Simon Nikolaus Euseb '' Reichsgraf'' von Montjoye-Hirsingen (1693–1775) was the Prince-Bishop of Basel from 1762 to 1775.''Sprink & Son's Monthly Numismatic Circle'', Vol I. (1893), p. 446
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Biography

Simon Nikolaus Euseb von Montjoye-Hirsingen was born in Hirsingen,

Alsace Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it ha ...

, on 22 September 1693, the son of Franz Ignaz von Montjoye-Hirsingen, a

brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...

in the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

.Catherine Bosshart-Pfluger, "Montjoye-Hirsingen, Simon Nikolaus von," ''Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz''
/ref> The family also sometimes used Froburg as its family name. He was educated at the Jesuit gymnasium in Porrentruy, then spent 1712 studying in Strasbourg. From 1713 to 1717, he studied at the ''

Collegium Germanicum The Collegio Teutonico (German College), historically often referred to by its Latin name Collegium Germanicum, is one of the Pontifical Colleges of Rome. The German College is the Pontifical College established for future ecclesiastics of Germ ...

'' in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. He was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform var ...

as a

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

on 22 December 1731.Profile on catholic-hierarchy.org
/ref> He spent 1741-62 as provost of Enschingen. On 26 October 1762 the cathedral chapter of Basel Münster elected him to be the new Prince-Bishop of

Basel , french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese , neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS) ...

, with Pope Clement XIII confirming his appointment on 21 March 1763. He was

consecrated Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word ''consecration'' literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different grou ...

as a

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...

Cardinal de Choiseul Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **'' Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, th ...

on 10 July 1763. Bishop von Montjoye-Hirsingen was a supporter of the Physiocrats. In 1769, he introduced poor relief in the prince-bishopric. He became sick in 1771, which led to premature electioneering in the prince-bishopric. He died in Porrentruy on 5 April 1775.

References

1693 births 1775 deaths Prince-Bishops of Basel Counts of Germany {{europe-RC-bishop-stub