History Archbishopric of Bremen

1 history

1.1 archdiocese before statehood
1.2 bremen s diocesan territory , suffragans
1.3 prince-archbishopric of bremen after 1180 territory of imperial immediacy

1.3.1 gaining grounds prince-archbishopric of imperial immediacy
1.3.2 constitution , politics within prince-archbishopric
1.3.3 decline of prince-archbishopric s independence
1.3.4 era of lutheran administrators of prince-archbishopric
1.3.5 prince-archbishopric during thirty-years war (1618-1648)


1.4 further history of prince-archbishopric after 1648

1.4.1 reorganisation of roman catholic church in former territory of archdiocese , prince-archbishopric of bremen

history

in different historical struggles expansion of territory or privileges , concerned , disfavoured entity’s defence against such annexation or usurpation, plenty of documents have been forged or counterfeited or backdated, in order corroborate one’s arguments. these forgeries have drawn veil before history of [archbishopric of] hamburg-bremen.

the archdiocese before statehood

the foundation of diocese belongs period of missionary activity of willehad on lower weser. erected 15 july, 787, @ worms, on charlemagne s initiative, jurisdiction being assigned cover saxon territory on both sides of weser mouth of aller, northwards elbe , westwards hunte, , frisian territory distance mouth of weser.

willehad fixed headquarters @ bremen, though formal constitution of diocese took place after subjugation of saxons in 804 or 805, when willehad s disciple, willerich, consecrated bishop of bremen, same territory. diocese conceivably @ time suffragan of archbishops of cologne, @ least how later corroborated claim supremacy on bremian see. when, after death of bishop leuderich (838–45), see given ansgar, lost independence, , time on permanently united archdiocese of hamburg.

the new combined see regarded headquarters missionary work in nordic countries, , new sees erected suffragans, meaning subject jurisdiction. ansgar s successor, rimbert, second apostle of north, troubled onslaughts first normans , wends, , cologne s renewed claims supremacy.

at archbishop adalgar s (888–909) instigation pope sergius iii confirmed amalgamation of diocese of bremen archdiocese of hamburg form archdiocese of hamburg , bremen, colloquially called hamburg-bremen, , doing denied cologne s claim metropolia on bremen. sergius prohibited chapter @ hamburg s concathedral found suffragan dioceses of own.

after obodrite destruction of hamburg in 983 hamburg chapter dispersed. archbishop unwan appointed new chapter twelve canons, 3 each taken bremen cathedral chapter, , 3 colleges of bücken, harsefeld , ramelsloh. in 1139 archbishop adalbero had fled invasion of count rudolph ii of stade , count palatine frederick ii of saxony, destroyed bremen, , established in hamburg appointing new capitular canons there 1140.

bremen s diocesan territory , suffragans

hamburg-bremen s diocesan territory covered today’s following territories: bremian cities of bremen , bremerhaven, free , hanseatic city of hamburg (north of elbe), lower saxon counties of aurich (northerly), cuxhaven, diepholz (northerly), frisia, nienburg (westerly), oldenburg in oldenburg (easterly), osterholz, rotenburg upon wümme (northerly), stade (except of eastern tract of land), wesermarsch, wittmund, lower saxon urban counties delmenhorst , wilhelmshaven, schleswig-holsteinian counties of ditmarsh, pinneberg, rendsburg-eckernförde (southerly), segeberg (easterly), steinburg, stormarn (easterly) schleswig-holsteinian urban counties of kiel , neumünster.

the bremian ecclesiastical province (dark grey) remaining 3 suffragans around 1500, after disentangling bremen s scandinavian suffragan dioceses, neighbouring provinces in central europe.

the see of hamburg-bremen attained greatest prosperity , later had deepest troubles under archbishop adalbert of hamburg (1043–1072). after hamburg-bremen s upgrade rank of patriarchate of north , failed completely. hamburg stopped being used part of diocese’s name. next 2 archbishops, liemar , humbert, determined opponents of pope gregory vii.

under latter in 1104 bremen s suffragan diocese of lund (dk) elevated archdiocese supervising of bremen s other nordic former suffragan sees, wit Århus (dk), faroe islands (fo), gardar (greenland), linköping (s), odense (dk), orkney (uk), oslo (n), ribe (dk), roskilde (dk), schleswig (d), selje (n), skálholt (is), skara (s), strängnäs (s), trondheim (n), uppsala (s), viborg (dk), vestervig (dk), västerås (s) , växjö (s).

bremen s remaining suffragan sees @ time existing name, since insurgent wends had destroyed so-called wendish dioceses of oldenburg-lübeck, ratzeburg , schwerin , reestablished later. @ stripping of duchy of saxony (7th century - 1180) in 1180 of these suffragan bishops achieved parts of diocesan territories status of imperially immediate prince-bishoprics. bishopric of livonia (first @ uexküll riga) suffragan of bremen in years 1186-1255.

the prince-archbishopric of bremen after 1180 territory of imperial immediacy
gaining grounds prince-archbishopric of imperial immediacy

holy roman emperor frederick barbarossa , allies, many of them vassals , former supporters of paternal cousin duke henry iii, lion, had defeated duke of saxony , bavaria. in 1180 frederick barbarossa stripped henry lion of duchies. in 1182 , wife matilda plantagenêt, daughter of henry ii of england , eleanor of aquitaine , sister of richard lionheart left stade go exile holy roman empire in order stay henry ii of england.

frederick barbarossa partitioned saxony in dozens of territories of imperial immediate status allotting each territory 1 of allies had conquered them before henry lion , remaining supporters. in 1168 saxon clan of ascanians, allies of frederick barbarossa, had failed install family member count siegfried of anhalt, on see of bremen.

but in 1180 ascanians prevailed twofoldly. chief of house of ascania, margrave otto of brandenburg, son of albert bear, maternal cousin of henry lion, provided sixth brother bernhard, count of anhalt, on bernhard iii, duke of saxony, later on so-called younger duchy of saxony (1180 - 1296), radically belittled territory consisting of 3 unconnected territories along river elbe, north west south east, (1) hadeln around otterndorf, (2) around lauenburg upon elbe , (3) around wittenberg upon elbe. except of title, duke of saxony, angria , westphalia, younger duchy of saxony granted rulers, after dynastic partition in 1296, territory, consisting of territorial fringes of old duchy of saxony, had little in common latter. in 1260, effect 1296 on, rulers split younger duchy duchies of saxe-wittenberg (german: herzogtum sachsen-wittenberg) , saxe-lauenburg (german: herzogtum sachsen-lauenburg), latter holding unconnected 2 northern territories, belonging both archdiocese of bremen.

otto , bernhard helped second brother siegfried, since 1168 had called himself bishop elect of bremen, gain see of bremen, part of diocesan territory being upgraded form prince-archbishopric of bremen (german: erzstift bremen). prince-archbishopric of bremen became 1 of successor states of old duchy of saxony, holding small part of former territory.

in 1186 frederick barbarossa recognised city of bremen political body gelnhausen privilege. consent of prince-archbishop hartwig ii, of uthlede emperor declared city governed burghers , emperor, prince-archbishop waiving say. city of bremen regarded , still regards privilege constitutive status free imperial city of imperial immediacy.

through history respective rulers of prince-archbishopric , successor state bremen-verden denied city s status. , city , did not cling claim of imperial immediacy, made city s status ambiguous. through of history city participated in prince-archbisopric s diets part of estates (see below) , paid share in taxes, @ least when had consented levying before. since city major taxpayer, consent searched for. city wielded fiscal , political power within prince-archbishopric, while city rather not allow prince-archbishop or representatives rule in city against consent.

after bremen cathedral chapter, overlooking 3 enfranchised hamburg capitulars, had elected valdemar of denmark, deposed bishop of schleswig, archbishop in 1207, bremen s cathedral dean burchard of stumpenhusen, had opposed election, fled hamburg, under danish influence. king valdemar ii of denmark, in enmity father s cousin archbishop valdemar, gained hamburg chapter elect burchard anti-archbishop in 1208. lacking papal support, king valdemar ii himself invested him archbishop burchard i, however, accepted in north elbia.

in 1219 bremen chapter again ignored hamburg capitulars, fearing danish partisanship , elected gebhard of lippe archbishop. in 1223 archbishop gebhard reconciled hamburg chapter , confirmed 3 of capitulars enfranchised elect bremen chapter, wit provost, presiding chapter, dean (domdechant) , scholaster, in charge of education @ cathedral school. pope honorius iii confirmed settlement in 1224, affirming continued existence of both chapters.

the fortified city of bremen held own guards, not allowing prince-archiepiscopal soldiers enter it. city reserved narrow gate, so-called bishop s needle (latin: acus episcopi, first mentioned in 1274), clergy including prince-archbishop. narrowness of gate made technically impossible come accompanied knights. therefore, prince-archbishops rather preferred reside outside of city, first in bücken , later in vörde castle, became principal fortress of prince-archbishop gerhard ii, edelherr zur lippe in 1219.

the chapters of bremen cathedral (see below) , part of administration located within city boundary in district of immunity , extraterritorial status (german: domfreiheit, literally: cathedral liberty) around cathedral of st. peter, city council refrain interfere. hamburg concathedral chapterhouse , capitular residential courts formed cathedral immunity district of prince-archbishopric of bremen too.

the coat of arms of bremian municipality hagen im bremischen shows in middle coat of arms of prince-archbishopric of bremen.

the key, epithet symbol of saint simon petrus, has become symbol of city of bremen (see coat of arms of bremen), prince-archbishopric of bremen (two criss-crossed argent (silver) keys on gules (red) background, see in left part of bremen-verden s seal) , of bremian city of stade.

the territory of prince-archbishopric of bremen consisted of number of sub-entities. thing had in common was, prior archbishops or capitulars or chapter collective obtained secular power in them way of purchase, application of force, usurpation, commendation, pledge, donation etc. prior archiepiscopal authorities didn t have succeeded in of sub-entities gain power, judicial, patrimonial, parochial, fiscal, feudal or else what. everywhere rule shared 1 or more competing bearers of authority, e.g. aristocrats, outside ecclesiastical dignitaries, autonomous corporations of free peasants (german: landsgemeinden) or chartered towns , like. therefore, archiepiscopal authority used refer each sub-entity different terms county, parish, shire, bailiwick or patrimonial district, each according particular power, archiepiscopal authority had achieved in them.

the prince-archbishopric of bremen s former territory consists of today s following lower saxon counties (error: {{lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) of cuxhaven (southerly), osterholz, rotenburg upon wümme , stade of bremian exclave of city of bremerhaven , 1145-1526 today s schleswig-holsteinian county of ditmarsh. city of bremen legally part of bishopric until 1646, de facto ruled burghers , didn t tolerate prince-archbishop s residence within walls more since 1313. therefore, prince-archbishop moved vörde (german pronunciation: [ˈføːɐdə]). verden s former prince-bishopric s territory represented eastern part of modern county of verden , southern part of today s county of rotenburg, both in lower saxony.

constitution , politics within prince-archbishopric

in relation interior archiepiscopal authority, consisting of prince-archbishop , cathedral chapter, had find ways interact other bearers of authority. these gradually transforming bishopric s estates (german: stiftsstände), prevailingly advisory body, decision-taking in fiscal , tax matters. bishopric s estates again no means homogenous , therefore quarreled consisted of hereditary aristocracy, service gentry, non-capitular clergy, free peasants , burghers of chartered towns. modus vivendi of interplay of estates , archiepiscopal authority, being in divided prince-archbishop , chapter, became quasi constitution of prince-archbishopric. however, interplay not determined fixed standards of behaviour. while consecutive archbishops worked on discarding bishopric s estates political landscape, latter fought enforcement of modus vivendi become real constitution. chapter swung between increasing influence fighting estates jointly prince-archbishop , repelling absolutist intentions making common cause estates. parties made use of means bluffing, threat, obstructionism, corruption, horse-trading , violence.

in 1542/1547 - 1549 chapter , estates managed dismiss autocratic , prodigal prince-archbishop christopher spendthrift, duke of brunswick , lunenburg-wolfenbüttel. chapter used power elect old candidates, minimise time ruler can harmful, or elect minors, hoped dress , tame in time. once in while chapter took time , protracted elections years, being ruler time of sede vacante. during dismissal of prince-archbishop christopher spendthrift chapter ruled estates had gained @ time substantial power.

in relation outside prince-archbishopric of bremen had status of imperial estate (error: {{lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) vote in diet (german: reichstag) of holy roman empire. prerequisite being imperial estate imperial immediacy (error: {{lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) of rulers or ruling bodies, meaning had no other authority above them except of holy roman emperor himself. furthermore, such rulers or ruling bodies (such chapters or city councils) possessed several important rights , privileges, including degree of autonomy in rule of territories.

in pastoral , religious capacity roman catholic cleric archbishops led archdiocese hierarchical superior of roman catholic clergy, including suffragan bishops of oldenburg-lübeck, ratzeburg , schwerin.

decline of prince-archbishopric s independence

the prince-archbishopric suffered military supremacy of neighbouring powers. having no dynasty, prince-archbishops of different descent, prince-archbishopric became pawn in hands of powerful. establishment of constitution, bind conflicting estates, failed.

schisms in church , state marked next 2 centuries, , in spite of labours of windesheim , bursfelde congregations, way prepared reformation, made rapid headway, partly because last roman catholic prince-archbishop, christopher spendthrift, in permanent conflict chapter , estates. being simultaneously prince-bishop of verden, preferred reside in city of verden.

by time died (1558), in prince-archbishopric nothing left of old denomination apart few monasteries – such harsefeld, himmelpforten, lilienthal, neuenwalde, osterholz zeven under jurisdiction of bremian archdiocese , altkloster (nds) neukloster under jurisdiction of verden s see – , districts served them. while between 1523 , 1551 cities of bremen , stade had dissolved urban monasteries, except of st mary s in stade, transformed until 1568 lutheran convent, , conveyed buildings uses schools, hospitals, alms houses , senior homes.

the era of lutheran administrators of prince-archbishopric

the constitution of holy roman empire provided, emperor may enfeoff prince-bishop elect regalia, if pope have confirmed election respective see. in default thereof emperor grant liege indult (german: lehnsindult), restricted years only, , notwithstanding enfeoff prince-bishop elect regalia of restricted legitimacy effect elect rule princely power within prince-bishopric, bearing title of administrator, banned participating in diets. lacking papal confirmation , imperial liege indult bring prince-bishop elect precarious situation dismissed emperor or of vassals powerful enough , keen so.

once inhabitants of prince-archbishopric had adopted lutheranism , partially calvinism, did city of bremen , territories under influence downstream weser , in district of bederkesa, capitulars, recruited burghers of city of bremen , rural noble families, turned out calvinists , lutherans. capitulars preferred elect protestant candidates. bremian prince-archbishop elects gain imperial liege indult.

many princely houses, such house of guelf (brunswick , lunenburg-wolfenbüttel), house of nikloting (mecklenburg-schwerin), house of wettin (electorate of saxony), , house of ascania (saxe-lauenburg) applied see. before electing new prince-archbishop chapter took time, ruling prince-archbishopric in accordance estates (1566–1568), , considered opportunities.

in 1524 prince-archbishopric had subjected autonomous farmers republic of land of wursten, wursteners still hoped liberation , support neighbouring saxe-lauenburgian exclave of land of hadeln. on 17 february 1567 chapter elected duke henry iii of saxe-lauenburg (*1550-1585*, ruled 1568 on) prince-archbishop. in return father francis waived saxe-lauenburgian claim land of wursten district of bederkesa , abandoned lawsuit, had brought imperial chamber court end.

in election capitulations henry iii covenanted accept privileges of estates , existing laws. due minority agreed, chapter , estates rule prince-archbishopric. in time should work towards papal confirmation. de facto ascended see in 1568, gained imperial liege indult in 1570, while de jure still represented chapter until 1580, in order not complicate papal confirmation, never materialised.

while maximilian ii regarded henry iii true catholic, pope sixtus v remained skeptic. henry iii raised lutheran, educated catholic , served before election catholic canon of cathedral in cologne. schism wasn t definite, looks in retrospect. holy see still hoped reformation merely temporary phenomenon, while protagonists still expected roman church reform, there no schism.

so sixtus v tested henry iii once in while, demanding succession of catholic candidates vacancies in bremian chapter - accepted, denied -, while henry succeeded elected chapters of prince-bishoprics of osnabrück (1574–1585) , paderborn (1577–1585), without ever gaining papal confirmation. in 1575 henry iii , anna von broich (borch) married in hagen im bremischen.

as interior henry iii still had repay debts pre-predecessor christopher spendthrift. in 1580 henry introduced lutheran church constitution prince-archbishopric. henry iii not exercise pastoral functions of roman catholic bishop more. in 1584 holy see founded roman catholic nordic missions, endeavour pastoral care , mission in area of de facto ceased archdioceses of bremen , of lund. in 1622 nordic missions subordinated congregatio de propaganda fide in rome. holy see conveyed nuncio cologne, pietro francesco montoro, task after nordic missions in - among others - prince-archbishopric of bremen , prince-bishopric of verden. in 1667 holy see further institutionalised nordic missions establishing vicariate apostolic of nordic missions.

on 22 april 1585 henry iii died in residence in beverstedtermühlen after riding accident. after henry s death, duke adolf of schleswig-holstein-gottorp wielded influence @ bremian chapter elect son john adolphus of schleswig-holstein @ gottorp (*1575-1616*) see. end, adolf paid 20,000 rixdollars , promised work towards restitution of ditmarsh prince-archbishopric.

in 1585 john adolf covenanted @ election in obligatory election capitulations, accept privileges of chapter existing laws , work - @ own expense - towards gaining either papal confirmation or - in default thereof - imperial liege indult. 1585 1589 chapter , estates ruled prince-archbishopsric in custodianship minor john adolf.

the prince-archbishopric during thirty-years war (1618-1648)

at beginning of thirty years war prince-archbishopric maintained neutrality, did of territories in lower saxon circle. after 1613 king christian iv of denmark , norway, being in personal union duke of holstein within holy roman empire, turned attention gain grounds acquiring prince-bishoprics of bremen, verden, minden , halberstadt.

he skillfully took advantage of alarm of german protestants after battle of white mountain in 1620, stipulate bremen s chapter , administrator john frederick, duke of schleswig-holstein-gottorp, cousin of second degree, grant coadjutorship of see of bremen son frederick, later crown prince of denmark (september 1621). coadjutorship included succession of see. similar arrangement reached in november prince-bishopric of verden chapter , administrator philip sigismund. in 1623 christian s son succeeded late philip sigismund frederick ii, administrator of prince-bishopric of verden, flee troops of catholic league under count johan t serclaes of tilly in 1626.

in november 1619 christian iv of denmark, duke of holstein stationed danish troops in bremian city of stade, officially on behalf of son provided administrator successor, suppressing unrest of burghers.

in 1620 christian, younger, titular duke of brunswick , lunenburg-wolfenbüttel, lutheran administrator of prince-bishopric halberstadt requested lutheran prince-archbishopric of bremen join war coalition of protestant union. administrator , estates of prince-archbishopric met in diet , declared territory loyalty ferdinand ii, holy roman emperor, , neutrality in conflict.

with danish troops within territory , christian younger s request administrator john frederick tried desperately keep prince-archbishopric out of war, being in complete agreement estates , city of bremen. when in 1623 republic of 7 united netherlands, fighting in eighty years war independence against habsburg s spanish , imperial forces, requested calvinist co-religionist of city of bremen join, city refused, started enforce fortifications.

in 1623 territories comprising lower saxon circle decided recruit army in order maintain armed neutrality, troops of catholic league operating in neighboured lower rhenish-westphalian circle , dangerously approaching region. concomitant effects of war, debasements , dearness, had caused inflation in region. population suffered billeting , alimenting baden-durlachian, danish, halberstadtian, leaguist, , palatine troops, marching through prince-archbishopric had tolerate in order prevent entering armed conflict.

in 1623 republic of 7 united netherlands, diplomatically supported james i, king of england , of ireland , james iv king of scotland, brother-in-law of christian iv of denmark, started new anti-habsburg campaign. troops of catholic league bound , prince-archbishopric seemed relieved. after imperial troops under albrecht von wallenstein headed north in attempt destroy fading hanseatic league, in order subject hanseatic cities of bremen, hamburg , lübeck , establish baltic trade monopoly, run imperial favourites including spaniards , poles. idea win sweden s , denmark s support, both of since long after destruction of hanseatic league.

in may 1625 christian iv of denmark, duke of holstein elected – in latter of functions – lower saxon circle s member territories commander-in-chief of lower saxon troops. more troops recruited , billeted , alimented in lower saxon territories, including prince-archbishopric. in same year christian iv joined anglo-dutch war coalition. in 1625 tilly warned prince-archbishop john frederick further accept stationing of danish troops , ferdinand ii, holy roman emperor, demanded immediate end of , verden s alliance denmark, verden being ruled christian s son frederick, being provided successor of john frederick. declared again loyalty emperor , neutrality in conflict. in vain.

now christian iv ordered troops capture important traffic hubs in prince-archbishopric , entered battle of lutter barenberge, on 27 august 1626, defeated leaguist troops under tilly. christian iv , surviving troops fled prince-archbishopric , took headquarters in stade. administrator john frederick, in personal union administrator of prince-bishopric of lübeck, fled latter , left rule in prince-archbishopric chapter , estates.

in 1626 tilly , troops occupied prince-bishopric of verden, caused flight of lutheran clergy territory. demanded bremian chapter allow him enter prince-archbishopric. chapter, holding baby, declared again loyalty emperor , delayed answer request, arguing had consult estates in diet first, lengthy procedure.

meanwhile, christian iv ordered dutch, english , french troops support land in prince-archbishopric, while extorting latter high war contributions finance war. chapter s pleas reduction of constibutions christian iv commented arguing once leaguists take over, extortions seem little.

by 1627 christian iv had de facto dismissed cousin john frederick bremian see. in same year christian iv withdrew prince-archbishopric, in order fight wallenstein s invasion of duchy of holstein. tilly invaded prince-archbishopric , captured southern parts. city of bremen shut city gates , entrenched behind improved fortifications. in 1628 tilly beleaguered stade remaining garrison of 3,500 danish , english soldiers. on may 5, 1628 tilly granted them safe-conduct england , denmark , whole prince-archbishopric in hands. tilly turned city of bremen, paid him ransom of 10,000 rixdollars in order spare siege. city remained unoccupied.

wallenstein had meanwhile conquered jutish peninsula, made christian iv sign treaty of lübeck, on may 22, 1629, in order regain possession of feoffs on peninsula, in return agreed formally end denmark s participation in thirty years war , waived son frederick ii, administrator of prince-bishopric of verden, administration of prince-bishopric provided succession administrator of prince-bishopric of halberstadt.

administrator john frederick, exiled in imperial free city of lübeck, in markedly weak position. in 1628 consented lutheran convent in former roman catholic st. mary’s monastery in stade – under leaguist occupation – restituted catholic rite , manned foreign monks, if chapter agree. again passing buck on chapter.

the leaguist takeover enabled ferdinand ii, holy roman emperor, implement edict of restitution, decreed march 6, 1629, within prince-archbishopric of bremen , prince-bishopric of verden. bremian monasteries still maintaining roman catholic rite – altkloster convent, harsefeld archabbey (nds), neukloster, , zeven – became local strongholds recatholicisation within scope of counter-reformation.

under threat of edict of restitution john frederick consented canonical visitations of remaining monasteries, clinging roman catholic rite , converted voluntary lutheran convents alike. nunneries had traditionally been institutions provide unmarried daughters of better off, couldn t provided husband befitting social status or didn t want marry, decent livelihood. when unmarried woman of status joined nunnery bestow earning assets (real estate) or – restricted lifetime – regular revenues paid male relatives, on monastery, making in former case part of nunnery’s estates (not confused political body of estates).

in many territories, majority of population adopted lutheranism, nunneries function provide sustenance unmarried women wasn t given up. happened prince-archbishopric s former roman catholic nunneries of himmelpforten, lilienthal, neuenwalde, , osterholz estates had turned such lutheran women s convents (german: das stift, more particular: damenstift, literally ladies foundation), while nunnery of zeven in process of becoming one, – among majority of catholic nuns – number of nuns of lutheran denomination, called conventuals. other expressions abbess, chairwoman, , prioress conventuals of hierarchic function, – , partly – continued used in such lutheran stifte.

within scope of visitations end of year 1629 roman catholic visitators issued ultimatum lutheran conventuals had been thrown out monasteries, estates of himmelpforten , neuenwalde being bestowed jesuites, in order finance them , missioning in course of counter-reformation in prince-archbishopric. expelled conventuals denied real estate restituted, bestowed on monastery, when entered it.

ferdinand ii suspended capitulars penalty, if dismiss lutheran coadjutor frederick, later crown prince of denmark office. chapter refused, still backing frederick, whom had elected full legal validity in 1621. ferdinand ii himself dismissed him way of using edict of restitution, in favour of youngest son, roman catholic archduke leopold wilhelm of austria, administrator of prince-bishoprics of halberstadt (1628–1648), passau (1625–1662) , strasbourg (1626–1662).

ferdinand ii left john frederick in office, against leaguist resistance, had kept loyalty him. catholic league wished roman catholic count francis william of wartenberg, prince-bishopric of osnabrück (1625–1634 , again 1648–1661), onto see. after all, see included @ years annual revenue of 60,000 rixdollars @ free disposal of holder, making half prince-archbishopric’s budget.

francis of wartenberg, appointed ferdinand ii chairman of imperial restitution commission, carrying out provisions of edict of restitution in lower saxon circle, dismissed john frederick in 1629, acquiesced.

in september 1629 chapter ordered render account of capitular , prince-archiepiscopal estates (not confused estates), refused, arguing first order not authenticised , later due disputes city council of bremen, couldn t freely travel render account let alone necessary research on estates. anti-catholic attitudes of burghers , council of bremen make impossible prepare restitution of estates lutheran chapter roman catholic church. lutheran capitulars uneasy in calvinistic bremen. in october 1629 capitular secretary rendered ordered account in verden , informed edict of restitution chapter regarded illegitimate. lutheran capitulars interrogated, chapter left in office, decisions subjected consent of restitution commission. pope urban viii appointed additional roman catholic capitulars in 1630, including new provost.

the estates within boundaries of unoccupied city of bremen weren t restituted order of city council. council argued, city had long been protestant, restitution commission argued city de jure part of prince-archbishopric, protestantism had illegitimately alienated estates roman catholic church. city council answered under these circumstances rather separate holy roman empire , join quasi-independent republic of 7 netherlands (its independence confirmed treaty of westphalia in 1648). city neither conquered nor beleaguered due new fortifications , access north sea via weser river.

within occupied prince-archbishopric leaguist occupants carried out restitution. in stade, tilly s headquarters, churches, except of st. nicholas, handed on foreign catholic clerics. burghers didn t attend catholic services. in march 1630 tilly expelled lutheran clergy, except 1 of st. nicholas. tilly levied high war contributions stade s burghers (e.g. 22,533 rixdollars in 1628 alone) , offered in 1630 relieve every burgher, attend catholic services, without success. in july 1630 tilly left head duchy of pomerania, king gustavus ii adolphus of sweden had landed troops, opening new front in thirty years war. had been won french diplomacy join new anti-imperial coalition, joined netherlands.

in february 1631 john frederick conferred gustavus ii adolphus , number of lower saxon princes in leipzig, of them troubled habsburg s growing influence wielded virtue of edict of restitution in number of northern german lutheran prince-bishoprics. john frederick speculated regain prince-archbishopric of bremen , therefore in june/july 1631 officially allied himself sweden. war being john frederick accepted supreme command of gustavus ii adolphus, promised restitute prince-archbishopric former administrator. in october army, newly recruited john frederick, started reconquer prince-archbishopric , – supported swedish troops – capture neighboured prince-bishopric of verden, de facto dismissing verden s catholic prince-bishop count francis of wartenberg (ruled 1630-1631), , causing flight of catholic clergy wherever arrived. prince-bishopric of verden became subject of swedish military administration, while john frederick ascended see in 1631.

the reconquest of prince-archbishopric – helped forces sweden , city of bremen – interrupted leaguist forces under gottfried heinrich graf zu pappenheim, coming relief stade, joined catholic imperial , leaguist forces still holding out. on may 10, 1632 granted safe-conduct , left desperately impoverished city of stade after siege john frederick s forces. john frederick in office, realise supremacy of sweden, insisting on supreme command until war s end. prince-archbishopric continuously suffered billeting , alimenting soldiers. relation between estates, had maintain administration under catholic occupation, , returned administrator difficult. estates preferred directly negotiate occupants, time swedes. john frederick wanted secularise monasteries in favour of budget, opposing estates prevented that.

after john frederick s death in 1634 chapter , estates regarded frederick s (later danish crown prince) dismissal coadjutor ferdinand ii virtue of edict of restitution illegitimate. swedish occupants had persuaded first, accept frederick s succession. chapter , estates ruled prince-archbishopric until conclusion of negotiations sweden. in 1635 succeeded lutheran administrator frederick ii in sees of bremen , of verden. had render homage minor queen christina of sweden.

in same year pope urban viii provided catholic coadjutor leopold wilhelm, archduke of austria, imposed in 1629 father ferdinand ii, archdiocese of bremen, due persisting occupation swedes never gained de facto pastoral influence let alone power administrator of prince-archbishopric.

in 1635/1636 estates , frederick ii agreed sweden upon prince-archbishopric s neutrality. didn t last long, because in danish-swedish torstenson war (1643–45) swedes seized de facto rule in both prince-bishoprics. christian iv of denmark had sign second peace of brömsebro on august 13, 1645, number of danish territories, including 2 prince-bishoprics, ceded swedish hands. frederick ii had resign administrator in both prince-bishoprics. succeeded late father on danish throne frederick iii of denmark in 1648.

with bremen sede vacante again, new pope innocent x appointed count francis of wartenberg, expelled short-period prince-bishop of verden (1630–1631) , officiating prince-bishop of osnabrück (1625–1661), vicar apostolic in 1645, i.e. provisional head of see. wartenberg never gained pastoral influence, let alone power prince-bishop due persisting swedish occupation of prince-archbishopric until end of thirty years war.

with impending enfeoffment of prince-archbisporic of bremen political great power of sweden, under negotiation treaty of westphalia, city of bremen searched imperial confirmation of status of imperial immedeacy 1186 (gelnhausen privilege), ferdinand iii, holy roman emperor, granted city in 1646 (diploma of linz).

the further history of prince-archbishopric after 1648

for further history see article collectively ruled duchy of bremen , principality of verden (1648–1823). see stade region (1823–1978), emerged establishment of high-bailiwick of stade in 1823, comprising territories of former duchies of bremen , verden , land hadeln.

reorganisation of roman catholic church in former territory of archdiocese , prince-archbishopric of bremen

in 1824 bremen s former diocesan territory distributed among still-existing neighbouring dioceses of osnabrück, münster , hildesheim, latter of covers today former territory of prince-archbishopric proper. except prevailingly calvinist free hanseatic city of bremen , territory, continued supervised roman catholic vicariate apostolic of nordic missions. free hanseatic city of bremen became part of diocese of osnabrück in 1929, vicariate apostolic being dismantled in same year.