List of bishops, prince-bishops, and administrators of Minden

Last updated March 13, 2022

This list records the bishops of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Minden (German : Bistum Minden), a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cologne, who were simultaneously rulers of princely rank (prince-bishop) in the Prince-Bishopric of Minden (German : Hochstift Minden; est. 1180 and secularised in 1648), a state of imperial immediacy within the Holy Roman Empire. Minden was the seat of the chapter, the cathedral and residence of the bishops until 1305, Petershagen became the prince-episcopal residence since.

Titles of the incumbents of the Minden See

In 1180 part of the Minden diocesan territory were disentangled from the Duchy of Saxony and became an own territory of imperial immediacy called Prince-Bishopric of Minden, a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince-bishopric was an elective monarchy, with the monarch being the respective bishop usually elected by the Minden Cathedral chapter, and confirmed by the Holy See, or exceptionally only appointed by the Holy See. Papally confirmed bishops were then invested by the emperor with the princely regalia, thus the title prince-bishop. However, sometimes the respective incumbent of the see never gained a papal confirmation, but was still invested the princely regalia. Also the opposite occurred with a papally confirmed bishop, never invested as prince. A number of incumbents, elected by the chapter, neither achieved papal confirmation nor imperial investiture, but as a matter of fact nevertheless de facto held the princely power. Between about 1555 to 1631 all incumbents were Lutherans. The respective incumbents of the see bore the following titles:

Bishop of Minden until 1180
Prince-Bishop of Minden from 1180 to 1554 and again 1631 to 1648
Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Minden 1566 to 1630 and again 1631 to 1645. Either simply de facto replacing the Prince-Bishop or lacking canon-law prerequisites the incumbent of the see would officially only hold the title administrator (but nevertheless colloquially referred to as Prince-Bishop).

Catholic Bishops of Minden till 1180

Episcopate	Name	Birth and death with places	Reason for end of office	Notes
Roman Catholic Bishops of Minden till 1180
803–813	Erkanbert also Ercumbert, Herkumbert, Herumbert	Gollachgau (near Würzburg), unknown – 7 June 830, Minden	resigned?	saint, feast day: 7 June
813–853	Hardward	unknown – 16 September 853, Minden	death	saint, feast day: 13 April
853–880	Theoderic as Dietrich I	unknown – 2 February 880, near Ebstorf	killed in action	martyr, saint, feast day: 2 February
880–886	Wulfhar also: Wulfar or Wolfer	unknown – 15 September 886, Minden	killed by invasors
886–887	sede vacante
887–902	Drogo	unknown – 5 June 902	death
902–905	Adalbert
905–914	Bernard
914–927	Lothair
927–950	Ebergisl
950–958	Helmward
958–969	Landward
969–996	Milo
996–1002	Ramward
1002–1022	Dietrich as Dietrich II
1022–1036	Siegbert also: Sigebert	unknown – 1036	death
1037–1055	Bruno of Waldeck (House of Waldeck)	c. 1000 – 10 February 1055	death
1055–1080	Egilbert	Bavaria, unknown – 3 December 1080	death
1080–1089	Reinward
1080–1096	Volkmar
1089–1097	Ulrich
1097–1112	Gottschalk
1097–1105 and again 1113–1119	Widelo also Witelo, Wylo	unknown – 28 December 1119	death	as anti-bishop repressed in 1105, unrivalled in office since 1113
1120–1140	Sigward also: Siegward	unknown – 1140	death
1140–1153	Henry Cuno as Henry I
1153–1170	Werner	Bückeburg, unknown – 1170	death	celebrated the marriage of Henry the Lion and Matilda of England, Plantagenêt
1170–1185	Anno of Landsberg	unknown – 1185	death

Catholic Prince-Bishops (1180–1554)

Reign and episcopate	Name	Birth and death with places	Reason for end of office	Notes
Roman Catholic Prince-Bishops of Minden (1180-1554)
1170–1185	Anno of Landsberg	unknown – 1185	death
1185–1206	Thietmar also: Thiemo, modernised: Dietmar	Bavaria, unknown – 5 March 1206	death	saint, feast day: 5 March
1206–1209	Henry as Henry II	unknown – 30 July 1209	death
1209–1236	Conrad of Rüdenberg also: of Diepholz as Conrad I	unknown – 26 June 1236	death
1236–1242	William of Diepholz as William I (Counts of Diepholz)	unknown – 2 May 1242	death	brother of the next
1242–1253	John of Diepholz (Counts of Diepholz)	c. 1175 – 13 January 1253	death	brother of the former
1253–1261	Wedekind of Hoya as Wedekind I (Counts of Hoya)	unknown – 1261	death	son of Henry II, Count of Hoya
1261–1266	Cuno
1266–1275	Otto as Otto I	Stendal, unknown – 1275
1275–1293	Volkwin of Schwalenberg	c. 1240/1245 – 4 May 1293,	death	brother of Ludolph's brother's or sister's spouse
1293–1295	Conrad of Wardenberg as Conrad II	unknown – 1295	death
1295–1304	Ludolph of Rostorf also: Rosdorf	Hardenberg, c. 1240–1304, Minden	death	brother of Volkwin's brother's or sister's spouse through his sister Jutta granduncle of the next
1304–1324	Godfrey of Waldeck (House of Waldeck)	c. 1255/1260 – 14 May 1324	death	brother of Adolf II of Waldeck; by his granduncle's wife also grandnephew of Ludolph moved the prince-episcopal residence to Petershagen castle
1324–1346	Louis of Brunswick-Lüneburg (House of Welf)	c. 1300 – 18 July 1346, Walsrode	death	son of Otto the Strict
1346–1353	Gerard of Schauenburg as Gerard I (House of Schaumburg)	unknown – 1 January 1353	death	son of Adolphus VI, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg
1353–1361	Dietrich Kagelwit also Kugelweit, Dietrich of Portitz as Dietrich III	Stendal, *c. 1300 – 17 December 1367	became Prince-Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1361 (as Dietrich I)	before Bishop of Schleswig (1351–1353)
1361–1366	Gerard of Schaumburg as Gerard II (House of Schaumburg)	unknown – 25 September 1366		son of Adolphus VII, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg ^[1]
1366–1368	Otto of Wettin also: of Golßen as Otto II (House of Wettin)	unknown – 16 July 1368	death	son of Otto, Burgrave of Wettin and Golßen
1369–1383	Wedekind of Schalksberg also: Wittekind vom Berge as Wedekind II	unknown – 1383	death	son of Wedekind IV, Lord of Schalksberg
1384–1397	Otto of Schalksberg also: vom Berge as Otto III	unknown – 1 January 1398	resigned	last heir of the Lordship of Schalksberg, which he bequeathed to the Minden see; son of Wedekind IV, Lord of Schalksberg
1397–1398	Gerard of Hoya as Gerard III (Counts of Hoya)
1398	Marquard of Randegg also: Randeck	unknown – 28. December 1406	became Prince-Bishop of Constance in 1398	nephew of Patriarch Marquard of Randeck
1398–1402	William of Buchen as William II		death
1402–1403	sede vacante
1403–1406	Otto of Rietberg as Otto IV	unknown – 1406	death	son of Otto II, Count of Rietberg
1406–1436	Wilbrand of Hallermund also: Wulbrand	? – 23 December 1436	death	before prince-Abbot of Corvey Abbey (1398–1406), last heir of the County of Hallermund, son of Wilbrand, Count of Hallermund,
1436–1473	Albert of Hoya German: Albrecht (Counts of Hoya)			son of Eric I, Count of Hoya
1473–1508	Henry of Schauenburg as Henry III (House of Schaumburg)			son of Otto II, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg
1508–1529	Francis of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel as Francis I (House of Welf)	1492 – 25 November 1529, Wolfenbüttel	death	son of Henry IV
1530–1553	Francis of Waldeck as Francis II (House of Waldeck)	Sparrenberg Castle, 1491 – 15 July 1553, Wolbeck (a part of today's Minden)	death	also Prince-Bishop of Münster (1532–1553) and of Osnabrück (1532–1553)
1553–1554	Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel (House of Welf)	Wolfenbüttel, 29 June 1528 – 3 May 1589, Wolfenbüttel	resigned, became heir to the Principality of Wolfenbüttel	Prince of Wolfenbüttel (1568–1589) and of Calenberg (1584–1589)

Lutheran Prince-Bishop and Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric

Reign and episcopate	Name	Birth and death with places	Reason for end of office	Notes
Lutheran Prince-Bishop and Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric (1554–1631)
1554–1566	George of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel (House of Welf)	22 November 1494 – 4 December 1566, Verden upon Aller	death	elected by the Minden chapter and papally confirmed bishop, turned Lutheran and thus later acceding only as administrator (lacking papal confirmation) of the Bremen and Verden sees (1558–1566)
1566–1582	Hermann of Schauenburg (House of Schaumburg)	1545–1592		son of Otto IV of Schaumburg
1582–1585	Henry Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel (House of Welf)	Hessen am Fallstein, 15 October 1564 – 20 July 1613, Prague	resigned, became Prince of Calenberg and of Wolfenbüttel in 1589	also administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Halberstadt (1566–1613)
1585–1587	sede vacante
1587–1599	Anthony of Schauenburg (House of Schaumburg)	1549–1599	death	son of Otto IV of Schaumburg
1599–1625	Christian of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Celle (House of Welf)	9 November 1566 – 8 November 1633	deposed	as Christian the Elderalso Prince of Lunenburg-Celle (1611–1633)
1625–1631	sede vacante

Catholic Prince-Bishop (1631–1648)

Reign and episcopate	Name	Birth and death with places	Reason for end of office	Notes
Roman Catholic Prince-Bishop of Minden (1631–1648)
1631–1648	Francis of Wartenberg as Francis III	Munich, 1 March 1593 – 1 December 1661, Ratisbon	deposed by the Swedish conquerors	papally appointed, lacking the capitular elective mandate also Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück (1625–1634 and again 1648–1661), of Verden (1630–1631), of Ratisbon (1649–1661), and Vicar Apostolic of the Archdiocese of Bremen (1645/1648)
after 15 May 1648	The Prince-Bishopric was converted into a heritable monarchy, the Principality of Minden, ruled in personal union by the House of Hohenzollern in Brandenburg.

Auxiliary bishops

Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, O.S.A. (7 Jun 1428 to 8 Oct 1468)^[2]
Johannes Tideln, O.P. (7 Feb 1477 to 28 Jul 1501)^[3]
Ludwig von Siegen (bishop), O.F.M. (20 May 1502 to 13 Feb 1508)^[4]
Johannes Gropengeter, O.S.A. (9 Jan 1499 to 25 Jan 1508)
Heinrich von Hattingen, O. Carm. (10 Dec 1515 to 1519)

Sources

Website Chronik Alt-Minden (retrieved on 29 April 2010) (in German)
"Liste der Bischöfe" on Lexikon des Mittelalters (in German)

Notes

↑ Carl Stüve, Die Geschichte des Hochstifts Osnabrück bis zum Jahr 1508, Jena and Osnabrück: Friedrich Frommann / Kißling'sche Buchhandlung, 1853, vol. 1, pp. 229–481.
↑ "Bishop Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, O.S.A." Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
↑ "Bishop Johannes Tideln, O.P. Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
↑ "Bishop Ludwig von Siegen, O.F.M." Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016

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[1] Carl Stüve, Die Geschichte des Hochstifts Osnabrück bis zum Jahr 1508, Jena and Osnabrück: Friedrich Frommann / Kißling'sche Buchhandlung, 1853, vol. 1, pp. 229–481.

[CathHierChrisVonSchl-2] "Bishop Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, O.S.A." Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016

[CathHierJohTid-3] "Bishop Johannes Tideln, O.P. Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016

[CathHierLudVonSieg-4] "Bishop Ludwig von Siegen, O.F.M." Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016

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