Prince-Bishopric Of Würzburg
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The Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg () was an ecclesiastical principality of the
Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...
located in
Lower Franconia Lower Franconia (, ) is one of seven districts of Bavaria, Germany. The districts of Lower, Middle and Upper Franconia make up the region of Franconia. It consists of nine districts and 308 municipalities (including three cities). History After ...
, west of the
Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg The Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg () was an ecclesiastical State of the Holy Roman Empire. It goes back to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamberg, Roman Catholic Diocese of Bamberg established at the 1007 synod in Frankfurt, at the behest of Ki ...
.
Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is, after Nuremberg and Fürth, the Franconia#Towns and cities, third-largest city in Franconia located in the north of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. It sp ...
had been a diocese since 743. As established by the
Concordat A concordat () is a convention between the Holy See and a sovereign state that defines the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state in matters that concern both,René Metz, ''What is Canon Law?'' (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1960 [1 ...
of 1448, bishops in Germany were chosen by the canons of the cathedral chapter and their election was later confirmed by the pope. Following a common practice in Germany, the prince-bishops of Würzburg were frequently elected to other ecclesiastical principalities as well. The last few prince-bishops resided at the
Würzburg Residence The Würzburg Residence (German: ''Würzburger Residenz'') is a palace in Würzburg, Germany. Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt and Maximilian von Welsch, representatives of the Austrian/Southern German Baroque style, were involved in the construct ...
, which is one of the grandest Baroque architecture, Baroque palaces in Europe. As a consequence of the 1801 Treaty of Lunéville, Würzburg, along with the other ecclesiastical states of Germany, was
secularized In sociology, secularization () is a multilayered concept that generally denotes "a transition from a religious to a more worldly level." There are many types of secularization and most do not lead to atheism or irreligion, nor are they automatica ...
in 1803 and absorbed into the
Electorate of Bavaria The Electorate of Bavaria () was a quasi-independent hereditary electorate of the Holy Roman Empire from 1623 to 1806, when it was succeeded by the Kingdom of Bavaria. The Wittelsbach dynasty which ruled the Duchy of Bavaria was the younger ...
. In the same year Ferdinand III, former
Grand Duke of Tuscany Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor Places * Grand, Oklahoma, USA * Grand, Vosges, village and commune in France with Gallo-Roman amphitheatre * Grand County (disambiguation), se ...
, was compensated with the
Electorate of Salzburg The Electorate of Salzburg ( or ), occasionally known as the Grand Duchy of Salzburg, was an electoral principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1803–05, the short-lived successor state of the Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg. History In ...
. In the 1805 Peace of Pressburg, Ferdinand lost Salzburg to the
Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...
, but was compensated with the new
Grand Duchy of Würzburg The Grand Duchy of Würzburg () was a German grand duchy centered on Würzburg existing in the early 19th century. History As a consequence of the 1801 Treaty of Lunéville, the Bishopric of Würzburg was secularized in 1803 and granted to the ...
, Bavaria having relinquished the territory in return for the
Tyrol Tyrol ( ; historically the Tyrole; ; ) is a historical region in the Alps of Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary, f ...
. This new state lasted until 1814, when it was once again annexed by Bavaria. The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Würzburg The Diocese of Würzburg () is a Latin Church diocese of Catholic Church in Germany. The diocese is located in Lower Franconia, around the city of Würzburg, and the bishop is seated at Würzburg Cathedral. Founded in 741, the diocese lost all te ...
was reestablished in 1821 without temporal power.


Duke of Franconia

In 1115,
Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1216–1281 ...
awarded the territory of Eastern Franconia (''Ostfranken'') to his nephew
Conrad of Hohenstaufen Conrad of Hohenstaufen ( – 8 November 1195) was the first hereditary Count Palatine of the Rhine. His parents were Frederick II of Swabia (1090–1147), Duke of Swabia, and his second wife Agnes of Saarbrücken, daughter of Frederick, ...
, who used the title "Duke of Franconia". Franconia remained a Hohenstaufen power base until 1168, when the Bishop of Würzburg was formally ceded the ducal rights in Eastern Franconia. The name "Franconia" fell out of usage, but the bishop revived it in his own favour in 1442 and held it until the reforms of
Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
abolished it.


Coat of arms

The charge of the original coat of arms showed the "Rennfähnlein" banner, quarterly argent and gules, on a lance or, in bend, on a blue shield. In the 14th century another coat of arms was created, the "Rechen" or rake. The coat of arms represents the holism of heaven and earth. The three white pikes represent the Trinity of God and the four red pikes, directed to earth, stand for the four points of the compass, representing the whole spread of earth. The red colour represents the blood of Christ. The prince-bishops used both within their personal coat of arms. The Rechen and the Rennfähnlein represented the diocese, while the other (usually two) fields showed the personal coat of arms of the bishop's family. The coat of arms showed the Rechen in the first and third field, the Rennfähnlein in the second and fourth field.


Prince-Bishops of Würzburg, 1168–1803

*
Herold von Hochheim Herold may refer to: People ; Given name * Herold Driedger (born 1942), Canadian politician * Hérold Goulon (born 1988), French footballer * Herold C. Hunt (1902–1976), American educator * Herold Jansson (1899–1965), Danish gymnast and di ...
1165–1170 *Reginhard von Abenberg 1171–1186 * Gottfried I von Spitzenberg-Helfenstein 1186–1190 *
Philip of Swabia Philip of Swabia (February/March 1177 – 21 June 1208), styled Philip II in his charters, was a member of the House of Hohenstaufen and King of Germany from 1198 until his assassination. The death of Philip's older brother Henry VI, Holy Roman E ...
1190–1191 *Heinrich III of Berg 1191–1197 *Gottfried II von
Hohenlohe The House of Hohenlohe () is a German princely dynasty. It formerly ruled an immediate territory within the Holy Roman Empire, which was divided between several branches. In 1806, the area of Hohenlohe was 1,760 km² and its estimated pop ...
1197 *Konrad von Querfurt 1198–1202 *Heinrich IV von Katzburg 1202–1207 * 1207–1223 * Dietrich von Homburg 1223–1225 *Hermann I von Lobdeburg 1225–1254 *Iring von Reinstein-Homburg 1254–1266 *Heinrich V von Leiningen 1254–1255 *Poppo III von Trimberg 1267–1271 *Berthold I von Henneberg 1271–1274 *Berthold II von Sternberg 1274–1287 *Mangold von Neuenburg 1287–1303 (Bishop of Bamberg 1285) *Andreas von Gundelfingen 1303–1313 *Gottfried III von
Hohenlohe The House of Hohenlohe () is a German princely dynasty. It formerly ruled an immediate territory within the Holy Roman Empire, which was divided between several branches. In 1806, the area of Hohenlohe was 1,760 km² and its estimated pop ...
1313–1322 *Friedrich von Stolberg 1313–1317 *Wolfram Wolfskeel von Grumbach 1322–1332 *Hermann II Hummel von Lichtenberg 1333–1335 *Otto II von Wolfskeel 1335–1345 * Albrecht I von Hohenberg 1345–1349 *Albrecht II von Hohenlohe 1350–1372 *Gerhard von Schwarzburg 1372–1400 *Albrecht III von Katzburg 1372–1376 *Johann I von Egloffstein 1400–1411 *Johann II von Brunn 1411–1440 *Sigmund of Saxony 1440–1443 *Gottfried I von Limpurg 1443–1455 * Johann III von Grumbach 1455–1466 * Rudolf II von Scherenberg 1466–1495 *
Lorenz von Bibra Lorenz von Bibra, Duke in Franconia (1459, Mellrichstadt – 6 February 1519, Würzburg) was Prince-Bishop of the Bishopric of Würzburg from 1495 to 1519. His life paralleled that of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I (1459– ...
1495–1519 *
Konrad von Thüngen Konrad von Thüngen (c. 1466 – 16 June 1540) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1519 until his death in 1540. Biography Konrad was born into a Franconian noble family about 1466. He was appointed Prince-Bishop of Würzburg on 15 Feb ...
1519–1540 *
Conrad von Bibra Conrad von Bibra (or Konrad III von Bibra), Duke in Franconia (1490–1544) was Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1540 to 1544. Born in 1490, he studied at the universities of Cologne, Bologna, Erfurt and Ingolstadt. His whole life Conrad seeme ...
1540–1544 *
Melchior Zobel von Giebelstadt Melchior Zobel von Giebelstadt (1502–1558) was the Bishopric of Würzburg, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1544 to 1558. Melchior Zobel von Giebelstadt was born in 1502, the son of Georg Zobel and his wife Dorothea Rüdt von Callenberg. As ...
1544–1558 *
Friedrich von Wirsberg Friedrich von Wirsberg (16 November 1507 – 12 November 1573) was the Bishopric of Würzburg, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1558 to 1573. Friedrich von Wirsberg was born in Glashütten, Bavaria on November 16, 1507.:de:Friedrich von Wirsberg ...
1558–1573 *
Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn (18 March 1545 – 9 September 1617) was Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1573. He was born in Mespelbrunn Castle, Spessart (Lower Franconia) and died in Würzburg. Life Mespelbrunn was born the second so ...
1573–1617 *
Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen (1575–1622) was the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1609 to 1622 and Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1617 to 1622. Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen was born in Oberlauda, today a district of Lauda-Königshofen, on ...
1617–1622 (Bishop of Bamberg 1609–1622) *
Philipp Adolf von Ehrenberg Philipp Adolf von Ehrenberg (1583–1631) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1622 to 1631. Philipp Adolf von Ehrenberg was born in Heinsheim, which is today a district of Bad Rappenau, on 23 September 1583, the son of Johann Heinrich vo ...
1622–1631 *
Franz von Hatzfeld Franz von Hatzfeld (13 September 1596 – 30 July 1642) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1631 to 1642 and the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1633 to 1642. Franz von Hatzfeld was born in Crottorf, near Friesenhagen, on 13 September ...
1631–1642 (Bishop of Bamberg 1633–1642) *
Johann Philipp von Schönborn Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name '' Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious ...
1642–1673 *
Johann Hartmann von Rosenbach Johann Hartmann von Rosenbach (September 15, 1609 – April 19, 1675) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1673 to 1675. Johann Hartmann von Rosenbach was born in Stammheim, Florstadt on 15 September 1609 to Johann Dietrich von Rosenbach ( ...
1673–1675 *
Peter Philipp von Dernbach Peter Philipp von Dernbach (1619–1683) was the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1672 to 1683 and Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1675 to 1683. Peter Philipp von Dernbach was born in Geisa on 1 July 1619. His father was a Lutheran who later conver ...
1675–1683 *
Konrad Wilhelm von Wernau Konrad Wilhelm von Wernau (6 or 7 August 16385 September 1684) was a German clergyman who served as Prince and Bishop of Würzburg from his election on 31 May 1683 until his death in 1684. Konrad Wilhelm von Wernau was born in (part of modern ...
1683–1684 * Johann Gottfried II von Gutenberg 1684–1698 *
Johann Philipp von Greifenclau zu Vollraths Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name '' Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious" ...
1699–1719 *
Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn (1673–1724) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1719 to 1724. His principal claim to fame is his commissioning of the Würzburg Residence, a major work of Baroque architecture. Life Johann Philipp Franz v ...
1719–1725 *
Christoph Franz von Hutten Christoph is a male given name and surname. It is a German variant of Christopher. Notable people with the given name Christoph * Christoph Bach (1613–1661), German musician * Christoph Büchel (born 1966), Swiss artist * Christoph Dientz ...
1724–1729 *
Friedrich Karl von Schönborn Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (or Friedrich Carl, 1674–1746) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746. He also served as ''Reichsvizekanzler'' (Vice-Chancellor) of the Holy Roman Empire from 1705 to 17 ...
1729–1746 (also Bishop of Bamberg) *
Anselm Franz von Ingelheim Anselm may refer to: People Saints * Anselm, Duke of Friuli (s), Benedictine monk and abbot Nonantula * Anselm of Canterbury ( 1033–1109), philosopher, Abbot of Bec, and Archbishop of Canterbury * Anselm of Lucca (1036–1086), better known as ...
1746–1749 * Karl Philipp von Greifenclau zu Vollraths 1749–1754 *
Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim Adam Friedrich Graf von Seinsheim (1708–1779) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1755 to 1779 and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1757 to 1779. Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim was born in Regensburg on 16 February 1708, the son of Maximilian ...
1755–1779 (Bishop of Bamberg 1757–1779) *
Franz Ludwig von Erthal Franz Ludwig Freiherr von Erthal (16 September 1730 in Lohr am Main - 14 February 1795 in Würzburg) was the Prince-bishop of Würzburg and Bamberg from 1779 until his death. He was buried at the Würzburg Cathedral (#45 diagram). Early life ...
1779–1795 (also Bishop of Bamberg) *
Georg Karl Ignaz von Fechenbach zu Laudenbach Georg Karl Ignaz ''Freiherr'' von Fechenbach zu Laudenbach (1749–1808) was the last Bishopric of Würzburg, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, holding office from 1795 until 1803, when the Bishopric of Würzburg, Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg was Germ ...
1795–1808 ''Secular power lost in 1803. Territory ceded to Bavaria until 1805.''


See also

*
Würzburg Cathedral Würzburg Cathedral () is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, dedicated to Saint Kilian. It is the seat of the Bishop of Würzburg and has served as the burial place for the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg for hundreds of ye ...
– for burial locations of most Würzburg bishops *
Ebrach Abbey Ebrach Abbey () is a former Cistercian monastery in Ebrach in Oberfranken, Bavaria, Germany, and the site of a young offenders' institution. History Abbey The abbey, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Nicholas, ...
– beginning with the 13th century, the bishops of Würzburg had their hearts brought to Ebrach Abbey (entrails to the '' Marienkirche'', bodies to Würzburg cathedral). About 30 hearts of bishops, some of which had been desecrated during the
German Peasants' War The German Peasants' War, Great Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt () was a widespread popular revolt in some German-speaking areas in Central Europe from 1524 to 1525. It was Europe's largest and most widespread popular uprising befor ...
, are said to have found their final resting place at Ebrach. Prince-Bishop
Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn (18 March 1545 – 9 September 1617) was Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1573. He was born in Mespelbrunn Castle, Spessart (Lower Franconia) and died in Würzburg. Life Mespelbrunn was born the second so ...
broke with this tradition and had his heart buried in the ''Neubaukirche'' at Würzburg.


Gallery

File:Wuerzburger Dom.jpg,
Würzburg Cathedral Würzburg Cathedral () is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, dedicated to Saint Kilian. It is the seat of the Bishop of Würzburg and has served as the burial place for the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg for hundreds of ye ...
File:Residenz Wuerzburg Vorderan.jpg,
Würzburg Residence The Würzburg Residence (German: ''Würzburger Residenz'') is a palace in Würzburg, Germany. Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt and Maximilian von Welsch, representatives of the Austrian/Southern German Baroque style, were involved in the construct ...
, built 1719-1744 for
Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn (1673–1724) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1719 to 1724. His principal claim to fame is his commissioning of the Würzburg Residence, a major work of Baroque architecture. Life Johann Philipp Franz v ...
and
Friedrich Karl von Schönborn Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (or Friedrich Carl, 1674–1746) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746. He also served as ''Reichsvizekanzler'' (Vice-Chancellor) of the Holy Roman Empire from 1705 to 17 ...
File:DSC 0133-a.jpg, Schloss
Werneck Werneck is a market town in the district of Schweinfurt in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. It has a population of around 10,000 and is best known for its Baroque palace, Schloss Werneck. Geography Location Werneck lies in the Lower Franco ...
, built 1733-1745 for Friedrich Karl von Schönborn File:Schloss Veitshöchheim, 3.jpg,
Veitshöchheim Veitshöchheim () is a municipality in the district of Würzburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Main, northwest of Würzburg. Veitshöchheim has a population just under 10,000. It includes two villages: Veitshöch ...
summer residence File:Wuerzburgsiebmacher.jpg, Coat of arms


Notes


References


Further reading

* Peter Kolb und Ernst-Günther Krenig (Hrsg.): ''Unterfränkische Geschichte''. Würzburg 1989. * Alfred Wendehorst: ''Das Bistum Würzburg Teil 1: Die Bischofsreihe bis 1254''. Germania Sacra, NF 1: Die Bistümer der Kirchenprovinz Mainz, Berlin 1962. * Alfred Wendehorst: ''Das Bistum Würzburg Teil 2 - Die Bischofsreihe von 1254 bis 1455''. In: Max-Planck-Institut für Geschichte (Hg.): ''Germania Sacra - Neue Folge 4 - Die Bistümer der Kirchenprovinz Mainz''. Berlin 1969. . * Alfred Wendehorst: ''Das Bistum Würzburg Teil 3: Die Bischofsreihe von 1455 bis 1617''. Germania Sacra, NF 13: Die Bistümer der Kirchenprovinz Mainz, Berlin/New York 1978. * Alfred Wendehorst: ''Das Bistum Würzburg 1803-1957''. Würzburg 1965. * Wissenschaftliche Vereinigung für den Deutschen Orden e.V. und Historische Deutschorden-Compaigne zu Mergentheim 1760 e.V. (Hrsg.): ''1300 Jahre Würzburg - Zeichen der Geschichte, Bilder und Siegel der Bischöfe von Würzburg''. Heft 23. Lauda-Königshofen 2004. {{DEFAULTSORT:Wurzburg, Bishopric Of 1160s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1168 establishments in Europe 1803 disestablishments in the Holy Roman Empire States and territories established in 1168
Bishopric In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...
Prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire in Germany 743 establishments Dioceses established in the 8th century Franconian Circle la:Dioecesis Herbipolitana