Engelbert der Heilige was a German bishop who served as the Archbishop of Köln from 1216 until his death in 1225. Engelbert was born to Count Engelbert of Berg and his wife Margaret of Geldern. He was groomed for an ecclesiastical career from a young age, and by the age of 12, he was already a canon of the Cologne Cathedral. In 1199, he became the provost of St. George's Church in Cologne, and later, provost of the cathedral in Aachen. As a young cleric, Engelbert pursued a career in the church while also playing an active role in the political affairs of his family.
Engelbert was appointed as the Archbishop of Cologne in 1216, succeeding Archbishop Bruno von Sayn. As Archbishop, he acted as a mediator between different factions and was instrumental in negotiating a truce between the rival houses of Hohenstaufen and Welf in 1218. He also played a crucial role in the election of Emperor Frederick II in 1219, ensuring that the young Hohenstaufen ruler secured the imperial throne.
Engelbert's life was tragically cut short when he was murdered in 1225 by his cousin Frederick of Isenberg. The murder was the result of a dispute over the inheritance of the County of Isenberg, which Engelbert had confiscated due to Frederick's debts. Engelbert's brutal assassination shocked the Holy Roman Empire, and he was immediately regarded as a martyr by the people and the church.
In 1226, a year after his death, Engelbert was canonized as a saint by Pope Honorius III. His feast day is celebrated on November 7.