Bishopric of Pomesania
Encyclopedia
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in the Prussian
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
regions of Pomesania
Pomesania
Pomesanians were one of the Prussian clans. They lived in Pomesania , a historical region in modern northern Poland, located between the Nogat and Vistula Rivers to the west and the Elbląg River to the east. It is located around the modern towns of Elbląg and Malbork...
and Pogesania
Pogesania
Pogesanians were one of the eleven Prussian clans mentioned by Peter von Dusburg. The clan lived in Pogesania , a small territory stretched between the Elbląg and Pasłęka rivers. It is now located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, northern Poland. Pogesanians, as the rest of the Prussians, were...
. It was founded as a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
diocese in 1243 by the papal legate William of Modena
William of Modena
William of Modena , also known as William of Sabina, Guglielmo de Chartreaux, Guglielmo de Savoy, Guillelmus, was an Italian clergyman and papal diplomat. He was frequently appointed a legate, or papal ambassador by the popes Honorius III and Gregory IX, especially in Livonia in the 1220s and in...
. The bishops, whose seat was Riesenburg (Prabuty)
Prabuty
Prabuty is a town in Kwidzyn County within the Pomeranian Voivodeship of northern Poland. In the period between 1975–98 Prabuty were part of the Elbląg Voivodeship.Prabuty is an important rail junction on the Warszawa–Gdynia railway.-Early history:...
, possessed one-third of the bishopric's territory. The diocesan cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
met in the fortified cathedral
Fortified church
Churches have often shown potential to be used for defensive purposes.Europe has a substantial legacy of fortified churches which were used for defensive purposes in time of war...
of Marienwerder (Kwidzyn)
Kwidzyn
Kwidzyn is a town in northern Poland on the Liwa river, with 40,008 inhabitants . It has been a part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously in the Elbląg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Kwidzyn County.-History:...
.
Beginning in 1523 during the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the diocese was administered by Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
bishops. In 1587, the diocese was secularized by the regent of Ducal Prussia, George Frederick
George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
George Frederick of Brandenburg-Ansbach was Margrave of Ansbach and Bayreuth, as well as Regent of Prussia. He was the son of George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and a member of the House of Hohenzollern...
. The remaining Catholic areas joined the Bishopric of Culm.
Catholic bishops
- Ernst (1248/49–1259)
- Albert (1259–1286)
- Heinrich (1277/78–1292) (Counter bishop)
- Heinrich (1286–1303)
- Christian (1303–1308/9)
- Ludeko (1309–1321)
- Rudolf (1321–1331)
- Bertold von Riesenburg (1331–1346)
- Arnold (1347–1360)
- Nikolaus von Radam (1360–1376)
- Johannes Mönch (1376–1409)
- Johannes Rymann (1409–1417)
- Gerhard Stolpmann (1417–1427)
- Johannes von Mewe (1427–1440)
- Kaspar Linke (1440–1463)
- Nikolaus (1464–1466)
- Vincent Kielbasa (1467–1478) (administrator)
- Johannes Christiani von Lessen (ca. 1480–1501)
- Hiob von Dobeneck (1501–1521)
- George of PolentzGeorge of PolentzGeorge of Polentz was bishop of Samland and Pomesania and a lawyer. He was the first Lutheran bishop.Polentz was a member of an old Saxon noble family. He studied law in Bologna and was private secretary to the papal Curia, then stood as a soldier in the service of Emperor Maximilian I...
(1521–1523)
Lutheran bishops
- George of PolentzGeorge of PolentzGeorge of Polentz was bishop of Samland and Pomesania and a lawyer. He was the first Lutheran bishop.Polentz was a member of an old Saxon noble family. He studied law in Bologna and was private secretary to the papal Curia, then stood as a soldier in the service of Emperor Maximilian I...
(:de:Georg von Polenz) (from 1523 first Lutheran Bishop) - Erhard of QueisErhard of QueisErhard of Queis was Bishop of Pomesania. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Reformation in Prussia.- Life :Details of Queis's youth are not available....
(1523–1525) - Paul SperatusPaul SperatusPaul Speratus was a Catholic priest who became a Protestant preacher and song-writer. In 1523, he helped Martin Luther to create the First Lutheran hymnal, published in 1524 and called Achtliederbuch.-Early life:...
(1530–1551) - Georg von Venediger (1567–1574)
- Johannes Wigand (1575–1587)