Cathedral Chapter Worms

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Coat of arms of the diocese of Worms

The cathedral chapter of Worms was the central spiritual institution at Worms Cathedral .

Within the diocese of Worms , it had considerable power in secular and ecclesiastical affairs and took first place after the bishop . This was of particular importance because the bishop mostly did not reside in the diocese and the chapter was able to gain a great deal of influence over the state administration. Vicar general and governor for secular administration were always named from the cathedral chapter.

Already in full independence since the 13th century, i.e. withdrawn from the influence of the bishop, the chapter had over 50 prebends by 1270 . In 1290 there were 44 prebends, and in 1475 there were 43. Shortly afterwards the number was set at 35 canons and 6 prebend dates . The latter had to be ordained a priest , while the subdiaconate was sufficient for the former . In the 17th century the number of canons was fixed at 13. They all came from the nobility, especially from the Palatinate, since the cathedral chapter had not accepted any bourgeois members since 1281. However, the noble canons held the residence very irregularly and were represented by vicars.

At the head of the cathedral chapter stood the provost . He was also one of the four archdeacons and as archdeacon responsible for the city of Worms and the hinterland on the left bank of the Rhine.

In addition to the right to elect bishops, the chapter was responsible for approving the bishop's will; Without the permission of the cathedral chapter, the prince-bishop could not draw up a will.

Since the diocese of Worms shrank to only 15 parishes after the Reformation and had hardly any economic power, the chapter then only elected bishops who were already affirmed outside the diocese of Worms. After the Thirty Years' War it completely renounced the election of a bishop from its own ranks and only postulated foreign spiritual princes. This increased his influence on the administration of the diocese again considerably.

literature

  • Peter Hersche : The German cathedral chapters in the 17th and 18th centuries. Bern 1984 (3 volumes); Volume 1, pp. 187-191.
  • Erich Schwan, Eckhart G. Franz (ed.): The protocols of the Worms cathedral chapter 1544–1802 (Dept. C 1 B No. 132–164). Analytical index (people and places), Darmstadt 1992.
  • Friedhelm Jürgensmeier : The diocese of Worms. From Roman times to its dissolution in 1801. Echter Verlag, Würzburg 1997. ISBN 978-3-42901876-4 .
  • Christian Kruse: The evocation certificates of the cathedral chapter of Worms from the years 1690 to 1786 , Archive for Middle Rhine Church History , 2004, 56, pp. 389–415.

See also

Web links