Counter-bishop

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A counter-bishop is a bishop who, for reasons of power politics, faced another bishop of the same diocese in the Holy Roman Empire .

Usual elections for bishops in the Holy Roman Empire

When the previous bishop of a diocese died, the cathedral chapter met to elect a new bishop. If the election was unanimous, the newly elected bishop ( Elekt ) received episcopal ordination and was confirmed by the Pope . As a secular ruler, he also needed confirmation from the king .

The appointment as bishop was not only the installation into an office, which meant enormous secular power in a prince-bishopric , but also the elevation to a spiritual head for life. The election by the cathedral chapter was therefore almost irrefutable due to its symbolic power.

The position of the counter-bishop

The position of the opposing bishop usually arose because a minority in the cathedral chapter spoke out in favor of another person and, since it was not a decision by the majority , both were ultimately chosen in a so-called schismatic election. To what extent the two competitors received the consecration and recognition by the Pope remained open at first. In addition to the question of legality about which z. B. the curia decided, it was also often a political alliance question. Became the king of a rival king over or the Pope an anti-pope or was itself the ministry of the Bishop of the Metropolitan unclear, then unsafe situations with Bishop and counter bishop within a diocese could drag on for years. The question of who actually exercised power within a prince-bishopric plays a role that should not be underestimated. It happened that one of the bishops was driven out or established himself in a part of the diocese. There were also armed conflicts.

Examples of opposing bishops

Diocese of Eichstätt

Diocese of Naumburg-Zeitz

Diocese of Regensburg

Diocese of Würzburg

See also

literature