Ferdinand (Bayern) von Bayern (1577 - 1650)

Born 6 Oct 1577 in München, Bayern, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Died 13 Sep 1650 at age 72 in Arnsberg, Westfalen, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Biography

Ferdinand (Bayern) von Bayern is Notable.

Ferdinand von Bayern was born on 6 October 1577 in Munich. He died on 13 September 1650 in Arnsberg, Westphalia, and served as the Elector and Archbishop of Cologne from 1612 to 1650. He ruled over the Vest Recklinghausen and was the Duke of Westphalia. Ferdinand also held the titles of Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim, Liège, Münster, and Paderborn. A prominent figure in the Counter-Reformation, he was a significant proponent of witch trials in Northwestern Germany.^[1]

Early Life

Born to Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria and Renata of Lorraine, Ferdinand was designated for a clerical career early on. Educated at the Jesuit gymnasium in Ingolstadt, his Counter-Reformation stance was deeply influenced by Jesuit teachings. He held multiple canonries from a young age, including in Mainz, Trier, Salzburg, Würzburg, Passau, Strasbourg, and Cologne, facilitating his path to bishoprics, following Wittelsbach's house politics.^[2]

Career

Ferdinand succeeded his uncle, Ernst of Bavaria, as Archbishop of Cologne, implementing strict Counter-Reformation measures and supporting witch hunts, notably in Westphalia. Despite being a significant ecclesiastical figure, he never received priestly or episcopal ordination, maintaining eligibility for secular rulership should his brother, Maximilian, die without heirs.^[3]

His tenure saw the foundation of the Kölner Kirchenrat, the issuance of a religious ordinance restricting public offices to Catholics, and the promotion of new religious orders and clerical education.^[4]

Patron of the Arts

Ferdinand was a patron of the arts, utilizing it to serve the church. Notably, he commissioned valuable reliquaries and constructed churches, including St. Mariä Himmelfahrt in Cologne.

Political and Military Influence

In secular politics, Ferdinand worked to reform the finances and administration of his territories, aligning closely with his brother Maximilian's policies, especially during the Thirty Years' War.^[5] His territories served as battlegrounds, with Ferdinand attempting to navigate these tumultuous times with varying degrees of success.

Witch Hunts

Ferdinand was instrumental in intensifying witch trials within his jurisdictions, particularly in Westphalia, leading to numerous executions under his governance.^[6]

Death and Legacy

He died in 1650 in Arnsberg and was buried in Cologne Cathedral. His policies and actions, especially in religious and witch trial matters, left a lasting impact on his territories.

Sources

1. ↑ Ronny Baier: Ferdinand von Bayern (1577–1650). In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL).
2. ↑ Leonhard Ennen : Ferdinand, Erzbischof und Kurfürst von Köln, in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, herausgegeben von der Historischen Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Band 6 (1877), S. 691–697, Digitale Volltext-Ausgabe in Wikisource, URL: https://de.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=ADB:Ferdinand_(Erzbischof_von_K%C3%B6ln)&oldid=- (Version vom 1. April 2024, 01:44 Uhr UTC)
3. ↑ Franzen, August, "Ferdinand, Herzog von Bayern" in: Neue Deutsche Biographie 5 (1961), S. 90 [Online-Version]; URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd118532537.html#ndbcontent
4. ↑ Richard Faber (Hrsg.): Katholizismus in Geschichte und Gegenwart, Würzburg 2005.
5. ↑ Cicely Veronica Wedgwood: Der 30jährige Krieg. Cormoran Verlag, München 1999.
6. ↑ Rainer Decker: Die Hexen-Verfolgungen im Herzogtum Westfalen. In: Alfred Bruns: Hexen-Gerichtsbarkeit im kurkölnischen Sauerland.

Wikidata: Item Q63249, de:Wikipedia