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Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück

April 09, 2024

The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück[1]) (German: Hochstift Osnabrück; Fürstbistum Osnabrück, Bistum Osnabrück) was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1225 until 1803. It should not be confused with the Diocese of Osnabrück (German: Bistum Osnabrück), which was larger and over which the prince-bishop exercised only the spiritual authority of an ordinary bishop. It was named after its capital, Osnabrück.

Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück
Hochstift Osnabrück
1225–1803
Coat of arms
Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück in 1786 (red line).
StatusPrince-Bishopric
CapitalOsnabrück
Common languagesLow Saxon, German
Religion
Roman Catholic until the 1540s, then also Lutheran
GovernmentPrince-Bishopric
Prince-Bishop 
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Created on collapse
    of Saxony
1225
• Secularised
    to Hanover
1803
Preceded by		 Succeeded by

The still-extant Diocese of Osnabrück, erected in 772, is the oldest see founded by Charlemagne, in order to Christianize the conquered stem-duchy of Saxony. The episcopal and capitular temporal possessions of the see, originally quite limited, grew in time, and its prince-bishops exercised an extensive civil jurisdiction within the territory covered by their rights of Imperial immunity. The Prince-Bishopric continued to grow in size, making its status during the Reformation a highly contentious issue. The Peace of Westphalia left the city bi-confessional and had the Prince-Bishops alternate between Catholic and Protestant.

The bishopric was dissolved in the German Mediatisation of 1803, when it was incorporated into the neighboring Electorate of Hanover. The see, the chapter, the convents and the Catholic charitable institutions were secularized. The territory of the see passed to Prussia in 1806, to the Kingdom of Westphalia in 1807, to Napoleonic France in 1810, and back to Hanover in 1814.

With the end of the prince-bishopric, the future of the diocese became unclear. Klemens von Gruben, titular Bishop of Paros in Greece, was made vicar apostolic of Osnabrück, and as such cared for the spiritual interests of the Catholic population. The ordinary Latin (Roman) Catholic episcopacy was restored in 1824, but henceforth the bishops would no longer wield any temporal power.

History edit

The temporal protectorate (Latin: Advocatia; German: Vogtei) exercised over so many mediaeval dioceses by laymen became, after the 12th century, hereditary in the Amelung family, from whom it passed to Henry the Lion.

After Henry's overthrow, it came into the possession of Count Simon of Tecklenburg and his descendants, though it was the source of many conflicts with the bishops. In 1236 the Count of Tecklenburg was forced to renounce all jurisdiction over the town of Osnabrück, as well as the lands of the see, the chapter and the parish churches. On the other hand, the bishop and chapter, from the 13th century on, expanded their jurisdiction over many convents, churches and hamlets. Scarcely any other German see freed itself so thoroughly from civil jurisdiction within its territory. The royal prerogatives were transferred little by little to the bishop, e.g. the holding of fairs and markets, rights of toll and coinage, forest and hunting rights, mining royalties and fortresses so that, by the early part of the 13th century, the bishop was the real governor of the civil territory of Osnabrück.

 
St. Peter's Cathedral (Osnabrück)

Among the prominent mediaeval bishops were:

  • Drogo (952–68)
  • Conrad of Veltberg (1002)
  • the learned Thietmar or Detmar (1003–22)
  • Benno II (1067–88)
  • Johann I (1001–10), who built the actual cathedral in place of the wooden one destroyed by fire in the time of his predecessor
  • Diethard I (1119–37), who was the first bishop elected by the free choice of the cathedral clergy
  • Philip II (1141–73), who ended the conflicts between his see and the Imperial Abbeys of Corvey and Hersfeld
  • Arnold of Berg (1137–91), who died a crusader at Akkon.

Beginning in the 13th century, the new orders of Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians were received with favour. Bishops in this period included:

14th to 16th centuries edit

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the power of the bishops waned before the increasing influence of the cathedral chapter, of the military servants (or knights) of the diocese, and of the town of Osnabrück. The last sought to free itself from the bishop's sovereignty, but never became a Free City of the Empire. The see was almost continually engaged in warlike troubles and difficulties and had even to defend itself against the Bishops of Minden and Münster. From the 14th century auxiliary bishops became necessary due to the civil duties that absorbed the attention of the bishop himself.

The successor of Bishop Conrad IV of Rietberg (1488–1508) was Eric of Brunswick (1508–32), simultaneously Bishop of Münster and Paderborn. He opposed the Reformers strongly and successfully. Franz of Waldeck (1533–53), also Bishop of Minden, acted, on the contrary, a very doubtful part. He offered little resistance to Lutheranism in Münster, though he vigorously opposed the Anabaptists; after 1543 he allowed in Osnabrück an evangelical service. However, the chapter and the Dominicans opposed a German service that dispensed with all the characteristics of the Roman Catholic Mass. In 1548, Bishop Franz promised to suppress the Reformation in Osnabrück and to execute the Augsburg Interim, but fulfilled his promise very indifferently; on his deathbed he received Lutheran communions. His successor, John IV of Hoya (1553–74), was more Catholic, but was succeeded by three bishops of a Protestant mind: Henry II of Saxe-Lauenburg (1574–85), Bernhard of Waldeck (1585–91), and Philip Sigismund (1591–1623). Under them the Reformation swept over most of the diocese.

17th and 18th centuries edit

 
Map of the Prince-Bishopric in 1642
 
The Bishop's Palace at Osnabrück (after 1777)

In 1624, Cardinal Eitel Frederick of Hohenzollern became Bishop of Osnabrück and called in the Jesuits. However, he died soon afterwards. His successor, Francis of Wartenberg (1625–61), fulfilled the task of imposing the Counter-Reformation decrees. The city-council was purged of anti-Catholic elements and the former Augustinian convent was turned over to the Jesuits. The Edict of Restitution was executed successfully by him and in 1631 he founded a university at Osnabrück.

But in 1633, Osnabrück was captured by the Swedes: the university was discontinued, Catholic religious exercises suppressed, and the see (1633–51) administered by the conquerors. In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was negotiated in Osnabrück and the nearby city of Munster. The Treaty of Osnabrück stipulated that the bishopric would return to the religious status it had in 1624. Henceforth, the prince-bishops would alternate between Catholic and Protestant officeholders, with the Protestant bishops to be selected from the cadets of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The alternance was to be maintained without prejudice to the Catholic status of the bishopric or the right over it of the Archbishop of Cologne as metropolitan.[2]

Wartenberg was made cardinal in 1660 and was succeeded by the married Protestant bishop, Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover (1661–98), who largely resided in Hanover. He built the new palace in Osnabrück from 1667 and was succeeded by the Catholic bishop, Prince Charles Joseph of Lorraine. The Protestant bishop Ernest Augustus (1715–28), second son of the previous Ernest Augustus, was succeeded by Clemens August of Bavaria, Archbishop-Elector of Cologne (1728–61). The last bishop was Prince Frederick of Great Britain (1764–1803), the second son of George III, King of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover. Prince Frederick was only six months old when he was elected bishop.

Residence edit

From about 1100, after a fire destroyed Osnabrück cathedral and its adjacent bishop's house, bishops had their residence at Iburg Castle. They moved back into town after Ernest Augustus built a baroque palace in Osnabrück, completed in 1673. Today Iburg Castle is a museum and seat of a local court while the Bishop's Palace houses the University of Osnabruck. King George I of Great Britain died in the palace while visiting his brother, prince-bishop Ernest Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, in 1727.

List of prince-bishops edit

Prince-bishops of Osnabrück include:

The prince-bishopric was mediatized in 1803 to the Electorate of Hanover. For Catholic bishops after the mediatization, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Also known as the Prince-Bishopric of Osnaburg
  2. ^ Joachim Whaley, Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, vol I, Oxford University Press (2012), p. 628

References edit

Attribution
  •   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lins, Joseph (1911). "Diocese of Osnabrück". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Further reading edit

  • Official site (in German)
  • Osnabrück at catholic-hierarchy.org
  • Map of Lower Saxony in 1789


52°17′00″N 8°08′47″E / 52.2833°N 8.1464°E / 52.2833; 8.1464

April 09, 2024
prince, bishopric, osnabrück, german, hochstift, osnabrück, fürstbistum, osnabrück, bistum, osnabrück, ecclesiastical, principality, holy, roman, empire, from, 1225, until, 1803, should, confused, with, diocese, osnabrück, german, bistum, osnabrück, which, lar. The Prince Bishopric of Osnabruck 1 German Hochstift Osnabruck Furstbistum Osnabruck Bistum Osnabruck was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1225 until 1803 It should not be confused with the Diocese of Osnabruck German Bistum Osnabruck which was larger and over which the prince bishop exercised only the spiritual authority of an ordinary bishop It was named after its capital Osnabruck Prince Bishopric of OsnabruckHochstift Osnabruck1225 1803Coat of armsPrince Bishopric of Osnabruck in 1786 red line StatusPrince BishopricCapitalOsnabruckCommon languagesLow Saxon GermanReligionRoman Catholic until the 1540s then also LutheranGovernmentPrince BishopricPrince Bishop Historical eraMiddle Ages Created on collapse of Saxony1225 Secularised to Hanover1803Preceded by Succeeded byDuchy of Saxony Electorate of HanoverThe still extant Diocese of Osnabruck erected in 772 is the oldest see founded by Charlemagne in order to Christianize the conquered stem duchy of Saxony The episcopal and capitular temporal possessions of the see originally quite limited grew in time and its prince bishops exercised an extensive civil jurisdiction within the territory covered by their rights of Imperial immunity The Prince Bishopric continued to grow in size making its status during the Reformation a highly contentious issue The Peace of Westphalia left the city bi confessional and had the Prince Bishops alternate between Catholic and Protestant The bishopric was dissolved in the German Mediatisation of 1803 when it was incorporated into the neighboring Electorate of Hanover The see the chapter the convents and the Catholic charitable institutions were secularized The territory of the see passed to Prussia in 1806 to the Kingdom of Westphalia in 1807 to Napoleonic France in 1810 and back to Hanover in 1814 With the end of the prince bishopric the future of the diocese became unclear Klemens von Gruben titular Bishop of Paros in Greece was made vicar apostolic of Osnabruck and as such cared for the spiritual interests of the Catholic population The ordinary Latin Roman Catholic episcopacy was restored in 1824 but henceforth the bishops would no longer wield any temporal power Contents 1 History 1 1 14th to 16th centuries 1 2 17th and 18th centuries 1 3 Residence 2 List of prince bishops 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further readingHistory editThe temporal protectorate Latin Advocatia German Vogtei exercised over so many mediaeval dioceses by laymen became after the 12th century hereditary in the Amelung family from whom it passed to Henry the Lion After Henry s overthrow it came into the possession of Count Simon of Tecklenburg and his descendants though it was the source of many conflicts with the bishops In 1236 the Count of Tecklenburg was forced to renounce all jurisdiction over the town of Osnabruck as well as the lands of the see the chapter and the parish churches On the other hand the bishop and chapter from the 13th century on expanded their jurisdiction over many convents churches and hamlets Scarcely any other German see freed itself so thoroughly from civil jurisdiction within its territory The royal prerogatives were transferred little by little to the bishop e g the holding of fairs and markets rights of toll and coinage forest and hunting rights mining royalties and fortresses so that by the early part of the 13th century the bishop was the real governor of the civil territory of Osnabruck nbsp St Peter s Cathedral Osnabruck Among the prominent mediaeval bishops were Drogo 952 68 Conrad of Veltberg 1002 the learned Thietmar or Detmar 1003 22 Benno II 1067 88 Johann I 1001 10 who built the actual cathedral in place of the wooden one destroyed by fire in the time of his predecessor Diethard I 1119 37 who was the first bishop elected by the free choice of the cathedral clergy Philip II 1141 73 who ended the conflicts between his see and the Imperial Abbeys of Corvey and Hersfeld Arnold of Berg 1137 91 who died a crusader at Akkon Beginning in the 13th century the new orders of Franciscans Dominicans and Augustinians were received with favour Bishops in this period included Engelbert of Altena Isenberg 1224 26 deposed following his implication in Archbishop Engelbert II of Berg s assassination rehabilitated 1238 50 Bruno of Altena Isenberg 1250 59 Conrad II of Rietberg 1269 97 14th to 16th centuries edit In the 14th and 15th centuries the power of the bishops waned before the increasing influence of the cathedral chapter of the military servants or knights of the diocese and of the town of Osnabruck The last sought to free itself from the bishop s sovereignty but never became a Free City of the Empire The see was almost continually engaged in warlike troubles and difficulties and had even to defend itself against the Bishops of Minden and Munster From the 14th century auxiliary bishops became necessary due to the civil duties that absorbed the attention of the bishop himself The successor of Bishop Conrad IV of Rietberg 1488 1508 was Eric of Brunswick 1508 32 simultaneously Bishop of Munster and Paderborn He opposed the Reformers strongly and successfully Franz of Waldeck 1533 53 also Bishop of Minden acted on the contrary a very doubtful part He offered little resistance to Lutheranism in Munster though he vigorously opposed the Anabaptists after 1543 he allowed in Osnabruck an evangelical service However the chapter and the Dominicans opposed a German service that dispensed with all the characteristics of the Roman Catholic Mass In 1548 Bishop Franz promised to suppress the Reformation in Osnabruck and to execute the Augsburg Interim but fulfilled his promise very indifferently on his deathbed he received Lutheran communions His successor John IV of Hoya 1553 74 was more Catholic but was succeeded by three bishops of a Protestant mind Henry II of Saxe Lauenburg 1574 85 Bernhard of Waldeck 1585 91 and Philip Sigismund 1591 1623 Under them the Reformation swept over most of the diocese 17th and 18th centuries edit nbsp Map of the Prince Bishopric in 1642 nbsp The Bishop s Palace at Osnabruck after 1777 In 1624 Cardinal Eitel Frederick of Hohenzollern became Bishop of Osnabruck and called in the Jesuits However he died soon afterwards His successor Francis of Wartenberg 1625 61 fulfilled the task of imposing the Counter Reformation decrees The city council was purged of anti Catholic elements and the former Augustinian convent was turned over to the Jesuits The Edict of Restitution was executed successfully by him and in 1631 he founded a university at Osnabruck But in 1633 Osnabruck was captured by the Swedes the university was discontinued Catholic religious exercises suppressed and the see 1633 51 administered by the conquerors In 1648 the Peace of Westphalia was negotiated in Osnabruck and the nearby city of Munster The Treaty of Osnabruck stipulated that the bishopric would return to the religious status it had in 1624 Henceforth the prince bishops would alternate between Catholic and Protestant officeholders with the Protestant bishops to be selected from the cadets of the House of Brunswick Luneburg The alternance was to be maintained without prejudice to the Catholic status of the bishopric or the right over it of the Archbishop of Cologne as metropolitan 2 Wartenberg was made cardinal in 1660 and was succeeded by the married Protestant bishop Ernest Augustus Elector of Hanover 1661 98 who largely resided in Hanover He built the new palace in Osnabruck from 1667 and was succeeded by the Catholic bishop Prince Charles Joseph of Lorraine The Protestant bishop Ernest Augustus 1715 28 second son of the previous Ernest Augustus was succeeded by Clemens August of Bavaria Archbishop Elector of Cologne 1728 61 The last bishop was Prince Frederick of Great Britain 1764 1803 the second son of George III King of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover Prince Frederick was only six months old when he was elected bishop Residence edit From about 1100 after a fire destroyed Osnabruck cathedral and its adjacent bishop s house bishops had their residence at Iburg Castle They moved back into town after Ernest Augustus built a baroque palace in Osnabruck completed in 1673 Today Iburg Castle is a museum and seat of a local court while the Bishop s Palace houses the University of Osnabruck King George I of Great Britain died in the palace while visiting his brother prince bishop Ernest Augustus Duke of York and Albany in 1727 nbsp Iburg Castle nbsp The Bishop s Palace OsnabruckList of prince bishops editPrince bishops of Osnabruck include 1224 1226 Engelbert I von Isenberg 1206 1227 Otto I 1227 1239 Konrad I von Velber 1239 1250 Engelbert I von Isenberg 1251 1258 Bruno von Isenberg 1259 1264 Balduin von Russel 1265 1269 Widukind von Waldeck 1270 1297 Konrad von Rietberg 1297 1308 Ludwig von Ravensberg 1309 1320 Engelbert II von Weyhe 1321 1349 Gottfried von Arnsberg 1350 1366 Johann II Hoet 1366 1376 Melchior von Braunschweig Grubenhagen 1376 1402 Dietrich of Horne 1402 1410 Henry I of Schauenburg Holstein 1410 1424 Otto von Hoya 1424 1437 Johann III von Diepholz 1437 1442 Erich von Hoya 1442 1450 Heinrich von Moers 1450 1454 Albert von Hoya 1454 1455 Rudolf von Diepholz 1455 1482 Konrad III von Diepholz 1482 1508 Konrad IV von Rietberg 1508 1532 Eric of Brunswick Grubenhagen 1532 1553 Franz von Waldeck Lutheran after 1543 1553 1574 Johann II von Hoya Catholic 1574 1585 Henry II of Saxe Lauenburg Lutheran 1585 1591 Bernhard von Waldeck Lutheran 1591 1623 Philip Sigismund of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel Lutheran 1623 1625 Eitel Frederick von Hohenzollern Sigmaringen Catholic 1625 1634 Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg Catholic 1634 1648 Gustav Gustavsson af Vasaborg Lutheran 1648 1661 Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg Catholic 1662 1698 Ernest Augustus Elector of Hanover Lutheran 1698 1715 Charles Joseph of Lorraine Catholic 1715 1728 Ernest Augustus Duke of York and Albany Lutheran 1728 1761 Klemens August of Bavaria Catholic 1764 1802 Prince Frederick Duke of York and Albany Lutheran last Prince BishopThe prince bishopric was mediatized in 1803 to the Electorate of Hanover For Catholic bishops after the mediatization see Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabruck Notes edit Also known as the Prince Bishopric of Osnaburg Joachim Whaley Germany and the Holy Roman Empire vol I Oxford University Press 2012 p 628References editAttribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lins Joseph 1911 Diocese of Osnabruck In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 11 New York Robert Appleton Company Further reading editOfficial site in German Osnabruck at catholic hierarchy org Map of Lower Saxony in 1789 52 17 00 N 8 08 47 E 52 2833 N 8 1464 E 52 2833 8 1464 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prince Bishopric of Osnabruck amp oldid 1201623547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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