomfortable neighbour if he grew too powerful
(Uri was especially dubious about the transfer),319 and were concerned that, were
they to succeed, the bishop and chapter should not be allowed construct a fortress
on the peninsula.320 Nevertheless, by 1540 the annexation was complete; Konstanz’s
last-minute offer to buy the Reichenau itself for 14,000 fl was brushed aside.321
312 See EA IV, 1b, 980–3 (no. 507: b; to b 2, 2) (1531). Bern was behind the cities’ plea to avoid
bloodshed which would hit guilty and innocent alike. Nor should banishment be deployed, since the
Confederation’s enemies would only rejoice to behold the discomfort and discord among the Swiss.
313 GLA 209/358, 6 Dec. 1539; Dobras, ‘Konstanz zur Zeit der Reformation’, 117.
314 Dobras, ‘Konstanz zur Zeit der Reformation’, 116.
315 Konstantin Maier, ‘Johannes von Weeze. Kaiserlicher Orator, nominierter Erzbischof von
Lund, Bischof von Roeskilde und Konstanz 1489(?)–1548’, in Gerhard Taddey and Joachim Fischer
(eds), Lebensbilder aus Baden-Württemberg, 19 (Stuttgart, 1998), 79–108, here at 98.
316 EA IV, 1c, 537–44 (no. 315: e; to e) (1535).
317 EA IV, 1c, 1096–7 (no. 661: 4, 6) (1539). 318 EA IV, 1c, 1163–8 (no. 709: k) (1539).
319 EA IV, 1c, 1192–7 (no. 724: k) (1539). 320 EA IV, 1c, 1163–8 (no. 709: k) (1539).
321 EA IV, 1c, 1175–81 (no. 716: n; to n; 3; 5, 2) (1540); Dobras, ‘Konstanz zur Zeit der
Reformation’, 118.