Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück

Date: About 0783 to 1806
Location: Fürstbistum Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Surname/tag: Heiliges Römisches Reich

Contents 1 The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück 1.1 Sovereign 1.2 Stand representatives 1.2.1 Chapter of the Cathedral of Osnabrück 1.2.2 Osnabrück Nobility 1.2.3 Collegium Civitatensium - Representatives of the Cities 1.3 Administration 1.4 History 1.5 Successor State(s) 2 Y-DNA Project - OSNABRUCK HOCHSTIFT 3 Wikitree "Stuff" 3.1 Location Name Field 3.2 One-Place Studies 3.3 Banners 3.4 Emigration 3.5 Immigration 4 Sources

The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück

The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück was a territory of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation that belonged to the Lower Rhine-Westphalian Imperial Circle. Its territory covered around 2700 square kilometres. The sovereign (Landesherr) was the Bishop of Osnabrück.

Osnabrugensis episcopatus. Auctore Joanne Gigante. 1650.

Charlemagne (abt.0748-0814) had founded the bishopric of Osnabrück around 783, whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction was limited by the rivers Ems and Hunte. From endowments and legal titles, the Osnabrück bishop's see grew into sovereignty in the High Middle Ages so that it came about that this territory did not coincide with the diocesan territory. It essentially comprised the area of the current district (Landkreis) and the city of Osnabrück, as well as an exclave around Wiedenbrück in Westphalia.

Osnabrugensis Episcopatus Nova Delineatio liberali opera. 1772.

Topographic Map of the Bishopric of Osnabrück, 1774.

Sovereign

The sovereign of the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück was the Bishop of Osnabrück. The Prince-Bishopric was a religious state and an elective principality in which the Cathedral Chapter elected the bishops.

Since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, a restriction was imposed that was unique within all of the Holy Roman Empire: after the Principality of Osnabrück was temporarily occupied by troops from the Catholic League, the Protestant Union, as well as Danish and Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War, it was determined according to Article XIII of the Peace of Westphalia and the decisions made at the Nuremberg Exekutionstag in 1650, as stated in the Capitulatio Perpetua Osnabrugensis ("Perpetual Capitulation"), that the sovereignty of the territory would be exercised alternately by a Catholic bishop and a Protestant bishop. Therefore, the cathedral chapter had to alternate between a freely elected Catholic bishop and a Protestant bishop, who could only come from the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

Name	Tenure
Albrecht von Hoya (-1473)	1450–1454
Rudolf von Diepholz (abt 1400-1455)	1454–1455
Konrad von Diepholz (1424-1482)	1455–1482
Konrad von Rietberg (abt 1456-1508)	1482–1508
Erich von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen (1478-1532)	1508–1532
Franz von Waldeck (1491-1553)	1532–1553
Johann von Hoya (1529-1574)	1553–1574
Heinrich von Sachsen-Lauenburg (1550-1585)	1574–1585
Wilhelm von Schencking (1555-1585)	30 Jul - 3 Aug 1585
Bernhard von Waldeck (1561-1591)	1585-1591
Philipp Sigismund von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (1568-1623)	1591–1623
Eitel Friedrich von Hohenzollern (1582 - 1625)	1623–1625
Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg (1593-1661)	1625–1661
Ernst August (Welf) Braunschweig-Lüneburg (1629-1698)	1662–1698
Karl Joseph von Lothringen (1680-1715)	1698–1715
Ernest August Augustus (1674-1728)	1716–1728
Clemens August (von Wittelsbach) Bayern (1700-1761)	1728–1761
Frederick Augustus (Hannover) Duke of York and Albany (1763-1827)	1764–1802

Stand representatives

Since the late Middle Ages, the stands had certain governmental rights. This included, above all, the approval of taxes and the consent and co-supervision in matters of national defense and administration. The stands consisted of:

1. Stand: The Chapter of the Cathedral of Osnabrück, which formed the first stand, known as the "first curia",
2. Stand: Osnabrück's Nobility (Osnabrücker Ritterschaft), and
3. Stand: The cities, Osnabrück, Iburg (now Bad Iburg in modern Germany, where "Schloss Iburg" was the seat of the sovereign), Melle, Vörden, Wiedenbrück, Quakenbrück, and Fürstenau, with the city of Osnabrück being the most influential among them.

The standing representation of the stands was the Landräte (land councillors), who, together with the Land- and Justizkanzlei (administrative and justice chancellery), formed the "Landrat" (regional council).

Since the 16th century, each of the three estates had employed a secretary and a syndic.

Chapter of the Cathedral of Osnabrück

The Chapter of the Cathedral of Osnabrück began as a monastery-like community of clergy at the time of Christianization. The Chapter developed into an important political player who played a significant role in the history of the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, especially during the Reformation.

The most prominent positions within the cathedral chapter were:

• the Cathedral Provost (German: Domprobst), who was responsible for the external representation of the cathedral chapter and the administration of the chapter's assets,
• the Cathedral Dean (German: Domdekan), who had disciplinary powers and was responsible for regulating the church service,
• the Cantor, who was responsible for singing and the organ,
• the Scholaster, as head of the cathedral school,
• the Cathedral Sexton or custos (German: Domküster), who was responsible for the utensils, paraments, reliquaries, the archives and the pastoral care of the cathedral congregation,
• the Cathedral Cellarer, who was responsible for the administration of the goods in kind, who was last mentioned in 1184.

Certain dignities or offices could only be given to "Cathedral Canons" (German: Domherren), which was another way to secure the influence of the chapter across the diocese; these were:

• provosts of the collegiate monasteries of
  • St. Johann in Osnabrück,
  • Wiedenbrück,
  • Drebber,
  • Bramsche/Quakenbrück,
• as well as the four chaplaincies in
  • Wiedenbrück (which was replaced by Schledehausen in 1258),
  • Dissen
  • Melle
  • Bramsche (in 1276 replaced by Laer with a branch in Glandorf.

Cathedral Provosts The cathedral provost was entitled to represent the cathedral chapter externally and to manage the cathedral chapter's assets. The use of the estate Gut Eversburg was reserved for the cathedral provost.^[1] This estate was the most important one among the cathedral chapter estates with an area of 560 acres, which experienced its heyday under Provost Ferdinand Ebbe (Kerssenbrock) von Kerssenbrock zu Brinke (1676-1754).

Provosts of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Osnabrück^[2]

Name	Tenure
Bilo	1037/1052
Wido	1090–1093
Johannes	1096–1101
Walter	1102
Thiethard	1118
Aderich	1142–1146
Alberich	1147–1163
Arnold	1169–1175
Lentfried	1179–1208
Heinrich	1209–1213
Otto	1215–1223
Engelbert von Isenberg	1223–1224
Heinrich von Cappeln	1224–1227
Wilhelm von Holte	1227–1238 (–1241)
Bruno von Isenberg	1242–1251
Balduin von Rüssel	1251–1259
Ludger von Bissendorf	1259–1280
Helmold von Hildesheim	1280–1285
Hugo von Goltern	1286–1306
Hermann zur Lippe	1309
Johann Bar	1309–1316
Bernard von Ravensburg	1316–1346
Balduin von der Horst	1347
Otto Bar	1347–1369
Dietrich von Horne	1370–1377
Ludolf von Horne	1377–1393
Arnold Stecke	1393–1410
Rudolf von Diepholz	1412–1424
Rudolf Westphal	1426
Magnus von Hoya	1432
Konrad von Diepholz	1439–1455
Johann von Raesfeld	1455–1482
Dr. Heinrich Manegolt	1483–1489
Wulbrand von Oberg	1518
Jasper von Nesselrode	1523
Giselbert	1538
Arnd von der Borch	1539
Amelung von Varentorpe	1547–1552
Arnd von der Borch	1552–1559
Jobst von Dinklage	1560–1564
Gisbert Budde	1567–1580
Konrad von Ketteler	1582–1594
Gottschalk von Ledeburg	1594–1600
Nikolaus von Bar	1600–1604
Balduin von Voss	1604–1617
Sixtus von Liaukema	1618–1638
Benedikt von Nehem	1638–1643
Johannes Werner von Leeradt	1644–1676
Adam von Wendt	1676–1694
Franz Arnold Joseph von Wolff-Metternich	1695–1718
Ferdinand Ebbe (Kerssenbrock) von Kerssenbrock zu Brinke (1676-1754)	1719–1754
Wilhelm Antonius Ignatius von der Asseburg	1754–1782
Franz Salesius von und zu Weichs-Roesberg	1783–1803

Osnabrück Nobility

(todo)

Collegium Civitatensium - Representatives of the Cities

The city of Osnabrück sent seven members to the assemblies, including:

• Both mayors of the old town (Altstadt),
• The mayor of the Neustadt (the new town),
• The senior councillor of the city of Osnabrück's magistracy,
• A representative of the employers,
• The first senior representative of the city of Osnabrück's magistracy,
• The second senior representative of the city of Osnabrück's magistracy.

Their syndic and secretary were also allowed to participate in the assemblies. However, Iburg, Melle, and Vörden did not make use of their right to send a representative to the assemblies, as the dominance of Osnabrück was probably too great. Therefore, only Wiedenbrück and Quakenbrück each sent two representatives, and Fürstenau sent one representative, but their delegates often did not attend the assemblies.

Members of the Collegium Civitatensium did not have to fulfil specific requirements, unlike the Second Estate, the nobility. The representatives of Osnabrück already held sufficient proof of their status through their municipal positions. On the other hand, representatives from other cities had to provide evidence that they were elected within their magistracy upon request.

See also...

• Osnabrück - City Mayors

Magistracy of the City of Quakenbrück In Quakenbrück, the magistracy consisted of noble "Burgmänner" and the council of citizens ("Bürgerrat"). The "Burgmänner" were part of the magistracy because they owned a property in the city that had the status of a noble property. There were ten such properties.

The council of citizens ("Bürgerrat") consisted of 6 people:

• The senior councilor ("Ratssenior"), who held the position of the first mayor,
• The sub-senior councilor ("Subsenior"),
• 4 council members ("Ratsverwandte").

"Burgmänner" and council members appointed the city secretary. In important matters, since 1600, a committee called the "Sechszehner" was elected by the citizens. These six members of the "Sechszehner" then chose six citizens who were responsible for electing the magistracy. The citizenship in Quakenbrück was usually elected annually, initially on January 3rd, but from the early 17th century, it was done on the day after Candlemas. Ten days before, the "Burgmänner" were invited to participate in the election. The "Sechszehner" and the city secretary gathered in the town hall on the day of the election, and the "Sechszehner" cast dice among themselves. The four members with the lowest roll were chosen as electors. These four then selected five "Körherren": three from the "Sechszehnerkollegium" and one each from the "St. Annenhalbstadt" and the "St. Antoniushalbstadt." In alternate years, two members were chosen from one half and one from the other half. These five "Körherren" then locked themselves together in the town hall and, by a majority vote, elected the six magistrates. The names of the chosen individuals were written on a piece of paper and presented to the "Burgmänner" after the city servant unlocked the town hall upon the call of the "Körherren." The elected council members were then summoned and, if there were any newly elected, sworn in immediately.

Magistracy of the City of Fürstenau The magistracy in Fürstenau consisted of two mayors, two council members, a "Gemeinsmann," and a city secretary. The "Gemeinsmann" supervised the common lands of the citizens. The magistracy was elected annually on the Feast of the Epiphany (Three Kings' Day) by a committee of the citizens.

Magistracy of the City of Melle In Melle, the magistracy was initially called "Bürgermeister," "Schöffen," and "Rat" according to a privilege granted by Bishop Heinrich von Holstein in 1443. In a decree issued by Ernst August I on 28 November 1694, the number of magistracy members was reduced, and the magistracy thereafter consisted of one mayor, one judge, and two council members, with the oldest council member also serving as a representative of the employers. The sitting judges and council members were allowed to continue in their positions until their death. The same decree also regulated the election process: After the death of the magistrates, leaving only three remaining, the citizens were to choose six individuals from the community. These six, in turn, were to select six other citizens. These twelve would then choose one person to fill the magistrate position, subject to the approval of the official in the Grönenberg office. The judge also had to take care of the duties of the city secretary.

Magistracy of the City of Iburg Iburg had two mayors and four council members, as well as a local judge ("Fleckenrichter"). According to an ordinance by Bishop Franz Wilhelm on 13 December 1657, the election of the magistracy was to take place annually on the Feast of St. John the Baptist ("Johannis") in the same manner as later introduced in Melle. Six individuals chosen by the existing mayors would select the six citizens responsible for electing the magistracy. Citizenship in Iburg was dependent on affiliation with the Catholic Church, as determined by Franz Wilhelm.

Magistracy of the City of Vörden Vörden based its urban rights on a privilege granted by Bishop Dietrich in 1387. Especially in terms of jurisdiction, these rights were significant. The privilege, like those for Quakenbrück and Fürstenau, referred several times to the city law of Osnabrück. The magistracy consisted of two mayors, two officers ("Befehlshaber," later called assessors), and four council members. Vörden also had a judge. The council election took place annually on "Handgiftentag," January 2nd. The outgoing magistrates would select four members from their own ranks, and four more would be chosen from the community. These eight people would then elect the eight council members and four more community representatives.

Administration

• Land and Justice Chancellery ( Land- and Justizkanzlei): In the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, administrative authorities developed since the 16th century. The first and initially sole central authority was the so-called chancellery (also known as the government), which served as both a governmental and judicial institution. The earliest government ordinance dates back to February 15, 1585. Alongside and above the chancellery, a closer council of the Prince-Bishop emerged in the 17th century, which dealt with important government affairs and managed the chamber administration. Since the 1660s, this council was institutionalized as the Secret Council (Geheimer Rat). As a result, the old chancellery became the Land and Justice Chancellery.
• The Secret Council (Geheimer Rat): Since the Secret Council was always tied to the person of the Prince-Bishop due to the alternation between Catholic and Protestant bishops and subject to constant changes, the Land and Justice Chancellery was established as a permanent state authority independent of the change of sovereign.
• Special Central Authorities: In addition to the Secret Council and the Land and Justice Chancellery, there was an Protestant Consistory since 1651, as well as other central special authorities such as the Oberaufseheramt (established in 1728) and the Hofmarschallamt (institutionalized in 1783), both of which were exclusively Brunswick-Lüneburg offices. The Oberaufseheramt had supervisory authority over the Welf Allodial property in the Principality of Osnabrück, while the Hofmarschallamt had oversight over the Castle and Petersburg in Osnabrück, as well as the princely court.
• Districts or Offices (Ämter): At the lower level, administration and jurisdiction were separate. Administration was carried out by the Ämter (districts). In addition to performing sovereign and policing tasks, the administrative activities of the districts primarily involved collecting the sovereign's revenues and managing the demesne properties. Regarding jurisdiction, the office held the so-called Brüchtengerichte (lower courts) and police courts for minor offenses. Each district was led by a Drost, while the execution of tasks was carried out by the Rentmeister. They were subordinate to the Vogt, who also served as the executive body of the courts.

History

(to do)

Successor State(s)

With the end of the spiritual principality of Osnabrück at the end of 1802, the administration worked under Prussian, Westphalian, and French rule in the years to come until 1814:

The Congress of Vienna assigned Osnabrück to the Kingdom of Hanover. As the Hanoverian government considered the decrees and changes made during the Westphalian and French times as invalid, the conditions from 1803 theoretically returned in 1814. Thus, the former first estate, the cathedral chapter, was replaced by the nobility. The urban estate was formed by Osnabrück, Fürstenau, Quakenbrück, and Melle. During the Prussian period, Bramsche was later added to the urban estate.

Y-DNA Project - OSNABRUCK HOCHSTIFT

For those of you having a patrilineal ancestor born in the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, there is a dedicated Y-DNA Project that you are invited to join. The objective of this Y-DNA project is to

• substantiate genealogic findings with Y-DNA evidence,
• help Y-DNA descendants of inhabitants of the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück to collaborate,
• advance the understanding of migration into and out of the Prince-Bishopric.

The Y-DNA project is called "Osnabruck-Hochstift" at FamilyTreeDNA, see the following link:

• https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/osnabruck-hochstift/about

Wikitree "Stuff"

Location Name Field

The following table is still incomplete and should be extended with all villages in the Prince-Bishopric to show what should be put into the Location field at Wikitree for events (births, marriages, deaths) that occurred before 29 October 1802.^[3]

Place
Place	Parish/Bailiwick	Amt	Full text for location field
Eversburg	Osnabrück (Dom)	Iburg	Eversburg, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Gartlage	Osnabrück (Dom)	Iburg	Gartlage, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Haste	Osnabrück (Dom)	Iburg	Haste, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Schinkel	Osnabrück (Dom)	Iburg	Schinkel, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Ankum	Ankum	Fürstenau	Ankum, Fürstenau, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Rüssel	Ankum	Fürstenau	Rüssel, Ankum, Fürstenau, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Menslage	Menslage	Fürstenau	Menslage, Fürstenau, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Achmer	Bramsche	Vörden	Achmer, Bramsche, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Balkum	Bramsche	Vörden	Balkum, Bramsche, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Bramsche	Bramsche	Vörden	Bramsche, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Engter	Bramsche	Vörden	Engter, Bramsche, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Pente	Bramsche	Vörden	Pente, Bramsche, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Schleptrup	Bramsche	Vörden	Engter, Bramsche, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Bühren	Malgarten	Vörden	Bühren, Malgarten, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Eckelort	Malgarten	Vörden	Eckelort, Malgarten, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Epe	Malgarten	Vörden	Epe, Malgarten, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Knäppen	Malgarten	Vörden	Knäppen, Malgarten, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Malgarten	Malgarten	Vörden	Malgarten, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Wittefeld	Malgarten	Vörden	Wittefeld, Malgarten, Vörden, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Barlage	Wallenhorst	Iburg	Barlage, Hollage, Wallenhorst, Iburg, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Hollage	Wallenhorst	Iburg	Hollage, Wallenhorst, Iburg, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Fiestel	Wallenhorst	Iburg	Fiestel, Hollage, Wallenhorst, Iburg, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Lechtingen	Wallenhorst	Iburg	Lechtingen, Wallenhorst, Iburg, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Pye	Wallenhorst	Iburg	Pye, Wallenhorst, Iburg, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich
Wallenhorst	Wallenhorst	Iburg	Wallenhorst, Iburg, Osnabrück, Heiliges Römisches Reich

One-Place Studies

A few One Place Studies cover certain locations that were located in the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück. They might cover longer periods or only a subsegment within the existence of the Prince-Bishopric of OsnabrücK:

• Wallenhorst, Niedersachsen One Place Study
• Gut Eversburg, Niedersachsen One Place Study

Banners

Banner options for the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück

Banner	Code	Result
Born	{{Nonmigrating Ancestor |addinfo= NAME was born in the [[Space:Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück|Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück]] |flag=Furstbistum_Osnabruck.png |tooltip=Coat of Arms Fürstbistum Osnabrück}}	NAME was born in the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück
Sovereign	{{Nonmigrating Ancestor |addinfo=NAME was Sovereign of the [[Space:Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück|Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück]] |flag=Furstbistum_Osnabruck.png |tooltip=Coat of Arms Fürstbistum Osnabrück}}	NAME was Sovereign of the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück
Member of Collegium Civitatensium	{{Nonmigrating Ancestor |addinfo= NAME was a member of the Collegium Civitatensium in the [[Space:Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück|Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück]] |flag=Furstbistum_Osnabruck.png |tooltip=Coat of Arms Fürstbistum Osnabrück}}	NAME was a member of the Collegium Civitatensium in the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück
Migrant to the US	Travelled 3 Dec 1775 - 14 Jun 1777: {{Migrating Ancestor |origin= Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück|destination= United States of America|origin-flag=Furstbistum_Osnabruck.png|destination-flag= US_Flags.png }}	... ... ... migrated from Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück to United States of America.
	Travelled 14 Jun 1777- 1 May 1795: {{Migrating Ancestor |origin= Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück|destination= United States of America|origin-flag=Furstbistum_Osnabruck.png|destination-flag= US_Flags-1.png }}	... ... ... migrated from Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück to United States of America.
	Travelled 1 May 1795 - 1802 {{Migrating Ancestor |origin= Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück|destination= United States of America|origin-flag=Furstbistum_Osnabruck.png|destination-flag= US_Flags-3.png }}	... ... ... migrated from Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück to United States of America.

Emigration

While a large wave of emigrants left the region of Osnabrück only much later in the 1830-1870s, there was also emigration from the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, before it seized to exist as a separate state in 1802. In WikiTree, these emigrant profiles can be browsed by using the following category

• Category: Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, Emigrants.

It is recommended that you add this category also to other profiles of emigrants from the Prince-Bishopric.

Immigration

There was also immigration to the Prince-Bishopric, however, only a few profiles are currently available on WikiTree. The immigration category structure is below:

• Category: Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück, Immigrants.

It is recommended that you add this category also to other profiles of immigrants to the Prince-Bishopric.

Sources

1. ↑ vom Bruch, Rudolf: Die Rittersitze des Fürstentums Osnabrück, Verlag der Buchhandlung H. Th. Wenner, Osnabrück, 2004, page 70ff.
2. ↑ Hermann Stieglitz: Handbuch des Bistums Osnabrück, Bischöfliches Generalvikariat Osnabrück (Hrsg.), Verlag Dombücherstube Osnabrück, Osnabrück, 1991, 2. völlig neubearbeitete Auflage, ISBN 3925164103, page 32.
3. ↑ German Wikipedia: Hochstift Osnabrück.

• Wikpedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince-Bishopric_of_Osnabr%C3%BCck Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück
• GenWiki: Portal Fürstbistum Osnabrück (in German)