Hermann IV of Hesse was born in Bonn in 1450, the son of Louis I, Landgrave of Hesse and his wife Anna, daughter of Frederick I, Elector of Saxony. As a younger son, Hermann was groomed for the church and received a number of benefices at a young age, including the provost of Aachen Cathedral and Fritzlar Cathedral; Dean of St. Gereon's Basilica; and canon of Cologne Cathedral (in 1461) and Mainz Cathedral (in 1463). He is listed on the register of University of Cologne for 1462 and later studied at the Charles University in Prague.

In 1472, Hermann made a bid to become Bishop of Hildesheim, but was forced to withdraw from the episcopal election after he failed to secure papal recognition. He became diocesan administrator of the Archdiocese of Cologne in 1473.

In November 1475, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor appointed Hermann Stiftsgubernator.

Hermann assumed control of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne following the arrest of Archbishop Ruprecht of the Palatinate in 1478. After Ruprecht's death on July 26, 1480, Hermann was elected as his successor on August 11, 1480. Pope Innocent VIII confirmed his appointment in November 1480. In 1495, Hermann became coadjutor bishop of the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn. He was elected Prince-Bishop of Paderborn on March 7, 1498.

Hermann took his role as a spiritual pastor seriously and intensified episcopal oversight of the monasteries. He read mass and prayed the breviary regularly, and performed other episcopal liturgical acts. He arranged for the financing to build the church in Bevern in 1501, and consecrated the church in 1506.

Hermann died on October 19, 1508. He was buried in Cologne Cathedral and his heart was buried in the castle church in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia. His successor as Archbishop was Philipp von Daun-Oberstein II.

Hermann IV of Hesse was born in Bonn in 1450, the son of Louis I, Landgrave of Hesse and his wife Anna, daughter of Frederick I, Elector of Saxony. As a younger son, Hermann was groomed for the church and received a number of benefices at a young age, including the provost of Aachen Cathedral and Fritzlar Cathedral; Dean of St. Gereon's Basilica; and canon of Cologne Cathedral (in 1461) and Mainz Cathedral (in 1463). He is listed on the register of University of Cologne for 1462 and later studied at the Charles University in Prague.

In 1472, Hermann made a bid to become Bishop of Hildesheim, but was forced to withdraw from the episcopal election after he failed to secure papal recognition. He became diocesan administrator of the Archdiocese of Cologne in 1473.

In November 1475, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor appointed Hermann Stiftsgubernator.

Hermann assumed control of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne following the arrest of Archbishop Ruprecht of the Palatinate in 1478. After Ruprecht's death on July 26, 1480, Hermann was elected as his successor on August 11, 1480. Pope Innocent VIII confirmed his appointment in November 1480. In 1495, Hermann became coadjutor bishop of the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn. He was elected Prince-Bishop of Paderborn on March 7, 1498.

Hermann took his role as a spiritual pastor seriously and intensified episcopal oversight of the monasteries. He read mass and prayed the breviary regularly, and performed other episcopal liturgical acts. He arranged for the financing to build the church in Bevern in 1501, and consecrated the church in 1506.

Hermann died on October 19, 1508. He was buried in Cologne Cathedral and his heart was buried in the castle church in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia. His successor as Archbishop was Philipp von Daun-Oberstein II.