List of the bishops of Munster

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Diocese coat of arms

This list contains all persons who held the office of Bishop of Münster .

There is no uniform counting method for the numbering of the bishops, which is due to two factors: It is disputed whether Walram von Moers , who was appointed by Pope Nicholas V during the collegiate feud between 1450 and 1457 , but never consecrated, is included in the count. The same applies to the opposing candidate Erich I. von Hoya , who one day before Walram von Moer's election was elected as monastery administrator and was subsequently proposed by the state parliament in two letters of petition to the pope as the new bishop.

Also controversial is the count of Anton Viktor of Austria , who had already been elected as the new bishop by the cathedral chapter in 1801, but after an intervention by Prussia and the failure of Pope Pius VII to appoint him, he withdrew from the election at his own request.

As a result of these different counting methods, a total of 76, 77 or 78 people have held the office of Bishop of Munster since the foundation of the diocese by St. Liudger in 805. The diocese itself counts only the consecrated and canonically valid diocesan bishops , regardless of the rulership in the monastery of Münster , so that Felix Genn has been the 76th Bishop of Münster since 2009.

List of the bishops of Munster

In the following list, the column entitled “No.” shows the official count by the Diocese of Münster. Numbers in brackets mark bishops that are not counted. Gray columns with italic text mark opposing bishops , who are also not included in the official census.

No. image Surname from to Remarks
1. Saint Liudger Liudger 805 809 Founder of a monastery from which the city of Münster and the eponymous diocese emerged; also founder of the Werden , saint (Remembrance Day: March 26th)
2. Gerfried 809 839 Saint
3. Saint Altfrid Altfried 839 849 Completion of the Liudgeridenkrypta of the monastery Werden, Heiliger
4th Liutbert 849 870 Originally elected Archbishop of Cologne, then resigned to the diocese of Münster. Foundation of the Freckenhorst Monastery
5. Berthold 870 875 According to a legend, the diocese was saved from an epidemic through penances and processions.
6th Wolf helmet before 882 899 Exact date of appointment unknown
7th Nidhard 899 922 Co-signer of the Bonn Treaty
8th. Rumhold 922 941
9. Hildebold 941 969
10. Dodo 969 993 Initiator of the second cathedral building in Münster
11. Swidger 993 1011 Saint (Remembrance Day: November 19), canonization probably 1652
12. Dietrich I. 1011 1022
13. Siegfried von Walbeck 1022 1032 From 1009 to 1022 abbot of the Berge monastery near Magdeburg
14th Hermann I. 1032 1042 Foundation of the Überwasser Abbey
15th Rudbert 1042 1063
16. Friedrich I. 1064 1084 Temporary suspension in 1076 after calling for the deposition of Pope Gregory VII.
17th Erpho 1085 1097 Foundation of several churches in Münster; Supporter of Henry IV in the investiture dispute , saint (Remembrance day: November 9th)
18th Burchard von Holte 1098 1118 Installed by Heinrich IV .; involved in the capture of Pope Paschal II.
19th Dietrich II.
(Dietrich von Winzenburg) 		1118 1127 Expulsion by Heinrich V ; During the subsequent siege and conquest of the city of Münster, the St. Paulus Cathedral burned down completely
20th Egbert 1127 1132 Promoter and reformer of monasteries and foundations; also envoy in the context of imperial politics
21st Werner von Steusslingen 1132 1151
22nd Friedrich II. (Friedrich von Are) 1152 1168 Expansion of the Münster bishopric to a territorial rule
23. Ludwig I. (Ludwig I. of Wippra) 1169 1173 Significantly involved in the creation of St. Ludgeri
24. Hermann II von Katzenelnbogen Hermann II.
(Hermann von Katzenelnbogen) 		1174 1203 First Prince-Bishop of Munster; Foundation of the Münster parishes of St. Ludgeri , St. Martini , St. Aegidii and St. Servatii ; Granting of city rights to Coesfeld and Warendorf
25th Otto I. 1203 1218 from the Oldenburg Count House; Temporarily captured by Otto IV ; Participation in the Damiette crusade ; not to be confused with Count Otto I of Oldenburg
26th Dietrich III. (Dietrich von Isenberg) 1218 1226 Laying of the foundation stone for the third cathedral building in Münster ; involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Archbishop Engelbert I of Cologne and deposition by Pope Honorius III.
27. Ludolf von Holte 1226 1247 Granting of city rights to Ahlen , Beckum , Telgte and Warendorf
28. Otto II. (Otto von Lippe) 1247 1259 Founder of the Lower Monastery of Münster
29 Wilhelm I of Holte 1259 1260
30th Gerhard von der Mark 1261 1272 Bishop Gerhard inaugurated the St. Paulus Cathedral in Münster in 1264 and was a sponsor of the Minorite monastery in Münster, which he placed under the patronage of St. Catharine.
31. Everhard von Diest 1275 1301 Far-reaching concessions and loss of power to the city of Münster, on the other hand expansion of power in the rest of the upper monastery ; first persecution of Jews during his tenure in Münster (1287)
32. Otto III. (Otto von Rietberg) 1301 1306
33. Konrad I. (Konrad von Berg) 1306 1310
34. Ludwig II. (Ludwig Landgrave of Hesse) 1310 1357 Temporary capture by Adolf II von der Mark ; Indebtedness through payment of a ransom and the Bredevoort feud ; Granting of city rights to Billerbeck , Dülmen , Ramsdorf , Rheine and Sendenhorst ; Bishop with the longest reign
35. Adolf III. von der Mark
as Adolf I. von Münster 		1357 1363 Archbishop of Cologne from 1363 to 1364, Count of Kleve from 1368 to 1394 and Count von der Mark from 1391 to 1393
36. Johann I. (Johann I. von Virneburg) 1363 1364 Originally elected as Archbishop of Cologne, but not appointed by Pope Urban V. Instead, compensated with the diocese of Münster; Bishop of Utrecht from 1364 to 1371
37. Florence from Wevelinghoven 1364 1379 Recovery of the city of Bocholt ; from 1379 to 1393 bishop of Utrecht
38. Potho from Pothenstein 1379 1382 1381 change to the bishopric in Schwerin ; could not begin his reign there
39. Heidenreich Wolf von Lüdinghausen 1382 1392 Foundation of the great procession that has been held in Münster to this day
40. Otto IV of Hoya 1392 1424 From 1410 to 1424 he was also administrator of the Osnabrück diocese
41. Heinrich II. (Heinrich von Moers) 1424/25 1450 Elected October 31, 1424, consecrated March 14, 1425
(42.) Walram from Moers 1450 1456 The appointment by Pope Nicholas V is controversial, as Johann von Hoya, who was elected as monastery administrator, as well as the city of Münster and some canons have elected his brother Erich as bishop. Walram von Moers was also charged with two murders and other serious crimes. Outbreak of the monastery feud as a direct consequence.
(42.) Erich II von Hoya
as Erich I von Münster 		1450 1457 Counter-Bishop to Walram von Moers
42. Johann von Pfalz-Simmern 1457 1466 Choice of compromise in the context of the settlement of the penal feud. Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1466 to 1475
43. Heinrich XXVII. von Schwarzburg
as Heinrich III. from Münster 		1466 1496 Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen from 1463 to 1496
44. Conrad VI. von Rietberg
as Konrad II of Münster 		1497 1508 Also bishop of Osnabrück from 1482 to 1508
45. Erich I of Saxony-Lauenburg 1508 1522 Previously from 1502 to 1503 Bishop of Hildesheim
46. Friedrich III. from Wied 1522 1532 Never received episcopal ordination; Beginning of the Reformation and the rise of the Anabaptists in Münster
47. Erich von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen Erich von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen 1532 1532 From 1503 to 1532 also Bishop of Osnabrück and Paderborn; first bishop of all three Westphalian dioceses in personal union
48. Franz von Waldeck Franz von Waldeck 1532 1553 From 1532 to 1553 also Bishop of Osnabrück; Suppression of the Anabaptist Empire in Munster
49. Wilhelm Ketteler 1553 1557 Resignation from office after a renewed confirmation of his election as bishop by Pope Paul IV was not granted.
50. Bernhard von Raesfeld 1557 1566
51. Johannes von Hoya Johann II. (Johannes von Hoya) 1566/67 1575 Elected November 26, 1566; From 1553 to 1574 also Bishop of Osnabrück, from 1568 to 1574 also Bishop of Paderborn
52. Johann Wilhelm von Jülich-Kleve Johann Wilhelm von Jülich-Kleve 1574 1585 Elected the youngest bishop of Münster at the age of eleven; since 1580 administrator of the diocese; Abdication in favor of Ernst von Bayern 1585; Duke of Kleve-Mark and Jülich-Berg from 1592 to 1609
53. Ernst of Bavaria Ernst of Bavaria 1585 1612 In addition, Bishop of Freising (1566–1612), Hildesheim (1573–1612), Liège (1581–1612) and Archbishop of Cologne (1583–1612); also Prince Abbot of Malmedy and Stablo (1581-1612)
54. Ferdinand I. Ferdinand of Bavaria
as Ferdinand I of Münster 		1612 1650 Significant promoter of witch trials ; also Bishop of Hildesheim (1612–1650), Liège (1612–1650) and Paderborn (1618–1650) and Archbishop of Cologne (1612–1650); also Prince Abbot of Malmedy and Stablo (1612–1650) and Prince Provost of Berchtesgaden
55. Christoph Bernhard von Galen Christoph Bernhard von Galen 1650 1678 Also known as Bomben-Bernd because of his military conflicts ; Submission of the city of Münster after ongoing conflicts and two sieges; Promoter of an orderly school system in the Münsterland
56. Ferdinand von Fürstenberg Ferdinand II.
(Ferdinand von Fürstenberg) 		1678 1683 Reformer after the Thirty Years' War ; from 1661 to 1683 also Bishop of Paderborn
57. Maximilian Heinrich of Bavaria Maximilian Heinrich of Bavaria 1683 1688 Elected bishop of Münster in 1683, but not by Pope Innocent XI. approved; also Bishop of Liège (1650–1688) and Hildesheim (1650–1688) and Archbishop of Cologne (1650–1688); also Prince Abbot of Malmedy and Stablo (1657) and Prince Provost of Berchtesgaden (1650–1688)
58. Friedrich Christian von Plettenberg Friedrich Christian von Plettenberg 1688 1706 Heyday of the principality under his reign; Construction of several castles, including Nordkirchen Castle, known as the "Westphalian Versailles"
59. Franz Arnold von Wolff-Metternich to the canal Franz Arnold von Wolff-Metternich to the canal 1707 1718 Election as bishop took place after bribing many canons; from 1704 to 1718 also Bishop of Paderborn
60. Clemens August I. Clemens August I of Bavaria 1719 1761 Construction of the Max-Clemens-Canal ; also Bishop of Regensburg (1716–1719), Hildesheim (1724–1761), Paderborn (1719–1761) and Osnabrück (1728–1761) and Archbishop of Cologne (1723–1761); also Provost von Altötting (1715–1722) and Grand Master in the Teutonic Order (1732–1761)
61. Maximilian Friedrich von Königsegg-Rothenfels Maximilian Friedrich von Königsegg-Rothenfels 1762 1784 Builder of the prince-bishop's palace in Münster ; also Archbishop of Cologne from 1761 to 1784
62. Maximilian Franz of Austria Maximilian Franz of Austria 1784 1801 Reformer in the sense of the Enlightenment and last Prince-Bishop of Munster; also Archbishop of Cologne (1784–1801) and Grand Master in the Teutonic Order (1780–1801)
(63.) Anton Viktor of Austria Anton Viktor of Austria 1801 1801 Elected by the cathedral chapter on September 9, 1801; Non-recognition of the election by Prussia on September 15, 1801; Anton Viktor resigns on October 19, 1801
- Sedis vacancy 1801 1820 Occupation and secularization of the principality. Capitular vicar until 1807 Franz von Fürstenberg , then Clemens August Droste zu Vischering . Emperorly appointed bishop and 2nd, de facto ruling capitular vicar Ferdinand August von Spiegel 1813–1815. Auxiliary Bishop Kaspar Maximilian Droste zu Vischering .
63. Ferdinand III. (Ferdinand von Lüninck) 1820 1825 Also Bishop of Corvey from 1794 to 1825
64. Kaspar Maximilian Droste zu Vischering 1825 1846
65. Bernard Georg Kellermann 1846 1847 Died before inauguration
66. Johann Georg Müller Johann Georg Müller 1847 1870 Acquisition of the Santini collection for the diocesan library ; Member of the Frankfurt National Assembly
67. Johannes Bernhard Brinkmann Johannes Bernhard Brinkmann 1870 1889 Declared deposed by Prussia in 1875
68. Hermann Jakob Dingelstad Hermann Jakob Dingelstad 1889 1911
69. Felix von Hartmann Felix von Hartmann 1911 1912 Archbishop of Cologne from 1912 to 1919; also chairman of the Fulda Bishops' Conference from 1914 to 1919
70. Johannes Poggenburg Johannes Poggenburg 1913 1933 Appointment of Clemens August Graf von Galen as pastor of St. Lamberti ; Titular Archbishop of Nicopsis from 1930 to 1933
71. Clemens August Graf von Galen Clemens August Graf von Galen 1933 1946 Resistance to the National Socialists through public appearance against the killing of so-called "life unworthy of life"; also known as the Lion of Munster ; Appointed cardinal on February 18, 1946; Beatification 2005
72. Michael Keller 1947 1961 Responsible for the reconstruction of St. Paulus Cathedral after the Second World War
73. Joseph Höffner Joseph Höffner 1962 1969 Archbishop of Cologne from 1969 to 1987 and chairman of the German Bishops' Conference from 1976 to 1987; Honorary title of Righteous Among the Nations (2003)
74. Heinrich Tenhumberg Heinrich Tenhumberg 1969 1979 Reorganization of the diocese (1973)
75. Reinhard Lettmann Reinhard Lettmann 1980 2008 At the time of his resignation, he was the longest-serving bishop in Germany
76. Felix Genn Felix Genn 2009 Previously from 2003 to 2008 Bishop of Essen

See also

Web links

Commons : Bishops of Münster  - Collection of images, videos and audio files