Hitto of Freising


Hitto of Freising was the sixth Bishop of Freising from December 811 to 835.
He was descended from the Huosi family, part of the Bavarian upper aristocracy. In 794, the cleric became the deacon of Freising Cathedral and was frequently named as a witness in the Freising documents. He is first recorded as Bishop of Freising in 812, his predecessor, Atto, however, had died over a year earlier. During his time in office, the monk and notary, Kozroh, compiled the first Freising Book of Traditions, which went back to 744. Under Hitto, the Freising scriptorium reached a special high point; for example, about 40 codices were written. In addition, over 300 documents from Hitto's time in office have survived. Hitto clearly strove to establish episcopal supremacy over the many, hitherto aristocratic, independent monasteries within the diocese. He was also the founder of Weihenstephan Abbey around 830. According to an old tradition, during his pilgrimage to Rome in 834 Hitto was given the relics of Saint Justin by Pope Gregory IV, and brought them to Freising. Hitto was buried in the cathedral crypt at Freising; his sarcophagus is preserved. His nephew Erchanbert became his successor.