The Prince-Bishopric of Minden (german: Fürstbistum Minden; Bistum Minden; Hochstift Minden; Stift Minden) was an Hochstift, ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire. It was progressively secularized following the Protestant Reformation when it came under the rule of Protestant rulers, and by the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 given to Brandenburg as the Principality of Minden. It must not be confused with the Roman Catholic diocese of Minden, which was larger, and over which the prince-bishop exercised spiritual authority.

History

The diocese was founded by Charlemagne in 803, after he had conquered the Saxons. It was subordinate to the Electorate of Cologne, Archbishopric-Electorate of Cologne. It became the Prince-Bishopric of Minden (german: Fürstbistum Minden) in 1180, when the Duchy of Saxony was dissolved. As to the diocese of Minden, it ceased to exist following the Swedish takeover of 1648. Prior to its dissolution, the diocesan area comprised, in addition to the temporal prince-bishopric, parts of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and all of Schaumburg-Lippe. The defunct diocese came under the care of by the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern Missions, Apostolic Vicariate of the Nordic Missions in 1667. Between 1709 and 1780 it formed part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Upper and Lower Saxony, before it was reincorporated into the Nordic Missions. In 1821 the former Minden diocesan area within the former prince-bishopric boundary became part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn, Diocese of Paderborn, whereas the Brunswickian part became part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Anhalt, Apostolic Vicariate of Anhalt and Brunswick in 1825, only to join the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hildesheim, Diocese of Hildesheim in 1834. The Schaumburg-Lippe area stayed with the Nordic Missions until their dissolution in 1930, becoming first part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück, Diocese of Osnabrück and then of Hildesheim as of 1965.

Transition to a secular principality

In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation was starting to take hold in the state, under the influence of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Minden was occupied by Swedish Empire, Sweden in the Thirty Years' War, and secularized. The Peace of Westphalia of 1648 gave it to the Margraviate of Brandenburg as the Principality of Minden (german: Fürstentum Minden). After 1719 Minden was administered by Brandenburg-Prussia together with the adjacent County of Ravensberg as Minden-Ravensberg. In 1807, it became part of the Kingdom of Westphalia. In 1814, it returned to Prussia and became part of the Province of Westphalia. As of 1789, the principality had an area of . It was bordered by (clockwise from the north): an exclave of the Landgraviate of Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel), the Electorate of Hanover, the County of Schaumburg-Lippe, another exclave of Hesse-Kassel, the Principality of Lippe, the County of Ravensberg, and the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück. Cities included Minden and Lübbecke.

Famous bishops

* Saint Erkanbert (803–813) * Saint Hardward (813–853) * Saint Theodorich, Bishop of Minden, Theoderich (853–880) * Saint Thietmar of Minden, Thietmar (1185–1206) * Franz von Waldeck, Francis of Waldeck (1530–53) * Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1553–54) * Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1582–85, Protestant) * Christian, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Christian the Elder, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1599–1625, Protestant) * Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg, Francis of Wartenberg (1631–48)

Auxiliary bishops

*Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, Order of Saint Augustine, O.S.A. (1428–1468)"Bishop Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, O.S.A."
''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 *Johannes Tideln, Order of Preachers, O.P. (1477–1501)"Bishop Johannes Tideln, O.P.
''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 *Johannes Gropengeter, Order of Saint Augustine, O.S.A. (1499–1508)"Bishop Johannes Gropengeter, O.S.A.
''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved July 28, 2016 *Ludwig von Siegen (bishop), Ludwig von Siegen, Order of Friars Minor, O.F.M. (1502–1508)"Bishop Ludwig von Siegen, O.F.M."
''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 *Heinrich von Hattingen, O. Carm. (1515–1519)"Bishop Heinrich von Hattingen, O. Carm.
''Catholic-Hierarchy.org''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved July 28, 2016

References

At Meyers Konversationslexikon, 1888

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Minden, Bishopric Subdivisions of Prussia Roman Catholic dioceses in the Holy Roman Empire Former Roman Catholic dioceses in Germany Prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire in Germany Former states and territories of North Rhine-Westphalia Minden, Bishopric 1807 disestablishments in Germany Dioceses established in the 9th century Religious organizations established in the 800s Religious organizations disestablished in 1648 Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle 1180s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1180 establishments in Europe

History

Transition to a secular principality

Famous bishops

Auxiliary bishops

See also

References