# List of bishops, prince-bishops, and administrators of Minden

This list records the bishops of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Minden (German: Bistum Minden), a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cologne, who were simultaneously rulers of princely rank (prince-bishop) in the Prince-Bishopric of Minden (German: Hochstift Minden; est. 1180 and secularised in 1648), a state of imperial immediacy within the Holy Roman Empire. Minden was the seat of the chapter, the cathedral and residence of the bishops until 1305, Petershagen became the prince-episcopal residence since.

## Titles of the incumbents of the Minden See

In 1180 part of the Minden diocesan territory were disentangled from the Duchy of Saxony and became an own territory of imperial immediacy called Prince-Bishopric of Minden, a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince-bishopric was an elective monarchy, with the monarch being the respective bishop usually elected by the Minden Cathedral chapter, and confirmed by the Holy See, or exceptionally only appointed by the Holy See. Papally confirmed bishops were then invested by the emperor with the princely regalia, thus the title prince-bishop. However, sometimes the respective incumbent of the see never gained a papal confirmation, but was still invested the princely regalia. Also the opposite occurred with a papally confirmed bishop, never invested as prince. A number of incumbents, elected by the chapter, neither achieved papal confirmation nor imperial investiture, but as a matter of fact nevertheless de facto held the princely power. Between about 1555 to 1631 all incumbents were Lutherans. The respective incumbents of the see bore the following titles:
* Bishop of Minden until 1180
* Prince-Bishop of Minden from 1180 to 1554 and again 1631 to 1648
* Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Minden 1566 to 1630 and again 1631 to 1645. Either simply de facto replacing the Prince-Bishop or lacking canon-law prerequisites the incumbent of the see would officially only hold the title administrator (but nevertheless colloquially referred to as Prince-Bishop).

## Catholic Bishops of Minden till 1180

Roman Catholic Bishops of Minden till 1180 :
| Episcopate | Name | Birth and death with places | Reason for end of office | Notes |
| 803–813 | Erkanbert also Ercumbert, Herkumbert, Herumbert | Gollachgau (near Würzburg), *unknown – 7 June 830*, Minden | resigned? | saint, feast day: 7 June |
| 813–853 | Hardward | *unknown – 16 September 853*, Minden | death | saint, feast day: 13 April |
| 853–880 | Theoderic as Dietrich I | *unknown – 2 February 880*, near Ebstorf | killed in action | martyr, saint, feast day: 2 February |
| 880–886 | Wulfhar also: Wulfar or Wolfer | *unknown – 15 September 886*, Minden | killed by invasors | |
| 886–887 | sede vacante | | | |
| 887–902 | Drogo | *unknown – 5 June 902* | death | |
| 902–905 | Adalbert | | | |
| 905–914 | Bernard | | | |
| 914–927 | Lothair | | | |
| 927–950 | Ebergisl | | | |
| 950–958 | Helmward | | | |
| 958–969 | Landward | | | |
| 969–996 | Milo | | | |
| 996–1002 | Ramward | | | |
| 1002–1022 | Dietrich as Dietrich II | | | |
| 1022–1036 | Siegbert also: Sigebert | *unknown – 1036* | death | |
| 1037–1055 | Bruno of Waldeck (House of Waldeck) | *c. 1000 – 10 February 1055* | death | |
| 1055–1080 | Egilbert | Bavaria, *unknown – 3 December 1080* | death | |
| 1080–1089 | Reinward | | | |
| 1080–1096 | Volkmar | | | |
| 1089–1097 | Ulrich | | | |
| 1097–1112 | Gottschalk | | | |
| 1097–1105 and again 1113–1119 | Widelo also Witelo, Wylo | *unknown – 28 December 1119* | death | as anti-bishop repressed in 1105, unrivalled in office since 1113 |
| 1120–1140 | Sigward also: Siegward | *unknown – 1140* | death | |
| 1140–1153 | Henry Cuno as Henry I | | | |
| 1153–1170 | Werner | Bückeburg, *unknown – 1170* | death | celebrated the marriage of Henry the Lion and Matilda of England, Plantagenêt |
| 1170–1185 | Anno of Landsberg | *unknown – 1185* | death | |

## Catholic Prince-Bishops (1180–1554)

Roman Catholic Prince-Bishops of Minden (1180-1554) :
| Reign and episcopate | Name | Birth and death with places | Reason for end of office | Notes |
| 1170–1185 | Anno of Landsberg | *unknown – 1185* | death | |
| 1185–1206 | Thietmar also: Thiemo, modernised: Dietmar | Bavaria, *unknown – 5 March 1206* | death | saint, feast day: 5 March |
| 1206–1209 | Henry as Henry II | *unknown – 30 July 1209* | death | |
| 1209–1236 | Conrad of Rüdenberg also: of Diepholz as Conrad I | *unknown – 26 June 1236* | death | |
| 1236–1242 | William of Diepholz as William I (Counts of Diepholz) | *unknown – 2 May 1242* | death | brother of the next |
| 1242–1253 | John of Diepholz (Counts of Diepholz) | *c. 1175 – 13 January 1253* | death | brother of the former |
| 1253–1261 | Wedekind of Hoya as Wedekind I (Counts of Hoya) | *unknown – 1261* | death | son of Henry II, Count of Hoya |
| 1261–1266 | Cuno | | | |
| 1266–1275 | Otto as Otto I | Stendal, *unknown – 1275* | | |
| 1275–1293 | Volkwin of Schwalenberg | *c. 1240/1245 – 4 May 1293*, | death | brother of Ludolph's brother's or sister's spouse |
| 1293–1295 | Conrad of Wardenberg as Conrad II | *unknown – 1295* | death | |
| 1295–1304 | Ludolph of Rostorf also: Rosdorf | Hardenberg, *c. 1240–1304*, Minden | death | brother of Volkwin's brother's or sister's spouse through his sister Jutta granduncle of the next |
| 1304–1324 | Godfrey of Waldeck (House of Waldeck) | *c. 1255/1260 – 14 May 1324* | death | brother of Adolf II of Waldeck; by his granduncle's wife also grandnephew of Ludolph moved the prince-episcopal residence to Petershagen castle |
| 1324–1346 | Louis of Brunswick-Lüneburg (House of Welf) | *c. 1300 – 18 July 1346*, Walsrode | death | son of Otto the Strict |
| 1346–1353 | Gerard of Schauenburg as Gerard I (House of Schaumburg) | *unknown – 1 January 1353* | death | son of Adolphus VI, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg |
| 1353–1361 | Dietrich Kagelwit also Kugelweit, Dietrich of Portitz as Dietrich III | Stendal, *c. 1300 – 17 December 1367 | became Prince-Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1361 (as Dietrich I) | before Bishop of Schleswig (1351–1353) |
| 1361–1366 | Gerard of Schaumburg as Gerard II (House of Schaumburg) | *unknown – 25 September 1366* | | son of Adolphus VII, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg |
| 1366–1368 | Otto of Wettin also: of Golßen as Otto II (House of Wettin) | *unknown – 16 July 1368* | death | son of Otto, Burgrave of Wettin and Golßen |
| 1369–1383 | Wedekind of Schalksberg also: Wittekind vom Berge as Wedekind II | *unknown – 1383* | death | son of Wedekind IV, Lord of Schalksberg |
| 1384–1397 | Otto of Schalksberg also: vom Berge as Otto III | *unknown – 1 January 1398* | resigned | last heir of the Lordship of Schalksberg, which he bequeathed to the Minden see; son of Wedekind IV, Lord of Schalksberg |
| 1397–1398 | Gerard of Hoya as Gerard III (Counts of Hoya) | | | |
| 1398 | Marquard of Randegg also: Randeck | *unknown – 28. December 1406* | became Prince-Bishop of Constance in 1398 | nephew of Patriarch Marquard of Randeck |
| 1398–1402 | William of Buchen as William II | | death | |
| 1402–1403 | sede vacante | | | |
| 1403–1406 | Otto of Rietberg as Otto IV | *unknown – 1406* | death | son of Otto II, Count of Rietberg |
| 1406–1436 | Wilbrand of Hallermund also: Wulbrand | *? – 23 December 1436* | death | before prince-Abbot of Corvey Abbey (1398–1406), last heir of the County of Hallermund, son of Wilbrand, Count of Hallermund, |
| 1436–1473 | Albert of Hoya German: Albrecht (Counts of Hoya) | | | son of Eric I, Count of Hoya |
| 1473–1508 | Henry of Schauenburg as Henry III (House of Schaumburg) | | | son of Otto II, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg |
| 1508–1529 | Francis of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel as Francis I (House of Welf) | *1492 – 25 November 1529*, Wolfenbüttel | death | son of Henry IV |
| 1530–1553 | Francis of Waldeck as Francis II (House of Waldeck) | Sparrenberg Castle, *1491 – 15 July 1553*, Wolbeck (a part of today's Minden) | death | also Prince-Bishop of Münster (1532–1553) and of Osnabrück (1532–1553) |
| 1553–1554 | Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel (House of Welf) | Wolfenbüttel, *29 June 1528 – 3 May 1589*, Wolfenbüttel | resigned, became heir to the Principality of Wolfenbüttel | Prince of Wolfenbüttel (1568–1589) and of Calenberg (1584–1589) |

## Lutheran Prince-Bishop and Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric

Lutheran Prince-Bishop and Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric (1554–1631) :
| Reign and episcopate | Name | Birth and death with places | Reason for end of office | Notes |
| 1554–1566 | George of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel (House of Welf) | *22 November 1494 – 4 December 1566*, Verden upon Aller | death | elected by the Minden chapter and papally confirmed bishop, turned Lutheran and thus later acceding only as administrator (lacking papal confirmation) of the Bremen and Verden sees (1558–1566) |
| 1566–1582 | Hermann of Schauenburg (House of Schaumburg) | *1545–1592* | | son of Otto IV of Schaumburg |
| 1582–1585 | Henry Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel (House of Welf) | Hessen am Fallstein, *15 October 1564 – 20 July 1613*, Prague | resigned, became Prince of Calenberg and of Wolfenbüttel in 1589 | also administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Halberstadt (1566–1613) |
| 1585–1587 | sede vacante | | | |
| 1587–1599 | Anthony of Schauenburg (House of Schaumburg) | *1549–1599* | death | son of Otto IV of Schaumburg |
| 1599–1625 | Christian of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Celle (House of Welf) | *9 November 1566 – 8 November 1633* | deposed | as Christian the Elder also Prince of Lunenburg-Celle (1611–1633) |
| 1625–1631 | sede vacante | | | |

## Catholic Prince-Bishop (1631–1648)

Roman Catholic Prince-Bishop of Minden (1631–1648) :
| Reign and episcopate | Portrait | Name | Birth and death with places | Reason for end of office | Notes |
| 1631–1648 | | Francis of Wartenberg as Francis III | Munich, *1 March 1593 – 1 December 1661*, Ratisbon | deposed by the Swedish conquerors | papally appointed, lacking the capitular elective mandate also Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück (1625–1634 and again 1648–1661), of Verden (1630–1631), of Ratisbon (1649–1661), and Vicar Apostolic of the Archdiocese of Bremen (1645/1648) |
| after 15 May 1648 | | The Prince-Bishopric was converted into a heritable monarchy, the Principality of Minden, ruled in personal union by the House of Hohenzollern in Brandenburg. | | | |

## Auxiliary bishops

* Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, O.S.A. (7 Jun 1428 to 8 Oct 1468)
* Johannes Tideln, O.P. (7 Feb 1477 to 28 Jul 1501)
* Ludwig von Siegen (bishop), O.F.M. (20 May 1502 to 13 Feb 1508)
* Johannes Gropengeter, O.S.A. (9 Jan 1499 to 25 Jan 1508)
* Heinrich von Hattingen, O. Carm. (10 Dec 1515 to 1519)

## Sources

* Website Chronik Alt-Minden (retrieved on 29 April 2010) (in German)
* "Liste der Bischöfe" on Lexikon des Mittelalters (in German)