Heinrich of Saxe-Lauenburg

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Heinrich von Sachsen-Lauenburg (1550–1585) as Bishop Heinrich II. In the Osnabrück Bishop's Gallery of Iburg Castle

Heinrich von Sachsen-Lauenburg (born November 1, 1550 - † April 22, 1585 in Bremervörde ) was an elected Archbishop of Bremen ( Heinrich III. ), Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück ( Heinrich II. ) And of Paderborn ( not recognized by the Roman Church ) Heinrich IV. ), Who joined the Lutheran Reformation.

biography

Prince-Bishop Heinrich IV came from the House of Sachsen-Lauenburg . He was the son of Duke Franz I of Saxony-Lauenburg (1543–1581), who had converted to Protestantism, and of Sibylle of Saxony . At the age of ten he was already eligible for a canon position in Cologne. Henry studied at the local university , especially when law professor Dr. Betzdorf, who was his landlord in Cologne and became his mentor. His training and his later actions were mainly influenced by Betzdorf Protestants.

More and more the estates in northwest Germany converted to the Protestant faith. In 1566, the cathedral chapter of the Archdiocese of Bremen , which was dominated by Protestants , elected Heinrich as archbishop (Heinrich III.), Who as secular head only had the archbishopric of Bremen. Pope Pius V refused the Protestant Archbishop Heinrich III. the papal confirmation, since the Catholic Church did not recognize the office of bishop. The nuncio in Cologne was the end of 1573 a protocol again, in which he canonical let evaluate conditions for the election of a bishop positive. Heinrich was also elected Prince-Bishop by the cathedral chapter in the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück (Heinrich II.). For Rome, however, recognition of the episcopal elections was not acceptable. From a Catholic point of view, he was only the administrator of the Archdiocese of Bremen and the Diocese of Osnabrück. In the Principality of Münster, his project just failed.

The coat of arms of Prince Archbishop Heinrich von Sachsen-Lauenburg in Hagen in Bremen

Efforts to get Henry recognized by Rome were, however, put forward. At first he secretly married on October 25, 1575 at Hagen Castle in Hagen in the Bremen district of Anna Betzdorf, alias von Broich. She was the biological daughter of his Cologne mentor Betzdorf. As a reason, he had it entered in the grape book that he did not have the gift of chastity . On October 14, 1577 Heinrich was also proclaimed Bishop of Paderborn (Heinrich IV.). Here too the papal confirmation was refused. In 1578 Heinrich moved demonstratively and solemnly with his wife into the Protestant Paderborn .

Heinrich always swore the Roman Catholic formalities for episcopal ordination in a double game , but at the same time never wanted to be a Catholic bishop.

On Palm Sunday 1585 the Prince-Bishop of Bremen, Osnabrück and Paderborn fell so unhappily from his horse after a Protestant service in Bremervörde that he died shortly afterwards. While the Reformation continued in Bremen, with Heinrich's unexpected death, the Counter-Reformation prevailed, particularly in the Prince Diocese of Paderborn .

literature

predecessor Office successor
Georg of Braunschweig-Lüneburg Archbishop of Bremen
1567–1585 		Johann Adolf (Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf)
John VIII of Hoya Bishop of Osnabrück
1574–1585 		Wilhelm von Schencking
Salentin of Isenburg Bishop of Paderborn
1577–1585 		Dietrich von Fürstenberg
personal data
SURNAME Heinrich of Saxe-Lauenburg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Henry III. from Bremen; Heinrich II of Osnabrück; Heinrich IV of Paderborn
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prince-Bishop of Paderborn
DATE OF BIRTH November 1, 1550
DATE OF DEATH April 22, 1585
Place of death Bremervörde