Joachim of Münsterberg-Oels
Encyclopedia
Joachim of Münsterberg was a Duke
of Münsterberg and from 1536 to 1542 also Duke of Oels
. He also held the title of a Count
of Kladsko/Glatz
, though he never ruled Kladsko. From 1545 to 1560 he was Bishop
of Brandenburg.
and Anna of Sagan
, daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
. At the instigation of his father, Joachim was brought up in 1515–1517 by Johann Hess, who at the time held a canonicate in Nysa
.
After the death of their father, Charles I in 1536, the brothers Joachim, Henry II
, John
and George II
initially ruled Münsterberg jointly. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra/Silberberg
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the Lutheran
doctrine.
In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from Münsterberg/Ziębice
and appointed a Lutheran vicar. In the same year, Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg promised Joachim in Bautzen
the bishopric of either Lebus or Brandenburg, when one of these would be available. In return, Joachim and his brothers waived their claims on Krosno Odrzańskie/Crossen an der Oder
.
In 1542, Joachim and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke Frederick II of Legnica
. John continued to rule the Duchy of Oels and Henry II ruled until 1548 part of the Duchy of Bernstadt
.
Against the opposition of the chapter
of the cathedral
, which revolted against the enforcement of the Reformation
, Elector Joachim II, who had converted to Lutheranism
in 1539, appointed - in accordance with his promise made in 1537 - Joachim of Münsterberg, who now openly turned to Lutheranism, as bishop of the diocese of Brandenburg on 6 November 1545. With this appointment, Joachim also received the rank of an imperial prince, and was thus equal in rank to the Margrave of Brandenburg. In 1560 he abdicated the secular rule of the bishopric, in favour of the elector's son, prince John George
. After Elector Joachim's death in 1571, the secular rule of the bishopric was incorporated into the electorate.
|-
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Münsterberg and from 1536 to 1542 also Duke of Oels
Duchy of Oels
The Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica was one of the duchies of Silesia, with the capital in Oleśnica, Poland.Initially part of the Piast Duchy of Wrocław, the Oleśnica area became part of the Duchy of Głogów in 1294, following an armed conflict between Duke Henry III and Henry V the Fat, Duke of...
. He also held the title of a Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of Kladsko/Glatz
County of Kladsko
The County of Kladsko was a historical administrative unit in the Kingdom of Bohemia and later in the Kingdom of Prussia with its capital at Kłodzko on the Nysa river...
, though he never ruled Kladsko. From 1545 to 1560 he was Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Brandenburg.
Life
Joachim was a member of the Münsterberg branch of the Bohemian noble Poděbrady family. His parents were Charles I of Münsterberg-OelsCharles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels was a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was Duke of Münsterberg and Duke of Oels as well as Count of Kladsko...
and Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan was the last surviving member of the Hlohovsko-Zaháňský branch of the Silesian Piasts family, and by marriage duchess of Münsterberg and Oels....
, daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
Jan II the Mad
Jan II the Mad also known as the Bad, the Wild or the Cruel , was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Przewóz , during 1461-1468 and briefly in 1472 Duke of Żagań and during 1476-1488 Duke of half-Głogów .He was the fourth and...
. At the instigation of his father, Joachim was brought up in 1515–1517 by Johann Hess, who at the time held a canonicate in Nysa
Nysa
- People :*Nysa , daughter of Laodice IV and Antiochus, wife of Pharnaces I of Pontus* Nysa of Cappadocia, daughter of Pharnaces I of Pontus and Nysa, wife of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and mother Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia...
.
After the death of their father, Charles I in 1536, the brothers Joachim, Henry II
Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Henry II of Münsterberg-Oels was from 1536 to 1542 Duke of Münsterberg and of Oels and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt...
, John
John, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
John of Münsterberg-Oels was Duke of the Münsterberg from 1542 to 1565, Duke of Oels from 1548 to 1565 and Duke of Bernstadt from 1548 to 1565. He also held the title of Count of Glatz.- Life :Johann Berger family was a member of the Münsterberg branch of the noble Poděbrady family...
and George II
George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
George II of Münsterberg-Oels was a Duke of Münsterberg 1536-1542 and Duke of Oels. He also held the title of a Count of Glatz.- Life :...
initially ruled Münsterberg jointly. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra/Silberberg
Srebrna Góra, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Srebrna Góra is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Stoszowice, within Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the 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...
doctrine.
In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from Münsterberg/Ziębice
Ziebice
Ziębice is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Ziębice. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
and appointed a Lutheran vicar. In the same year, Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg promised Joachim in Bautzen
Bautzen
Bautzen is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and administrative centre of the eponymous district. It is located on the Spree River. As of 2008, its population is 41,161...
the bishopric of either Lebus or Brandenburg, when one of these would be available. In return, Joachim and his brothers waived their claims on Krosno Odrzańskie/Crossen an der Oder
Krosno Odrzanskie
Krosno Odrzańskie is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 12,500 inhabitants is the capital of Krosno County...
.
In 1542, Joachim and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke Frederick II of Legnica
Frederick II of Legnica
Frederick II of Legnica , also known as the Great of Legnica , was a Duke of Legnica from 1488 , of Brzeg from 1521...
. John continued to rule the Duchy of Oels and Henry II ruled until 1548 part of the Duchy of Bernstadt
Duchy of Bernstadt
The Duchy of Bernstadt was a Silesian duchy centred on the city of Bernstadt in Lower Silesia and formed by separation from the Duchy of Oels . It was first ruled by the Silesian Piasts dynasty, until its extinction in 1492. In 1495 it and the Duchy of Oels passed to the Dukes of Münsterberg,...
.
Against the opposition of the 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...
of the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, which revolted against the enforcement of the 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...
, Elector Joachim II, who had converted to Lutheranism
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...
in 1539, appointed - in accordance with his promise made in 1537 - Joachim of Münsterberg, who now openly turned to Lutheranism, as bishop of the diocese of Brandenburg on 6 November 1545. With this appointment, Joachim also received the rank of an imperial prince, and was thus equal in rank to the Margrave of Brandenburg. In 1560 he abdicated the secular rule of the bishopric, in favour of the elector's son, prince John George
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
. After Elector Joachim's death in 1571, the secular rule of the bishopric was incorporated into the electorate.
External links
Footnotes
|-