View source for Conrad von Bolanden

{{Short description|German prelate and novelist}}
[[Image:Bolanden Bild.jpg|thumb|right|Conrad von Bolanden, private photo in civil dress (as a novelist he had a dispensation from wearing priestly garb) 1894, with his signature]] 
[[Image:Conrad von Bolanden 1919 3.jpg|thumb|right|Conrad von Bolanden, one of his last photos, taken 1919, published in "Der Christliche Pilger", Diocesan Paper of Speyer, 1935]]
'''Conrad von Bolanden''' (9 August 1828 – 30 May 1920), born '''Joseph Eduard Konrad Bischoff''', was a German prelate and [[novelist]] in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Speyer]], who wrote ''A Wedding Trip'', ''Queen Bertha'' and ''Historical Tales of Frederick II''.<ref name=CE>{{Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Conrad von Bolanden |volume=2 |first=Barnabas |last=Dieringer |inline=1}}</ref>

==Life==
A German novelist, son of a rich merchant, b. 9 August 1828, at [[Niedergailbach]], a village of the [[Palatinate (region)|Palatinate]], in that time a part of [[Bavaria]]. Now Niedergailbach belongs to the [[Saarland]], although the main portion of the [[Palatinate (region)]] became a part of the neighbour-state [[Rheinland-Pfalz]]. Bolanden attended the Latin school at [[Blieskastel]], the seminary at [[Speyer]], and in 1849 entered the University of [[Munich]] to study theology.<ref name=CE/>

Ordained priest in [[Speyer]] 1852 he was appointed assistant pastor at [[Speyer Cathedral]]. There he became the first priest of the diocese to receive a driver's license. Two years later he became pastor at [[Kirchheimbolanden]]. The following year he was transferred to [[Börrstadt]] and three years later to {{Interlanguage link multi|Berghausen (Römerberg)|de|3=Berghausen (Römerberg)|lt=Berghausen}}. During this time he wrote his first four works. From the castle and village of [[Bolanden]] (between Kirchheim-Bolanden and Börrstadt) he chose his pen name "Conrad von Bolanden".<ref name=CE/> In 1870 the priest resigned his parish to devote himself exclusively to literary work, and lived in strict retirement at Speyer.

[[Pope Pius IX]] granted Bolanden the title of a [[Papal Gentlemen|Papal Chamberlain]]. In his birth-village of [[Niedergailbach]] a street was named in his honour in 1993.

==Works==

Bolanden published more than 60 books, mostly novels. These include:

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* ''A Wedding Trip'' (about [[Martin Luther]])
* ''[[Bertha of Savoy|Queen Bertha]]''
* ''Historical Tales of [[Frederick II of Prussia|Frederick II]]''
* ''[[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustav Adolf]]''
* ''[[Canossa]]'' 
* ''[[Franz von Sickingen]]''
* ''Trowel or Cross''
* ''[[St. Bartholomew's Day massacre|Night of St. Bartholomew]]''
* ''[[Savonarola]]''
* ''Crusades''
* ''Wambold''
* ''[[Charlemagne]]'' 
* ''[[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto the Great]]''
* ''Pillar of Truth''
}}

The 1913 [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] describes his novels, written in a simple style for a popular audience, as "not all of equal worth", but praises their conception, Bolanden's defense of Catholic positions, and his frequent quotations from original sources.<ref name=CE/>

Bolanden's works were widely read and have been translated into English and other European languages.<ref name=CE/> At one time his publications were prohibited in the Kingdom of [[Prussia]]. 

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Meyers Konversations-Lexikon]]

==External links==
* {{Gutenberg author | id=36436| name=Conrad von Bolanden}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Conrad von Bolanden}}
* [[:de:Joseph Eduard Konrad Bischoff|German Wikipedia article with copious illustrations]]



{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Catholicism |portal3= Germany}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolanden, Conrad von}}
[[Category:People from the Palatinate (region)]]
[[Category:1828 births]]
[[Category:1920 deaths]]
[[Category:German male writers]]
[[Category:Papal chamberlains]]