Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne
Archbishop of Cologne from 1056 to 1075
Feast: 5 December (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Anno, once a soldier, entered the clerical state young under his uncle, a canon of Bamberg. His learning and virtue drew Emperor Henry III to call him to court; handsome, eloquent and fearless for right and justice, he was made Archbishop of Cologne in 1055, accepting with great reluctance.
After Henry's death the Empress Agnes made him regent of the Empire and tutor of the young Henry IV; he worked with Hildebrand and St Peter Damian for reform and backed the rightful Pope Alexander II against the antipope. He died on 4 December 1075 and was canonised shortly afterwards.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia says he was canonised shortly after his death, but gives no date or details.
Why that counted as sanctity
An archbishop who defended right and justice fearlessly in the service of Church and Empire.
Connected on this site
- Peter Damian Saint“After Henry's death the Empress Agnes made him regent of the Empire and tutor of the young Henry IV; he worked with Hildebrand and St Peter Damian for reform and backed the rightful Pope Alexander II against the antipope.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Anno
- Wikidata Q180797 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Anno II (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.