ANDREW (ANDREAS) WIEDEMANN (†1591)
Origin
Ondřej Wiedemann, known in German sources as Andreas Wiedemann or Widemann, was born in Jáchymov, probably in the first half of the sixteenth century. The exact date of his birth is unknown.
He came from a family that identified itself as Czech, and he himself later consistently referred to himself as a Czech.
Entry into the Order
Little is known about his youth or education. He entered the Cistercian order at the monastery of Sedlec near Kutná Hora, one of the most important Cistercian monasteries in the Bohemian lands.
Over time he rose to become one of the prominent members of the order.
Abbot and church official
In 1567 Wiedemann was appointed abbot of two important Cistercian monasteries in the Czech lands – Plasy and Žďár nad Sázavou.
After the death of the abbot of Osek monastery in 1579 he was also entrusted with its administration.
On 8 July 1580 the general abbot of the Cistercian order, Nicolas I Boucherat, appointed him as the order’s visitor for the lands of the Bohemian Crown. This position involved supervision of monasteries and the observance of monastic discipline.
Final years
In 1585 he became abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Neuzelle in Lower Lusatia.
In 1590 he was appointed general vicar of the Cistercian order, one of the highest positions within the order’s administration.
Ondřej Wiedemann died on 20 May 1591 in Neuzelle.
