Weigand of Redwitz became a
canon in Bamberg in 1490. He made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In 1520, he was the senior pastor of
Kronach. Among his congregation was the reformer
Johannes Grau, who had to flee to
Wittenberg after he married the daughter of a citizen of Kronach. During his time as bishop, Weigand acted against Luther's followers and removed Lutheran clergy from office. However, under the restraining influence of his veteran advisor
John of Schwarzenberg, he was less radical than some of the people who had elected him would have liked. At the time Weigand was appointed bishop,
Adrian VI was Pope and
Charles V was Emperor. During his reign, the
Peasants' War raged in the area. Over 70 manors and several monasteries were destroyed. Weigand attempted to resolve the conflict diplomatically. When military intervention appeared unavoidable, he turned to the
Swabian League. The
cathedral chapter also favoured intervention by the Swabian League. When the troubles began, the chapter had more rights than ever before, but now existential questions about their position were being posed. Although some of the canons may have sympathized with the Protestant faith, the demands of the peasant, which implied disempowering the canons, met with fierce resistance. The commander of the League's forces,
Georg, Truchsess von Waldburg, was a loyal, but also ruthless military leader. Weigand's supporters were rewarded with properties confiscated from wealthy families in Bamberg. After the revolt was suppressed, Weigand, unlike some other feudal rulers, did not impose draconian punishments on the rebels. However, some rebel leaders were beheaded in the marketplace. He pledged
Veldenstein Castle to the
Burgraviate of Nuremberg. During the
Second Margrave War, near the end of his reign, the Protestant Margrave
Albert III Alcibiades of Brandenburg-Kulmbach invaded his territory. Weigand was not prepared and had to give in to the Margrave's excessive demands. He ceded almost half of his territory. To secure his claims, Albert occupied the key central cities
Forchheim and
Bamberg. Albert Alcibiades had made many enemies with his bellicose behaviour and was defeated in 1553. He died in exile in 1557. == Coat of arms ==