Prince-bishop
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A prince-bishop is a
Overview
In the West, with the decline of
The sole exception is the
In the
History
Holy Roman Empire
Bishops had been involved in the government of the Frankish realm and subsequent
The
Emperor
No less than three of the (originally only seven)
Arms | Name | Rank | Local name(s) | Imperial immediacy | Imperial
Circle |
Modern nation |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Augsburg | Bishopric | German: Hochstift Augsburg | c. 888–1803 | Swabian | Germany | Augsburg became a Free Imperial City in 1276. | |
Bamberg | Bishopric | German: Hochstift Bamberg | 1245–1802 | Franconian | Germany | ||
Basel
|
Bishopric | French: Principauté de Bâle German: Fürstbistum Basel |
1032–1803 | Upper Rhenish | France Germany Switzerland |
Istein are both now in Germany; a very small part of the Vogtei of St Ursanne is now in France.
| |
Brandenburg | Bishopric | German: Hochstift Brandenburg | c. 1165–1598 | Upper Saxon | Germany | Founded in 948; annihilated 983; re-established c. 1161. Continued by Lutheran administrators after the Reformation in 1520; secularized and incorporated into the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1571. | |
Bremen | Archbishopric | German: Erzstift Bremen | 1180–1648 | Lower Saxon | Germany | Continued by Lutheran administrators from the Reformation in 1566 until 1645/1648. Bremen itself became autonomous in 1186, and was confirmed as a Free Imperial City in 1646. | |
Breslau (Duchy of Nysa )
|
Bishopric | Czech: Niské knížectví German: Fürstentum/Herzogtum Neisse Polish: Księstwo Nyskie |
fief of the Bohemian crown, after 1748 also of the Kingdom of Prussia | None | Poland Czech Republic (temporal and diocesan territory) Germany (diocesan territory only) |
Ceded 1335/1348 by Poland. After dissolution of the HRE, secularized in 1810 (Prussian part) and in 1850 (Austrian part). The princely title continued until 1951, elevated to archbishopric 1930 | |
Brixen
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Brixen Italian: Principato vescovile di Bressanone |
1027–1803 | Austrian | Italy | secularized to Tyrol
| |
Cambrai
|
Bishopric, then archbishopric | French: Principauté de Cambrai German: Hochstift Kammerich |
1007–1678 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | France | To France by 1678 Peace of Nijmegen
| |
Chur
|
Bishopric | German: Bistum Chur Romansh: Chapitel catedral da Cuira Italian: Principato vescovile di Coira |
831/1170–1526 | Austrian | Switzerland Liechtenstein |
Secularized 1803 as a result of Swiss Mediation. | |
Cologne | Archbishopric electorate | German: Erzstift Köln, Kurköln | 953–1803 | Electoral Rhenish | Germany | Free Imperial City in 1288.
| |
Constance
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Konstanz | 1155–1803 | Swabian | Austria Germany Switzerland |
Greatly reduced during the Reformation, when significant parts of Swabia and Switzerland became Protestant. | |
Eichstätt
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Eichstätt | 1305–1802 | Franconian | Germany | ||
Freising | Bishopric | German: Hochstift Freising | 1294–1802 | Bavarian | Austria Germany |
||
Fulda
|
Abbey, then bishopric | German: Reichskloster Fulda, Reichsbistum Fulda | 1220–1802 | Upper Rhenish | Germany | German Mediatization
| |
Geneva
|
Bishopric | French: Évêché de Genève German: Fürstbistum Genf |
1154-1526 | Upper Rhenish | France Switzerland |
De jure reichsfrei since 1154. De facto dominated by their guardians, the counts of Geneva (until 1400) and Savoy (from 1401). Geneva joined the Old Swiss Confederacy in 1526. | |
Halberstadt
|
Bishopric | German: Bistum Halberstadt | 1180–1648 | Lower Saxon | Germany | ||
Havelberg | Bishopric | German: Bistum Havelberg | 1151–1598 | Lower Saxon | Germany | Founded in 948; annihilated 983; re-established 1130. Continued by Lutheran administrators from Reformation in 1548 until 1598 | |
Hildesheim
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Hildesheim | 1235–1803 | Lower Saxon | Germany | ||
Lausanne | Bishopric | French: Principauté épiscopale de Lausanne German: Bistum Lausanne |
1270–1536 | None | Switzerland | Conquered by the Swiss city canton of Bern in 1536. | |
Lebus
|
Bishopric | German: Bistum Lebus Polish: Diecezja lubuska |
1248/1454/1506–1598 | None | Germany Poland |
Established 1124 in Poland, 1248-1372 disputed and 1372 ultimately lost to HRE. 1372–1454 fief of the Bohemian crown, seated in Fürstenwalde from 1385; reichsfrei ostensibly from 1248, but challenged by Brandenburg. Continued by Hohenzollern Lutheran administrators from Protestant Reformation in 1555 until secularization in 1598. | |
Liège | Bishopric | French: Principauté de Liége German: Fürstbistum Lüttich Walloon: Principåté d' Lidje |
980–1789/1795 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | Belgium Netherlands |
||
Lübeck
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Lübeck | 1180–1803 | Lower Saxon | Germany | Seated in Eutin from the 1270s; Reformation started in 1535, continued by Lutheran administrators from 1586 until secularization in 1803. Lübeck became a Free Imperial City in 1226. | |
Lyon | Archbishopric | Arpitan : Arch·evèque de Liyon
|
1157-1312 | None | France | Seated in Frederick Barbarossa in 1157. Annexed by the Kingdom of France in 1312.
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Magdeburg | Archbishopric | German: Erzstift Magdeburg | 1180–1680 | Lower Saxon | Germany | Continued by Lutheran administrators between 1566 and 1631, and again from 1638 until 1680. | |
Mainz
|
Archbishopric electorate | German: Erzbistum Mainz, Kurmainz | c. 780–1803 | Electoral Rhenish | Germany | Prince-elector and Arch-Chancellor of Germany. | |
Merseburg | Bishopric | German: Bistum Merseburg | 1004–1565 | None | Germany | Administered by the Lutheran Electorate of Saxony between 1544 and 1565. | |
Metz | Bishopric | French: Évêché de Metz German: Hochstift Metz |
10th century–1552 | Upper Rhenish | France | One of the Three Bishoprics ceded to France by the 1552 Treaty of Chambord. | |
Minden
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Minden | 1180–1648 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | Germany | ||
Münster | Bishopric | German: Hochstift Münster | 1180–1802 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | Germany | ||
Naumburg
|
Bishopric | German: Bistum Naumburg-Zeitz | Germany | Under guardianship of Meissen from 1259. Administered by Saxony from 1564.
| |||
Olomouc | Bishopric, then archbishopric | Czech: Arcibiskupství olomoucké German: Erzbistum Olmütz Polish: Archidiecezja ołomuniecka |
fief of the Bohemian Crown, after 1742 also of the Kingdom of Prussia | None | Czech Republic Poland |
The Czech bishopric (later Metropolitan) of court chaplain , who was to accompany the monarch on his frequent travels. Secularized in 1803, but the princely title continued. However, all bishops' princely titles were abolished by the pope in 1951.
| |
Osnabrück | Bishopric | German: Hochstift Osnabrück | 1225/1236–1802 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | Germany | Alternated between Catholic and Protestant incumbents after the Thirty Years' War; secularized in 1802/1803 | |
Paderborn
|
Bishopric | German: Fürstbistum Paderborn | 1281–1802 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | Germany | ||
Passau
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Passau | 999–1803 | Bavarian | Austria Germany |
Princely title was confirmed at Nuremberg in 1217. | |
Ratzeburg
|
Bishopric | German: Bistum Ratzeburg | 1236–1648 | Lower Saxon | Germany | Ruled by Lutheran administrators between 1554 and 1648. | |
Regensburg
|
Bishopric, then archbishopric electorate | German: Hochstift Regensburg | 1132?–1803 | Bavarian | Germany | Regensburg became a Free Imperial City in 1245. | |
Salzburg
|
Archbishopric electorate | German: Fürsterzbistum Salzburg | 1278–1803 | Bavarian | Austria | Raised to an electorate in 1803, but simultaneously secularized; see Princes of the Holy Roman Empire . However, all bishops' princely titles were abolished by the pope in 1951.
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Schwerin
|
Bishopric | German: Bistum Schwerin | 1180–1648 | Lower Saxon | Germany | Ruled by an administrator between 1516 and 1648. | |
Speyer
|
Bishopric | German: Hochstift Speyer | 888–1803 | Upper Rhenish | Germany | Territories to the east of the Rhine were annexed by France in 1681, confirmed in 1697. Speyer became a Free Imperial City in 1294. | |
Strasbourg
|
Bishopric | : Fürstbistum Straßburg | 982–1803 | Upper Rhenish | France Germany |
Territories to the east of the Rhine were annexed by France in 1681, confirmed in 1697. | |
Tarentaise
|
Archbishopric | Arpitan: Prince Evèque de Tarentèsa : Principato vescovile di Tarantasia
Italian |
1186-1769 | Upper Rhenish | France | Count of Tarentaise from 996; reichsfrei from 1186. De facto dominated by their guardians Savoy (from 1271). Secularized and annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia 1769.[4] | |
Toul
|
Bishopric | French: Principauté de Toul German: Bistum Tull |
10th century – 1552 | Upper Rhenish | France | One of the Three Bishoprics ceded to France by the 1552 Treaty of Chambord, confirmed in 1648. | |
Trent | Bishopric | Italian: Principato vescovile di Trento German: Fürstbistum Trient |
1027–1803 | Austrian | Italy | Secularized to Tyrol in 1803.
| |
Trier | Archbishopric electorate | German: Erzbistum Trier, Kurtrier French: Archevêque Trèves |
772–1803 | Electoral Rhenish | Germany | Prince-elector and Arch-Chancellor of Burgundy. | |
Utrecht | Bishopric | Dutch: Sticht Utrecht | 1024–1528 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | Netherlands | Sold to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1528, after which it was moved to the Burgundian Circle. Founding member of the Dutch Republic in 1579/1581, confirmed in 1648. | |
Verden | Bishopric | German: Hochstift Verden | 1180–1648 | Lower Rhenish / Westphalian | Germany | Continued by Lutheran administrators after Reformation until 1645/1648, when it was continued as a secular and independent principality until its disestablishment in 1807. It became a part of the Kingdom of Hanover in 1815. | |
Verdun | Bishopric | French: Principauté de Verdun German: Bistum Wirten |
10th century – 1552 | Upper Rhenish | France | One of the Three Bishoprics ceded to France by the 1552 Treaty of Chambord, confirmed in 1648. | |
Worms
|
Bishopric | German: Bistum Worms | 861–1801 | Upper Rhenish | Germany | Worms city rule established by Bishop Burchard (1000–25). Episcopal residence at Ladenburg from 1400. Held large estates in the former Lahngau region. Territories on the Left Bank of the Rhine lost by the 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio; secularized at first to the French Empire, then to Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt in 1815. | |
Würzburg
|
Bishopric electorate | German: Hochstift Würzburg | 1168–1803 | Franconian | Germany | Duke of Franconia |
The suffragan-bishoprics of
The
In
The
The
State of the Teutonic Order
Upon the incorporation of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in 1237, the territory of the Order's State largely corresponded with the Diocese of Riga. Bishop Albert of Riga in 1207 had received the lands of Livonia as an Imperial fief from the hands of German king Philip of Swabia, he however had to come to terms with the Brothers of the Sword. At the behest of Pope Innocent III the Terra Mariana confederation was established, whereby Albert had to cede large parts of the episcopal territory to the Livonian Order. Albert proceeded tactically in the conflict between the Papacy and Emperor Frederick II: in 1225 he reached the acknowledgement of his status as a Prince-Bishop of the Empire, though the Roman Curia insisted on the fact that the Christianized Baltic territories were solely under the suverainty of the Holy See. By the 1234 Bull of Rieti, Pope Gregory IX stated that all lands acquired by the Teutonic Knights were no subject of any conveyancing by the Emperor.
Within this larger conflict, the continued dualism of the autonomous Riga prince-bishop and the
Arms | Name | Rank | Local name(s) | Territory | Modern nation |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Courland | Bishopric | Low German : Bisdom Curland
|
Terra Mariana | Latvia | Established about 1234, the smallest of the Livonian dioceses. Secularized in 1559 and occupied by Prince Magnus of Denmark. From 1585 under the suzerainty of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, part of the Duchy of Livonia. | |
Dorpat | Bishopric | Low German : Bisdom Dorpat
|
Terra Mariana | Estonia | Bishop Protestant Reformation in 1558.
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Ösel-Wiek
|
Bishopric | Low German : Bisdom Ösel-Wiek
|
Terra Mariana | Estonia | Established on Protestant Reformation in 1559.
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Riga | Archbishopric | Low German : Erzbisdom Riga
|
Terra Mariana | Latvia | Episcopal see at William of Brandenburg resigned in 1561 during the Livonian War, territory fell to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, to Sweden in 1621.
| |
Warmia | Bishopric | German: Fürstbistum Ermland Polish: Biskupie Księstwo Warmińskie |
Prussia | Poland (temporal and diocesan territory) Lithuania Russia (diocesan territory only) |
Established by Papal legate Jagiellon kingdom of Poland in 1466 and re-established as an autonomous prince-bishopric under the Polish crown in 1479 (see below).
|
Kingdom of Poland and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Three bishoprics were initially parts of the Kingdom of Poland and its offshoots before being subsequently incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire, namely the bishoprics of
Arms | Name | Rank | Local name(s)] | Years under Polish crown or offshoots | Modern nation |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wolin/Kamień | Bishopric | Polish: Biskupie Księstwo Kamieńskie German: Hochstift Cammin |
1140-1181 | Poland (temporal and diocesan territory) Germany (diocesan territory only) |
Established 1140 in the Polish Duchy of Pomerania. Since 1181 part of HRE. Reichsfreiheit obtained 1248 from and lost 1544 again to Duchy of Pomerania. Secularized in 1650, to Brandenburg Province of Pomerania | |
Kraków (Duchy of Siewierz) | Bishopric | Polish: Księstwo Siewierskie | 1443-1791 | Poland | Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth .
| |
Lebus
|
Bishopric | Polish: Diecezja lubuska German: Bistum Lebus |
1124-1248/1372 | Germany Poland |
Established 1124 in Poland, 1248-1372 disputed and 1372 ultimately lost to HRE. 1372-1454 fief of the Bohemian crown, seated in Fürstenwalde since 1385; Reichsfreiheit ostensibly since 1248, but challenged by Brandenburg. Continued by Hohenzollern Lutheran administrators after Protestant Reformation in 1555 until secularization in 1598. | |
Warmia | Bishopric | Polish: Biskupie Księstwo Warmińskie German: Fürstbistum Ermland |
1466-1772 | Poland (temporal and diocesan territory) Lithuania Russia (diocesan territory only) |
Established as a part of the State of the Teutonic Order (see above) by Papal legate Jagiellon kingdom of Poland in 1466 and re-established as an autonomous prince-bishopric under the Polish crown in 1479. It was ultimately abolished in the course of the Prussian annexation in 1772 during the First Partition of Poland .
| |
Wrocław (Duchy of Nysa )
|
Bishopric | Polish: Księstwo Nyskie German: Fürstentum/Herzogtum Neisse Czech: Niské knížectví |
1201-1335/1348 | Poland Czech Republic (temporal and diocesan territory) Germany (diocesan territory only) |
Ceded 1335/1348 to Lands of the Bohemian Crown (part of HRE). After dissolution of the HRE, secularized in 1810 (Prussian part) and in 1850 (Austrian part), but the princely title continued until 1951, elevated to archbishopric 1930 |
England
Durham
The bishops of Durham, while not sovereign, held extensive rights usually reserved to the English, and later British, monarch within the county palatine of Durham. In 1075 Walcher, the bishop of Durham, was allowed to purchase the earldom of Northumbria; this marked the beginning of the bishops' temporal powers, which expanded during the Middle Ages before being gradually curbed from the sixteenth century onwards.[6] Except for a brief period of suppression during the English Civil War, the bishopric retained some temporal powers until it was abolished by the Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836, when its powers returned to the Crown.[7][8] The last institution of the palatinate, its court of chancery, was abolished in 1974.[9]
Other English Prince-bishoprics
- The Isle of Ely was a royal liberty, and between 1109 and 1535 a county palatine, with traces of the bishop's princely status remaining until 1837.[10]
- Hexhamshire was a county palatine under the Archbishop of York from at least the 14th century until 1572; prior to that, it was a royal liberty.
France
From the tenth century civil wars on, many bishops took over the powers of the local count, as authorised by the king. For example, at Chalons-sur-Marne the bishop ruled the lands 20 km around the town, while the Archbishop of Rheims demarcated his territory with five fortresses of Courville, Cormicy, Betheneville, Sept-Saulx and Chaumuzy.[11] A number of French bishops did hold a noble title, with a tiny territory usually about their seat; it was often a
France also counted a number of prince-bishops formerly within the Holy Roman Empire such those of Besançon, Cambrai, Strasbourg, Metz, Toul, Verdun, and Belley. The bishops of Arles, Embrun, and Grenoble also qualify as princes of episcopal cities. The bishop of Viviers was Count of Viviers and Prince de Donzère. The bishop of Sisteron was also Prince de Lurs, the title of count was held by the Archbishop of Lyons, and the bishops of Gap, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, Vienne and Die were Seigneurs of their cities.
Never part of the empire were Lisieux, Cahors, Chalon-sur-Saône, Léon, Dol and Vabres whose bishops were also counts. Ajaccio was Count of Frasso. The bishops of Sarlat, Saint-Malo (Baron de Beignon) and of Luçon were Barons and Tulle was Viscount of the city. The bishop of Mende was governor and count, Puy held the title Count of Velay, Quimper was Seigneur of the city and Comte de Cornouailles, Valence was Seigneur and Count of the city. Montpellier's bishop was Count of Mauguio and Montferrand, Marquis of Marquerose and Baron of Sauve, Durfort, Salevoise, and Brissac. The bishop of Saint-Claude was Seigneur of all the lands of Saint-Claude. The bishops of Digne (Seigneur and Baron), Pamiers (co-Seigneur), Albi, Lectoure, Saint-Brieuc, Saint-Papoul, Saint-Pons, and Uzès were Seigneurs of the cities.[13][14][15][12]
Portugal
From 1472 to 1967, the bishop of
Montenegro
The
- first Vladika i upravitelj Crne Gore i Brda ("Bishop and Ruler of Montenegro and the Highlands")
- from 13 March 1852 (By the grace of GodPrince and Sovereign of Montenegro and the Highlands")
- from 28 August 1910 (New Style): Po milosti Božjoj kralj i gospodar Crne Gore ("By the grace of God, King and Sovereign of Montenegro")
Contemporary
The
Modern informal usage
The term has been used by Episcopalians in North America to describe modern bishops with commanding personalities usually of previous generations.[17] One such individual was Bishop Horace W. B. Donegan of whom Episcopal suffragan bishop Robert E. Terwilliger said "We often say that Bishop Donegan is the last prince bishop of the church because in his graciousness, in his presence, in his total lack of any crisis of identity, we have seen what a bishop is; and we know that it is a kind of royalty in Christ."[18]
Anglican Archbishop Robert Duncan expressed his view that the pastoral changes "in the 1970s was a revolution in reaction to those prince bishops – they had all this authority, they had all this power." So systems such as the Commission on Ministry system in the Episcopal Church "was to replace an individual's authority with a committee's authority."[17]
See also
- Crown-cardinal
- Lord Bishop
- Political Catholicism
- Prince-abbot
- Prince-Provost
- Prince of the Church
- Temporal power
References
- ^ a b c "The constitution of the Principality of Andorra".
- ^ a b c "Why is the President of France Co-Prince of Andorra?". Royal Central. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, serves as Co-Prince of Andorra in addition to his duties as French President and is one of the few examples of a democratically elected leader serving in a royal capacity in another country. Since 2003, the other Co-Prince is the Catholic Bishop of Urgell from Spain, Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília. But how did the president and bishop become co-princes of another country? The answer lies in a political arrangement stretching back over seven centuries.
- ^ Joachim Fernau: 'Deutschland, Deutschland über alles — Geschichte der Deutschen'
- ^ Borrel, E.L. (1889). "Origine composition territoriale & Démembrements Successifs des Fiefs de l'évéché de Tarentaise". Recueil des mémoires et documents de l'Académie de la Val d'Isère. 5: 254–262.
- : Patriarcal de Aquileja
- ^ Dugdale, Thomas; Burnett., William (1830). England & Wales Delineated (Curiosities of Great Britain). p. 689.
- ^ "Durham". Encyclopædia Britannica. 11th Ed. Vol 8.
- ^ The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. His Majesty's Statute and Law Printers. 1836. p. 130.
- ^ "Courts Act 1971, c. 4". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ Pugh, Ralph Bernard, ed. (2002) [1953]. A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 4. London: Victoria County Historiy / British History Online. pp. 4–8. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ISBN 0521414113.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ ISBN 9783111359540.
- ^ a b Edmond Biré (1895). Histoire et littérature (3 ed.). E. Vitte. pp. 52–53.
- ^ Augustin Sicard (1893). L'ancien clergé de France: Les évêques avant la Révolution Volume 1 of L'ancien clergé de France. pp. 44–45.
- ^ Le correspondant, Volume 155. Bureaux du Correspondant. 1889. pp. 210–211.
- ^ Sima Milutinović Sarajlija: MONTENEGRO led by its Bishops from Историја Црне Горе (The History of Montenegro, 1835) (in Serbian)
- ^ a b "Duncan's Final Interview as Archbishop". AnglicanTV Ministries. June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
- ^ Robert E. Terwilliger (1973). "The Apostolic Ministry".
Sources and external links
- Catholic Encyclopaediapassim
- The Prince-Bishop of Münster
- Albert of Buxhoeveden, Prince-Bishop of Livonia
- Heraldica.org - here French peerage
- Westermann, Großer Atlas zur Weltgeschichte (in German)
- WorldStatesmen search under each present country