Philip of Burgundy (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Philip of Burgundy was Admiral of the Netherlands from 1498 to 1517 and bishop
of Utrecht from 1517 to 1524.
Philip was an illegitimate son of Duke Philip the Good, and a half-brother to bishop of Utrecht David of Burgundy
. In 1486 he was knighted and in 1491 he single-handedly killed an opponent. He was at the head of the Burgundian army in the Sticht
and, as such, refused to carry out David's burial as long as the election of a Burgundian-favoured successor had not been arranged. He was appointed admiral in 1498 by Philip I of Castile
and after an expedition to Rome in 1508 he settled in the castle Souburg on Walcheren
.
In a politically motivated move, Philip was appointed bishop of Utrecht by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
to replace Frederick IV of Baden
. When he made his entrance into Utrecht he had not received any kind of ordination; these were given to him in the following days. He led a luxurious life in the episcopal residence, Duurstede Castle
, taking a particular interested in weaponry, women and horses. He was a true renaissance-ruler, and was little concerned with religious matters, which he delegated to his servants. He ignored the rising Lutheranism
.
Philip's politics were not very successful; he left much to his councillors and had trouble keeping himself standing in the midst of the faction-struggles in the bishopric. During his rule the Oversticht was largely lost in a struggle between the empire and guelders. The bishopric maintained only Hasselt
, Steenwijk
and Oldenzaal.
Philips only positive contribution was his patronage of the arts. For years he maintained the painter Jan Gossaert and the humanist Gelderhouwer, and he acted as a protector of Erasmus. He also owned works of Jeroen Bosch.
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 Utrecht from 1517 to 1524.
Philip was an illegitimate son of Duke Philip the Good, and a half-brother to bishop of Utrecht David of Burgundy
David of Burgundy
David of Burgundy was a bishop of Utrecht. The illegitimate son of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, he was made bishop of Utrecht by his father from 1456 to 1496 in an attempt to enforce more centralised Burgundian control over the Netherlands. He also served as bishop of Thérouanne from 1451 to...
. In 1486 he was knighted and in 1491 he single-handedly killed an opponent. He was at the head of the Burgundian army in the Sticht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
and, as such, refused to carry out David's burial as long as the election of a Burgundian-favoured successor had not been arranged. He was appointed admiral in 1498 by Philip I of Castile
Philip I of Castile
Philip I , known as Philip the Handsome or the Fair, was the first Habsburg King of Castile...
and after an expedition to Rome in 1508 he settled in the castle Souburg on Walcheren
Walcheren
thumb|right|250px|Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus...
.
In a politically motivated move, Philip was appointed bishop of Utrecht by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
to replace Frederick IV of Baden
Frederick IV of Baden
Frederik of Baden was a bishop of Utrecht from 1496 to 1517.Frederik of Baden was the son of margrave Charles I of Baden-Baden and Catharine of Habsburg. He was canon at Cologne before he was elected as bishop of Utrecht through heavy pressure from Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor...
. When he made his entrance into Utrecht he had not received any kind of ordination; these were given to him in the following days. He led a luxurious life in the episcopal residence, Duurstede Castle
Duurstede Castle
Castle Duurstede is a medieval castle in Wijk bij Duurstede in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands.-Origin and development:The castle originated in the 13th century. Around 1270, Zweder I van Zuylen van Abcoude built a freestanding keep on a raised and moated site near the lost city Dorestad...
, taking a particular interested in weaponry, women and horses. He was a true renaissance-ruler, and was little concerned with religious matters, which he delegated to his servants. He ignored the rising 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...
.
Philip's politics were not very successful; he left much to his councillors and had trouble keeping himself standing in the midst of the faction-struggles in the bishopric. During his rule the Oversticht was largely lost in a struggle between the empire and guelders. The bishopric maintained only Hasselt
Hasselt (Overijssel)
Hasselt is a city about 7 km north of Zwolle, in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It received city rights in 1252. It became a member of the Hanseatic League around 1350. The city suffered an economic downfall from about 1550 on, as other cities proved to be better situated and equipped for...
, Steenwijk
Steenwijk
Steenwijk is a city in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Steenwijkerland. It is the largest town of the municipality.Steenwijk received city rights in 1327...
and Oldenzaal.
Philips only positive contribution was his patronage of the arts. For years he maintained the painter Jan Gossaert and the humanist Gelderhouwer, and he acted as a protector of Erasmus. He also owned works of Jeroen Bosch.