Jan III van Diest

Who is Jan III van Diest?

John or Jan van Diest was bishop of Utrecht from 1322 to 1340.

Jan descended from a noble family from Brabant, and was initially provost of Cambrai. In 1322 Jan was proposed as candidate for the Bishopric of Utrecht by William III, Count of Holland and Reginald II of Guelders, much against the wishes of the Utrecht chapters, who had chosen Jan van Bronkhorst. The latter was confirmed by the archbishop of Cologne, but Pope John XXII intervened, declaring the choice of the Utrecht chapters void, and personally consecrated Jan van Diest in Avignon. It was not until 1327 that Jan was dedicated as priest.

Jan's reign was a low point for the bishopric of Utrecht. It was characterised by financial abuses and nepotism on a large scale. Upon taking office, Jan immediately inherited a large debt from his predecessors. Jan made the situation even worse through the purchase of goods in the Oversticht. Not only did the local nobility profit from this, but the counts of Holland and Guelders also saw their chances. They lend the bishop large amounts of money, which made the bishop completely dependent on them.