Peter von Schaumberg came from the Thuringian-Franconian noble family von Schaumberg. The family had an ancestral castle Schaumburg in southern
Thuringia on the border with
Bavaria. His parents were George IV von Schaumberg and his wife, Elizabeth von Schweinshaupten. He studied at the
Würzburg Cathedral School, and later the University of Heidelberg. In 1419 he began studying law at the University of Bologna. In 1422 he became vicar general of the
diocese of Bamburg, and archdeacon the following year. Because of his good relations with
Pope Martin V, he was named a papal chamberlain. After a schismatic election in 1423, Pope Martin V prevailed in the canons of Würzburg and Bamberg, and named Peter von Schaumberg Bishop of Augsburg on 27 February 1424, a post he held until his death in 1469. He attended the
Council of Basel in 1432 and represented the king at the Diet in
Mainz in 1439.
Frederick III considered him a skilful, and legally adept diplomat. Through his negotiating skills, he managed to keep his diocese largely out of armed conflicts with his neighbors. He is considered a peaceful prince who increased the prosperity of the diocese. He opened up his territory by a road from
Buchloe to
Füssen. He held three synods and issued numerous regulations for clergy and monasteries. His goals were to combat the decay of morals and increasing secularization. He promoted science and music, made a significant donation of books to Saint Mang zu Füssen and left his movable property including the valuable library to the cathedral chapter. He apparently received the cardinal's hat from
Pope Nicholas V on his trip to Rome in 1450. Under
Pope Paul II, he was a legate for the German area. At his request,
Pope Pius II appointed the canon Johannes Gf. von Werdenberg as coadjutor with the right of succession. == Notes and references ==