Nicholas of Brno

Nicolò da Bruna (Nikolaus von Brünn), born in Brno, was prince-bishop of Trent from 1338 to 1347. As chancellor to Charles, Margrave of Moravia, he followed him to the Tyrol in 1336, when Charles became guardian of the young counts John Henry and Margaret.

After Bishop Henry of Metz died that October, Charles had Nicolò named his successor, confirmed by the pope in 1338. As bishop he ended feuds among the valley nobility, recovered fiefs usurped by the Castelbarco and commissioned an enlarged Codex Wangianus.

Habsburg schemes then wrecked his position: in 1341 Margaret repudiated her husband, who fled with Nicolò to Aquileia, and in 1342 married Louis of Bavaria, whose imperial father took control of the bishopric. Charles, now emperor, recovered Trent in 1347, but Nicolò died in Moravia that November without returning.