Georg Karl Ignaz von Fechenbach zu Laudenbach

Georg Karl Ignaz Freiherr von Fechenbach to Laudenbach (* February 20, 1749 in Mainz, † April 9, 1808 in Bamberg) was Prince-Bishop of Würzburg.

Biography

Origin and consecration

Georg Karl von Fechenbach belonged to the family of the Barons of Fechenbach. He was born in Mainz and was ordained there on February 18, 1779 as a priest.

George Karl was elected on March 12, 1795 to the 78th Bishop of Wurzburg, the Pope confirmed on 1 June 1795 and consecrated on 21 June 1795. He was the last prince-bishop of Würzburg.

To the fact that George Karl was not präbendiert 1795 in Bamberg, the choice for Prince-Bishop of Bamberg failed by the local Domkapitularen, so that the existing 1757 personal union of the bishoprics of Würzburg and Bamberg was completed in 1795. In Bamberg instead of Uncle George Karl, Christoph Franz von Buseck was elected bishop. However Buseck created by the resignation of his Dompräbende in favor of his nephew at once, the first requirement for a future unification of the two bishoprics. Nephew George Karl was since May 26, 1800 at the same time coadjutor in Bamberg and followed his uncle after his death on September 28, 1805 as bishop there after.

Part of his library was auctioned in 2005.

Secularization

In the Peace of Luneville of 9 February 1801, the abolition of ecclesiastical principalities had been decided. After the occupation of the Bishopric of Würzburg by Bavarian troops under General Georg August Graf Ysenburg Georg Karl abdicated on November 28, 1802 from a secular ruler, but not put his dignity as a bishop down. Rather, he defended his spiritual powers in bitter clashes with the Bavarian government, his opponent was initially the government commissioner Johann Wilhelm Freiherr von Hompesch, later immediately the political directives of the Minister of Maximilian Montgelas. The drawing of church property in the diocese of Würzburg took to relentless trains. Art objects made ​​of gold and silver were hammered flat to be easily transported to Munich can, where it coins were minted. Precious stones were broken out of their sockets. Buildings were often sold or auctioned well below its value.

After the Peace of Pressburg, the Principality of Würzburg came to the Elector of Salzburg, Ferdinand of Tuscany in exchange, and then belonged since September 30, 1806 - as a Grand Duchy - even Confederation of the Rhine. Until it fell back to Bavaria, succeeded the Director of the newly established Vicariate, Auxiliary Bishop Gregory Circle, the Grand Duke wrest concessions. In Würzburg and Bamberg was a see is vacant from 1808 to 1818. , The 79th Bishop of Würzburg in 1818 Friedrich von bulk to Trockau, the bishop ( and first archbishop ) of Bamberg Joseph Graf von Stubenberg.