Diocese of Inflanty
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Inflanty (Livonia) was a territorial division of the Roman Catholic Church established after 1621 in Latgalia during the Inflanty Voivodeship of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
. It was formed after Vidzeme
and present-day Estonia
(the western portion of the predecessor Diocese of Wenden
) were conquered by Swedish
king Gustav II Adolf
. The diocese
was suppressed in 1798 after the third partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
.
The Diocese of Wenden (Cēsis) was established within the territory of the Duchy of Livonia
in 1582 by Polish
king Stephen Báthory
when this region came under the jurisdiction of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Jesuits
accompanied the Polish troops to promote the Counter-Reformation
. Báthory's action of creating a new diocese was formally recognized by Pope Sixtus V
on 1 May 1585. In 1621 it was designated a suffragan
of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gniezno.
The diocesan see was relocated from Wenden in Vidzeme to Dyneburg (Daugavpils
) in Latgalia after the Swedish conquest of Vidzeme. On 19 September 1684 the name of the diocese was formally changed from Wenden to Inflanty by Pope Innocent IX
. From 1685 Catholic parishes in Semigallia (Zemgale) and the Diocese of Pilten
in Courland
were administered by the bishop of Inflanty (Polish Livonia).
The see was again moved to Pilten after the first partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
in 1772. At this time Latgalia became part of the newly created Diocese of Mohilev
in Russia
.
Courland and Semigallia were joined to the Diocese of Vilnius in 1798 when Jan Nepomucen Kossakowski, the last bishop of Inflanty, became bishop of Vilnius.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. It was formed after Vidzeme
Vidzeme
Vidzeme is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. Literally meaning "the Middle Land" it is situated in north-central Latvia north of the Daugava River...
and present-day Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
(the western portion of the predecessor Diocese of Wenden
Cesis
Cēsis , is a town in Latvia located in the northern part of the Central Vidzeme Upland. Cēsis is on the Gauja River valley, and is built on a series of ridges above the river overlooking the woods below...
) were conquered by Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
king Gustav II Adolf
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
. The diocese
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...
was suppressed in 1798 after the third partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Third Partition of Poland
The Third Partition of Poland or Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1795 as the third and last of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Background:...
.
The Diocese of Wenden (Cēsis) was established within the territory of the Duchy of Livonia
Duchy of Livonia
The Duchy of Livonia was a territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania — and later the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth — that existed from 1561 to 1621...
in 1582 by Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
king Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory may refer to several noblemen of Hungarian descent:* Stephen III Báthory , Palatine of Hungary* Stephen V Báthory , judge of the Royal Court and Prince of Transylvania...
when this region came under the jurisdiction of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
accompanied the Polish troops to promote the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
. Báthory's action of creating a new diocese was formally recognized by Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
on 1 May 1585. In 1621 it was designated a suffragan
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gniezno.
The diocesan see was relocated from Wenden in Vidzeme to Dyneburg (Daugavpils
Daugavpils
Daugavpils is a city in southeastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. Daugavpils literally means "Daugava Castle". With a population of over 100,000, it is the second largest city in the country after the capital Riga, which is located some...
) in Latgalia after the Swedish conquest of Vidzeme. On 19 September 1684 the name of the diocese was formally changed from Wenden to Inflanty by Pope Innocent IX
Pope Innocent IX
Pope Innocent IX , born Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti, was Pope from 29 October 1591 to his death on 30 December of the same year...
. From 1685 Catholic parishes in Semigallia (Zemgale) and the Diocese of Pilten
Piltene
-Population:Population : 40,000 -History:*September 1234: Bishopric of Courland established , consisting of three separate enclaves after numerous distributions of the Couronian lands among the Bishops of Courland, and of Riga, and the Teutonic Order.*1290: The cathedral chapter is incorporated...
in Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
were administered by the bishop of Inflanty (Polish Livonia).
The see was again moved to Pilten after the first partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
First Partition of Poland
The First Partition of Poland or First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. Growth in the Russian Empire's power, threatening the Kingdom of Prussia and the...
in 1772. At this time Latgalia became part of the newly created Diocese of Mohilev
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mohilev
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mohilev was a territorial division of the Roman Catholic Church, covering a significant proportion of the territory of the Russian empire....
in Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.
Courland and Semigallia were joined to the Diocese of Vilnius in 1798 when Jan Nepomucen Kossakowski, the last bishop of Inflanty, became bishop of Vilnius.
See also
- Bishops of the Polish–Lithuanian CommonwealthBishops of the Polish–Lithuanian CommonwealthBishops of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were one of the highest ranking officials who could sit in the Senate of Poland. They sat first in the Senate, before the secular officials. Only Roman Catholic bishops sat in the Senate .-Competences:The most important official among the bishops was...
- Józef Kazimierz KossakowskiJózef Kossakowski (bishop)Józef Kazimierz Korwin Kossakowski , of Ślepowron Coat of Arms, was a Polish noble , bishop of Livonia from 1781, political activist, writer, and supporter of Russian Empire....
- Antoni Kazimierz OstrowskiAntoni Kazimierz OstrowskiAntoni Kazimierz Ostrowski was a Polish priest and politician. He was bishop of Inflanty , bishop of Kujawy and archbishop of Gniezno . He was one of the Polish nobles in Russian service and supported their position, including presiding over the Partition Sejm in 1773–1775.- External links :*...