HERMANN OF WIED elector and archbishop of Cologne, was the fourth son of Frederick, count of Wied (d. 1487), and was born on Jan. 14, 1477. He became elector and archbishop of Cologne in 1515. With the aid of his friend John Gropper , he began, about 1536, to institute certain reforms in his own diocese. One step led to another, and as all efforts at union failed the elector invited Martin Bucer to Cologne in 1542. Supported by the estates of the electorate, and relying upon the recess of the diet of Regensburg in 1541, he encouraged Bucer to press on with the work of reform, and in invited Melanchthon to his assistance. Summoned both before the emperor and the pope, the elector was deposed and excommunicated by Paul III. in 1546. He resigned his office in and retired to Wied. Hermann, who was also a bishop of Paderborn from 1532 to 1547, died on Aug. 15, 15 5 2.
See C. Varrentrapp, Hermann von Wied (Leipzig, 1878).