Albert IV

lord of Querfurt and archbishop OF MAGDEBURG, is represented as a penurious, anxious, wanton prelate. In 1390 he aided the prince of Brunswick against the inhabitants of Brandenburg, and in 1394, by the aid of the prince of Anhalt and the lord of Querfurt, by treachery, he surprised the city of Rathenow and pillaged it. This city was restored to the inhabitants of Brandenburg by the prelate in 1396. The deterioration of currency in 1401 obliged the archbishop and his chapter, with the city of Magdeburg, to which they vainly laid claim, to take advantage of the interdict. The threat which the prelate made of bringing this before the formidable tribunal of Westphalia was, however, efficacious. A contract was made Feb. 14, 1403, by means of which all was restored to order. Soon after the archbishop became ill and chose as his coadjutor Gunther, younger son of the count of Schwarzburg. Albert died at Giebichenstein, June 14, 1403, and was interred in the cathedral. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.