Background
He was a son of Adolf IV, Count of Berg, and his second wife Irmgard von Wasserburg.
He was a son of Adolf IV, Count of Berg, and his second wife Irmgard von Wasserburg.
In 1150 he was elected Bishop von Utrecht but that election was not accepted by Conrad III of Germany and he was never confirmed in the position. In May 1156 in another disputed election, this time in Cologne, the college elected Gerhard von Bonn while the young Domherren chose Frederick von Berg as Archbishop. In the end both parties asked the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa to decide.
The Emperor confirmed Frederick as new Archbishop, gave him the Imperial Regalia, and sent him immediately to Rome for his Ordination, where Pope Adrian IV confirmed him.
The Xanten Totenbuch describes him as a Prince of the highest humanity. There he died on 15 December 1158 in Pavia following an accidental fall from his horse.
He is buried in Altenberg.
He was always loyal to the Emperor and accompanied him during the second campaign in Italy.