View source for Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht

{{About|the secular principality ruled by the bishops of Utrecht in the Middle Ages|the original spiritual jurisdiction of the bishops of Utrecht|Diocese of Utrecht (695–1580)}}
{{Short description|State of the Holy Roman Empire (1024–1528)}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox country
| native_name            = {{Native name|nl|Sticht Utrecht}}<br>{{Native name|la|Episcopatus Ultraiectensis}}
| conventional_long_name = Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht
| common_name            = Utrecht
| era                    = [[Middle Ages]]
| status                 = Vassal
| empire                 = Holy Roman Empire
| government_type        = [[Hochstift|Ecclesiastical principality]]
| event_start            = <!-- Default: "Established" -->
| date_start             = <!-- Optional: Date of establishment, in format 1 January (no year) -->
| year_start             = 1024
| event_end              = <!-- Default: "Disestablished" -->
| date_end               = <!-- Optional: Date of disestablishment, in format 1 January (no year) -->
| year_end               = 1528
| event1                 = [[Investiture Controversy]]
| date_event1            = 1075–1122
| event2                 = [[Concordat of Worms]]
| date_event2            = 1122
| event3                 = 
| date_event3            = 
| event4                 = Joined the [[Burgundian Circle]]
| date_event4            = 1512
| event5                 = [[Guelders Wars]]
| date_event5            = 1502–1543
| event_pre              = [[Lower Lotharingia]] divided from [[Lotharingia]]
| date_pre               = 959
| event_post             = [[Union of Utrecht]] signed
| date_post              = 1579
<!-- Flag navigation: Preceding and succeeding entities p1 to p5 and s1 to s5 -->| p1                     = Lower Lotharingia
| flag_p1                = Flag of Austria (1-1).svg
| s1                     = Lordship of Utrecht
| s2                     = Lordship of Overijssel
| flag_s2                = Small coat of arms of Overijssel.svg
| border_s2              = no
| image_flag             = Flag of the prince-bishopric of Utrecht.svg
| flag_width             = 100px
| image_coat             = Wappen Bistum Utrecht.png
| coat_size              = <!-- Size of coat of arms -->
| coat_alt               = <!-- Alt text for coat of arms -->
| symbol                 = <!-- Link target under symbol image. Default: Coat of arms of {{{common_name}}} -->
| symbol_type            = <!-- Displayed text for link under symbol. Default "Coat of arms" -->
| image_map              = Locator Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht (1350).svg
| image_map_alt          = 
| image_map_caption      = Bishopric of Utrecht {{Circa|1350}}. ''Nedersticht'' is the smaller territory while ''[[Oversticht]]'' is the larger territory.
| image_map2             = <!-- If second map is needed - does not appear by default -->
| image_map2_alt         = 
| image_map2_caption     = 
| capital                = [[Utrecht]]
| national_motto         = 
| national_anthem        = 
| common_languages       = [[Middle Dutch]], <br> [[Medieval Latin]], <br> [[Middle Low German]]
| religion               = [[Roman Catholicism]] ([[State religion]])
| currency               = 
| leader1                = [[Adalbold II of Utrecht]]
| leader2                = [[Henry of the Palatinate]]
| year_leader1           = (1024–1026){{efn|Adalbold II of Utrecht was bishop of the Diocese of Utrecht from 1010.}}
| year_leader2           = (1524–1528){{efn|Henry of the Palatinate remained bishop of the Diocese of Utrecht until 1529.}}
| title_leader           = [[List of bishops and archbishops of Utrecht|Prince-bishop]]
<!-- Legislature -->| legislature            = <!-- Name of legislature -->
| house1                 = <!-- Name of first chamber -->
| type_house1            = <!-- Default: "Upper house"-->
| house2                 = <!-- Name of second chamber -->
| type_house2            = <!-- Default: "Lower house"-->
<!-- Area and population of a given year -->| stat_year1             = <!-- year of the statistic, specify either area, population or both -->
| stat_area1             = <!-- area in square kilometres (w/o commas or spaces), area in square miles is calculated -->
| stat_pop1              = <!-- population (w/o commas or spaces), population density is calculated if area is also given -->
| stat_year2             = 
| stat_area2             = 
| stat_pop2              = 
| stat_year3             = 
| stat_area3             = 
| stat_pop3              = 
| stat_year4             = 
| stat_area4             = 
| stat_pop4              = 
| stat_year5             = 
| stat_area5             = 
| stat_pop5              = 
| today                  = [[Netherlands]]
| footnote_a             = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
| footnote_b             = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
| footnote_h             = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
| footnotes              = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
}}
 
The '''Bishopric of Utrecht''' ({{langx|nl|Sticht Utrecht}}; {{Langx|la|Episcopatus Ultraiectensis}}) was an [[Hochstift|ecclesiastical principality]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in the [[Low Countries]], in the present-day [[Netherlands]]. From 1024 to 1528, as one of the [[prince-bishop]]rics of the Holy Roman Empire, it was ruled by the bishops of Utrecht. 

The Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht is not to be confused with the [[Diocese of Utrecht (695–1580)|Diocese of Utrecht]], which covered a larger area. Over the areas outside the Prince-Bishopric, the bishop exercised only spiritual, not temporal, authority.

In 1528, [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] secularized the Prince-Bishopric, depriving the bishop of its secular authority.

== History ==
{{History Benelux states}}

===Background===
The Diocese of Utrecht was established in 695 when [[Willibrord|Saint Willibrord]] was consecrated bishop of the [[Frisians]] at [[Rome]] by [[Pope Sergius I]]. With the consent of the [[Franks|Frankish]] ruler, [[Pippin of Herstal]], he settled in an old [[Castellum|Roman fort]] in [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]. After Willibrord's death the diocese suffered greatly from the incursions of the Frisians,{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} and later on of the [[Vikings]]. Whether Willibrord could be called the first bishop of Utrecht is doubtful; as James Palmer points out, "there was no real concept of a well-defined bishopric until at least the days of [[Alberic I of Utrecht|Alberic]] (775–84)". And while [[Saint Boniface]] is referred to in his [[hagiographies]] as the successor of Willibrord (and, in turn, [[Gregory of Utrecht]] is referred to as the successor to Willibrord and Boniface), this does not necessarily mean "successor as bishop", but rather that they succeeded each other as missionaries to the Frisians.<ref>{{cite book|last=Palmer|first=James T.|title=Anglo-Saxons in a Frankish World (690-900)|series=Studies in the Early Middle Ages|volume=19|year=2009|publisher=Brepols|location=Turnhout|isbn=9782503519111|pages=163–66|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=25BUAAAAYAAJ}}</ref>

=== Foundation ===
Better times appeared during the reign of the [[Ottonian dynasty|Saxon emperors]], who frequently summoned the Bishops of Utrecht to attend the imperial councils and [[diet (assembly)|diet]]s. In 1024 the bishops were made Princes of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and the new '''Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht''' was formed.  The secular territory over which it ruled was known as '''Sticht Utrecht''' or '''Het Sticht''' (a sticht was any piece of land governed by a bishop or abbot).  This territory was divided into the ''Nedersticht'' (Lower Sticht, roughly corresponding to the present day province of [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]]) and ''[[Oversticht]]'' (Upper Sticht, encompassing the present-day provinces of [[Overijssel]], [[Drenthe]], and part of [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]]).

In 1122, with the [[Concordat of Worms]], the Emperor's right of investiture was annulled, and the cathedral chapter received the right to elect the bishop. It was, however, soon obligated to share this right with the four other collegiate chapters in the city. The Counts of [[County of Holland|Holland]] and [[Guelders]], between whose territories the lands of the Bishops of Utrecht lay, also sought to acquire influence over the filling of the episcopal see. This often led to disputes and consequently the [[Holy See]] frequently interfered in the election. After the middle of the 14th century the popes repeatedly appointed the bishop directly without regard to the five chapters.

It was part of the [[Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle]], until 1548 when it joined the [[Burgundian Circle]] as part of the [[Habsburg Netherlands]].

In 1527, the Bishop sold his territories, and thus his secular authority, to Holy Roman [[Emperor Charles V]] and the principality became an integral part of the [[Habsburg]] dominions. The chapters transferred their right of electing the bishop to Charles V and his government, a measure to which [[Pope Clement VII]] gave his consent, under political pressure after the [[Sack of Rome (1527)|Sack of Rome]].

=== Dissolution ===

The Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht was conquered by Habsburg troops in 1528. The southwestern Nedersticht core territory around the city of Utrecht became the [[Lordship of Utrecht]], whilst the southern part of the Oversticht was transformed into the [[Lordship of Overijssel]]. The northern parts were annexed in 1536 as the [[County of Drenthe]].

==Prince-bishops==
{{hatnote|This is a list of prince-bishops only. For a full list of bishops and archbishops of Utrecht, see [[List of bishops and archbishops of Utrecht]].}}
{{colbegin|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Adalbold II of Utrecht|Adalbold II]]     (1010–1026)
*[[Bernold]]                           (1026/7–1054)
*[[William I, Bishop of Utrecht|William I]] (1054–1076)
*[[Conrad, Bishop of Utrecht|Conrad]]       (1076–1099)
*[[Burchard, Bishop of Utrecht|Burchard]]   (1100–1112)
*[[Godbald]]                          (1114–1127)
*[[Andreas van Cuijk]]                 (1127/8–1139)
*[[Hartbert]]                          (1139–1150)
*[[Herman van Horne]]                  (1151–1156)
*[[Godfrey van Rhenen]]               (1156–1178)
*[[Baldwin II van Holland]]          (1178–1196)
*[[Arnold I van Isenburg]]             (1196–1197)
*[[Dirk I (bishop)|Dirk I van Holland]] (1197)
*[[Dirk van Are|Dirk II van Are (van Ahr)]]         (1197/8–1212)
*[[Otto I (bishop of Utrecht)|Otto I van Gelre]]                  (1212–1215)
*[[Otto II van Lippe]]                 (1216–1227)
*[[Wilbrand van Oldenburg]]            (1227–1233)
*[[Otto III van Holland]]              (1233–1249)
*[[Gozewijn van Amstel (van Randerath)]] (1249–1250)
*[[Henry I van Vianden]]             (1250/2–1267)
*[[John I, Bishop-Elect of Utrecht|John I of Nassau]]                  (1267–1290)
*[[John II van Sierck]]                 (1290–1296)
*[[Willem II Berthout]]                (1296–1301)
*[[Guy van Avennes]]                   (1301–1317)
*[[Frederik II van Sierck]]            (1317–1322)
*[[Jacob van Oudshoorn]]               (1322)
*[[Jan III van Diest]]                 (1322–1340)
*[[John of Arkel (bishop)|Jan IV van Arkel]] (1342–1364)
*[[Jan V van Virneburg]]               (1364–1371)
*[[Arnold II of Horne]]               (1371–1379)
*[[Floris van Wevelinkhoven]]          (1379–1393)
*[[Frederik III van Blankenheim]]      (1393–1423)
*[[Rudolf van Diepholt]]               (1423–1455)
*[[Zweder van Culemborg]]              (1425–1433)
*[[Walraven van Meurs]]                (1434–1448)
*[[Gijsbrecht van Brederode]]          (1455–1456)
*[[David of Burgundy]]                 (1456–1496)
*[[Frederick IV of Baden]]             (1496–1517)
*[[Philip of Burgundy (bishop)|Philip of Burgundy]] (1517–1524)
*[[Henry of the Palatinate (bishop)|Henry of the Palatinate]]             (1524–1529)
{{colend}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Expand language|otherarticle=Sticht Utrecht|langcode=nl|otherarticle2=Hochstift Utrecht|langcode2=de|date=January 2014}}

{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite encyclopedia|location=Chicago|publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn|encyclopedia=International dictionary of historic places|volume=2|year=1995|isbn=188496401X
|editor1-last=Ring|editor1-first=Trudy|editor2-last=Watson|editor2-first=Noelle|editor3-last=Schellinger|editor3-first=Paul|title=Utrecht|pages=761
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfPYAQAAQBAJ}}

*{{cite journal|location='s-Gravenhage|publisher=Nijhoff|journal=Bijdragen voor Vaderlandsche Geschiedenis en Oudheidkunde|oclc=560305125|volume=ser.4 v.7|year=1909|last=Gosses|first=Izaak H.|title=De Bisschop van Utrecht, het Domkapittel en de Groninger Prefect|pages=25–135|hdl=2027/mdp.39015026699788?urlappend=%3Bseq=39 |language=nl|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015026699788?urlappend=%3Bseq=39|access-date=2014-09-15}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070805192352/http://www.kdc.kun.nl/geschiedenis/vicarissen.html Apostolisch vicarissen van de Hollandse Zending] {{in lang|nl}}
*{{cite web|website=PaulBuddeHistory.com|last=Budde|first=Paul|title=Hamaland, Bishopric (Sticht) Utrecht incl. Oversticht (Drente, Overijssel)|url=http://paulbuddehistory.com/europe/bishopric-sticht-utrecht-incl-oversticht-drente-overijssel/|access-date=2014-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118205554/http://paulbuddehistory.com/europe/bishopric-sticht-utrecht-incl-oversticht-drente-overijssel/|archive-date=2014-01-18|url-status=live}}

{{Netherlands topics}}
{{Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Utrecht, Bishopric (1024-1528)}}
[[Category:Utrecht (city)]]
[[Category:Medieval history of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:History of Utrecht (province)|Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht]]
[[Category:History of Utrecht (city)]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1024]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1528]]
[[Category:Former polities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Bishops of Utrecht|*]]
[[Category:Prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle]]
[[Category:History of Overijssel|Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht]]
[[Category:History of Drenthe|Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht]]
[[Category:2nd millennium in the Netherlands]]