Bishop of Speyer

The list of the bishops of Speyer presents the number of the bishops of the Diocese of Speyer, who took 1546 to 1801 and 1810 to the rank of prince-bishops, as well as in personal union were until 1789 the prince prince provosts Provost's White Castle.

Historical Overview

A closed bishop series begins in the diocese of Speyer already mid-7th century. The first bishops are usually abbots of the monasteries of the region. Was it then Count families, like the house of Leiningen, who so many times bishops, thus gradually came also members ritteradeliger families in high ecclesiastical dignities. Particularly influential was the family of Helmstatt in the 15th century. The families of origin are from the Kraichgau, Alsace or were Rhineland, Hesse, or Swabian Franconian nobility.

Religious center of the diocese is the cathedral of Speyer since completion in 1061. Play a supporting role, the auxiliary bishops of Speyer and the canons of Speyer. Other important tasks fulfilled the court offices of the bishops of Speyer. Some bishops were initially canons of Speyer or neighboring dioceses. In the late Middle Ages to Early Modern Times was the cathedral chapter of provost, Domdekan, Domscholaster, choirmaster, Domkustos and 25 canons. After the secularization of the positions also commoners were accessible, which often initially in the 19th century - was awarded a personal nobility - such as John of scourge.

In the Middle Ages it came with the increasing influence of the bishops of Speyer and the surrounding countryside to tensions with the cathedral chapter and the citizens of the city of Speyer. In the pursuit of rights Speyer finally gained the status of a free imperial city and a free city (see History of the city of Speyer ) after centuries. As an ecclesiastical principality in the Holy Roman Empire and the bishops were repeatedly asked to position themselves against kings and between king and pope. Even the Archdiocese of Mainz, the Wittelsbach Count Palatine and other neighboring territorial states had an influence on the diocese.

The coat of arms of the bishops are multiplied over the centuries, that is, they usually contain the original family coat of arms next to the coat of arms of the Bishopric of Speyer. Usual is a crossing with the two coats of arms in exchange. For Speyer is a silver cross on a blue background. From 1546 to 1789 the prince-bishops were in personal union prince provosts also the prince provost White Castle, the property of the monastery in Alsace was integrated into the diocese. Therefore, a coat component is the corresponding motif of a silver castle with gate and two towers, about a golden crown to red If the bishop was Bishop of other dioceses, was the coat of arms of other elements - in the image among other things achieved by a heart shield or further subdivisions. Today's bishop coat of arms revived this tradition.

The old Bishopric of Speyer was the right bank until 1810, the left bank of the diocese of parts had already fallen in the 1801 Peace of Luneville constitutionally to France and was canonically divided between the dioceses of Strasbourg and Mainz.

1817 has one, re-formed the present diocese of Speyer with the same episcopal city as a center for various left-bank areas of the former bishoprics of Speyer, Mainz, Worms, Strasbourg and Metz.

List of bishops of Speyer

Family Crest in Johann Siebmachers armorial

Not contemporary representations of bishops

The problem with retrospective representations is basically the question of realisitischen preparation historical contexts.

Bishops in religious motives

Abt Reginbald receives the news of his election of bishops; Engraving from "Bavaria Sancta " by Magnus Jocham, 1861

Bishops in paintings from the 18th century

In the 18th century a series of paintings made ​​with portraits of medieval Speyer bishops. The motivation for this came out, partly from the need to make time periods that were handed down primarily from written sources, vividly.

Reinhard von Helmstatt

Ludwig von Helmstatt