Klesl Khlesl, Melchior

Klesl (Khlesl) Melchior, b. Vienna, Feb. 19, 1553, d. Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria), Sept. 18, 1630, bishop, statesman, son of a Lutheran baker. In his youth turned Roman Catholic, became provost of St. Stephen´s, 1581-1600 official of the bishop of Passau, 1588-1630 administrator of the diocese of Wiener Neustadt, 1598 nominated bishop of Vienna, 1602 appointed, ordained in 1614, 1616 cardinal. Successfully promoted the Counter-Reformation in Austria. From 1599 chancellor of Archduke Matthias, the future Emperor; during his reign K. was the Emperor´s chief policy maker. In 1618 he was arrested on behalf of Ferdinand II and Archduke Maximilian III, taken to the Tyrol and to Rome, released in 1623. In 1627 reinstated as bishop, but without any political influence.

Literature: A. Kerschbaumer, Kardinal K., 21905; J. Rainer, Kardinal M. K. Vom "Generalreformator" zum "Ausgleichspolitiker", Römische Quartalschriften für Altertumskunde und Kirchengeschichte 59, 1964; NDB.