Konrad d. Ä.
Groß

called the Rich,

* around 1280 Nuremberg? – † May 10, 1356 Bamberg,

Buried in a raised grave in the choir of the Holy Spirit Church in Nuremberg, which he founded. After its destruction in World War II, it was placed in the hall at the end of the Spitalhof courtyard. Son of Henry, called the Rich. ∞ Agnes († 1342), presumably née Haller, four sons, two daughters. Documented as a member of the Small Council in 1319 and 1332-56. From January 21, 1320, to August 2, 1329, he was warden of St. Catherine's Monastery. Gross was considered one of the richest men in the empire. In 1333, he granted Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian a generous loan, in return for which he transferred one-third of the Jewish tax he was entitled to from the Würzburg towns. Out of deep religious conviction, he founded the Holy Spirit Hospital with a deed dated September 27, 1331; associated with it was a school for twelve poor choir students. In 1345, he donated four precious crosses, a silver monstrance, two silver boxes, two silver-mounted crystal reliquaries, six partially gilded reliquary busts, ten chalices, and precious vestments to the associated church. He also supported the founding of the Cistercian convent of Himmelthron in Gründlach by Kunigunde of Orlamünde and, together with Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, the Pillenreuth hermitage. In 1339, Groß redeemed the office of Imperial Schultheiß, along with customs and coinage rights, which had been pledged by the Emperor to the Nuremberg burgraves, for 6,000 pounds of Haller. The Emperor then transferred this office to Groß, which he administered until his death and was even able to bequeath to his sons. This also included the ban in Nuremberg. The artisans' revolt of 1348, during which he fled to Bamberg, interrupted his activities, but his office as mayor was confirmed by Charles IV on October 3, 1349, and he is documented as acting mayor again the following day. Groß owned what would later become the Plobenhof in the immediate vicinity of the Holy Spirit Hospital (Hauptmarkt 2), as well as a large farm complex with a garden between Hans-Sachs-Platz and Binsengäßchen, where he lived.

Panzer recorded his portrait. His portrait, painted by Friedrich Wilhelm Wanderer, is in the possession of the Nuremberg State Archives. The Großstraße in Nuremberg was named after him. His monument has been located at the corner of the hospital pharmacy since 1967.

References: NDB; Will, Münzbel. Vol. II, pp. 345f.; Roth, 1802; GNM M, 1887/89; Life Portraits of Franconia 2; MVGN 39, 1944; Georg Löhlein, in: MVGN 52, 1963/64; Kohlhaussen, 1968; Mende, Town Hall 1979; Diefenbacher, 1989; Masa, Outdoor Sculptures, pp. 69, 72; City Encyclopedia 2000; Kohn, NHb Sebald

Exhibition: 1989/6.

(quoted from the Nuremberg Artists' Encyclopedia, edited by Manfred H. Grieb)