Konrad's early life is not well known, he may be of aristocratic descent which corroborates with contemporary church sources describing him as well-educated and highly knowledgeable. He was called
magister, a proof that he had finished the course of studies at a university, maybe Paris or Bologna. He was noted for his strong
asceticism and his excessive zeal in purging the church of heresy and heretics. Much of his early work within the church was related to the suppression of heresy, and he took an active part in the
Albigensian Crusade in southern France.
Pope Innocent III, who championed the
Medieval Inquisition, was one of Konrad's early supporters. Eventually, however, Konrad returned to
Germany, the land of his birth. In particular, Konrad was employed by Louis' wife,
Elizabeth of Hungary, to whom Konrad acted as
spiritual director. After receiving a commission from the
Archbishop of Mainz,
Siegfried II, Konrad set to work seeking out heresy in both Thuringia Those accused of being heretics were quickly sought out by Konrad's mobs, and told to repent or risk being
burnt at the stake. Those accused of heresy were also encouraged to denounce others, with the implication that their own lives might be spared if they did so. No respecter of persons, Konrad included nobles and priests in his inquisition: Heinrich Minnike,
Provost of
Goslar, was one of Konrad's first targets, and was burnt at the stake. In one instance, he treated a penitent with extreme harshness, tricking a widow into some unwitting disobedience and then having her and her maids flogged. Konrad teamed up with
Conrad Dorso and John the One-Eyed in the
Upper Rhineland, burning many heretics with barely the semblance of a trial. In 1233, Konrad accused
Henry III, Count of Sayn, of taking part in "Satanic orgies". Henry, however, appealed to an assembly of bishops in
Mainz where they decided to postpone a verdict to the discontent of both parties. ==Death==