The Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen — not to be confused with the modern Archdiocese of Hamburg, founded in 1994 — was an ecclesiastical principality (787–1566/1648) of the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church that after its definitive secularization in 1648 became the hereditary Duchy of Bremen. The prince-archbishopric, which was under the secular rule of the archbishop, consisted of about a third of the diocesan territory. The city of Bremen was de facto and de jure not part of the prince-archbishopric. Most of the prince-archbishopric lay rather in the area to the north of the city of Bremen, between the Weser and Elbe rivers. Even more confusingly, parts of the prince-archbishopric belonged in religious respect to the neighbouring Diocese of Verden, making up 10% of its diocesan territory.
Bremen-Verden, formally the Duchies of Bremen and Verden, were two territories and immediate fiefs of the Holy Roman Empire, which emerged and gained imperial immediacy in 1180. By their original constitution they were prince-bishoprics of the Archdiocese of Bremen and Bishopric of Verden.
Apensen is a municipality southwest of Hamburg (Germany). Apensen has a population of about 3,000, the area of 20.74 km² and belongs to the district Stade, Lower Saxony.
Oldendorf is a municipality in the district of Stade, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated west of Hamburg. Oldendorf has a population of approx. 3,000. Oldendorf was the seat of the former Samtgemeinde Oldendorf.
Fredenbeck is a municipality northwest of Hamburg (Germany) in the district of Stade in Lower Saxony.
Harsefeld is a municipality situated south-west of Hamburg (Germany). Harsefeld has a population of c. 12,500 and belongs to the district of Stade, Lower Saxony.
Hagen im Bremischen is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 20 km south of Bremerhaven, and 35 km northwest of Bremen. Hagen was the seat of the former Samtgemeinde Hagen.
Basdahl is a municipality in the district of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Balje is a municipality in the district of Stade, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Bargstedt is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Beckdorf is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Brest is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, northern Germany.
Deinste is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Estorf is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Freiburg (in High German, officially Freiburg an der Elbe; short: Freiburg/Elbe, Freiborg/Elv, or Freiborg is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Guderhandviertel is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Hammah is a municipality in the district of Stade, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Heinbockel is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Oederquart is a municipality in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany.
The Prince-Bishopric of Verden was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire that was located in what is today the state of Lower Saxony in Germany. Verden had been a diocese of the Catholic Church since the middle of the 8th century. The state was disestablished in 1648. The territory was managed by secular lords on behalf of the Bishop of Verden. As a Prince-Bishopric of the Empire, the territory of the state was not identical with that of the bishopric, but was located within its boundaries and made up about a quarter of the diocesan area. By the terms of the Peace of Westphalia, the Prince-Bishopric was disestablished and a new entity was established, the Duchies of Bremen and Verden.
