Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht

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Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht
Sticht Utrecht (Dutch)
Hochstift Utrecht (German)
1024–1528
of Utrecht
Coat of arms
Roman Catholicism (State religion)
GovernmentEcclesiastical principality
Prince-bishop 
• (1024–1026)[a]
Adalbold II of Utrecht
• (1524–1528)[b]
Henry of the Palatinate
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Lower Lotharingia divided from Lotharingia
959
• Established
1024
1075–1122
1122
• Joined the Burgundian Circle
1512
1502–1543
• Disestablished
1528
• Union of Utrecht signed
1579
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Lower Lotharingia
Lordship of Utrecht
Lordship of Overijssel
Today part ofNetherlands

The Bishopric of Utrecht (Dutch: Sticht Utrecht) was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries, in the present-day Netherlands. From 1024 to 1528, as one of the prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire, it was ruled by the bishops of Utrecht.

The Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht must not be confused with the Diocese of Utrecht, which was larger than the Prince-Bishopric. Over the larger area outside the Prince-Bishopric, the bishop exercised only spiritual, not temporal, authority.

In 1528, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor secularized the Prince-Bishopric, depriving the bishop of its secular authority.

History

History of the Low Countries
Frisii Belgae
Cana–
nefates
Chamavi,
Tubantes
Gallia Belgica (55 BC–c. 5th AD)
Germania Inferior (83–c. 5th)
Salian Franks Batavi
unpopulated
(4th–c. 5th)
Saxons Salian Franks
(4th–c. 5th)
Frisian Kingdom
(c. 6th–734)
Frankish Kingdom (481–843)Carolingian Empire
(800–843)
Austrasia (511–687)
Middle Francia (843–855) West
Francia

(843–)
Duchy of Lower Lorraine
(959–)
Frisia


Frisian
Freedom

(11–16th
century)

County of
Holland

(880–1432)

Bishopric of
Utrecht

(695–1456)
Duchy of
Guelders

(1046–1543)

County of
Flanders

(862–1384)

County of
Hainaut

(1071–1432)

County of
Namur

(981–1421)

P.-Bish.
of Liège


(980–1794)

Duchy of
Luxem-
bourg

(1059–1443)
 
Burgundian Netherlands (1384–1482)

Habsburg Netherlands (1482–1795)
(Seventeen Provinces after 1543)
 

Dutch Republic
(1581–1795)

Spanish Netherlands
(1556–1714)
 
 
Austrian Netherlands
(1714–1795)
 
United States of Belgium

(1790)

R. Liège
(1789–'91)
     

Batavian Republic (1795–1806)
Kingdom of Holland (1806–1810)

associated with French First Republic (1795–1804)
part of First French Empire (1804–1815)
   

Princip. of the Netherlands (1813–1815)
 
Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1830)
Gr D. L.
(1815–)

Kingdom of the Netherlands (1839–)

Kingdom of Belgium (1830–)

Gr D. of
Luxem-
bourg

(1890–)

Background

The Diocese of Utrecht was established in 695 when

hagiographies as the successor of Willibrord (and, in turn, Gregory of Utrecht is referred to as the successor to Willibrord and Boniface), this does not necessarily mean "successor as bishop", but rather that they succeeded each other as missionaries to the Frisians.[1]

Foundation

Better times appeared during the reign of the

Oversticht (Upper Sticht, encompassing the present-day provinces of Overijssel, Drenthe, and part of Groningen
).

In 1122, with the

Guelders, between whose territories the lands of the Bishops of Utrecht lay, also sought to acquire influence over the filling of the episcopal see. This often led to disputes and consequently the Holy See
frequently interfered in the election. After the middle of the 14th century the popes repeatedly appointed the bishop directly without regard to the five chapters.

It was part of the Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle, until 1548 when it joined the Burgundian Circle as part of the Habsburg Netherlands.

In 1527, the Bishop sold his territories, and thus his secular authority, to Holy Roman

Habsburg dominions. The chapters transferred their right of electing the bishop to Charles V and his government, a measure to which Pope Clement VII gave his consent, under political pressure after the Sack of Rome
.

Dissolution

The Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht was conquered by Habsburg troops in 1528. The southwestern Nedersticht core territory around the city of Utrecht became the Lordship of Utrecht, whilst the southern part of the Oversticht was transformed into the Lordship of Overijssel. The northern parts were annexed in 1536 as the County of Drenthe.

Prince-bishops

Notes

  1. ^ Adalbold II of Utrecht was bishop of the Diocese of Utrecht from 1010.
  2. ^ Henry of the Palatinate remained bishop of the Diocese of Utrecht until 1529.

References

Further reading

External links