Prince Bishop of Münster
Which position did Ferdinand of Fürstenberg (1626–1683) hold in Mar 1663?
Ferdinand of Fürstenberg ( 1626–1683 ) Ferdinand of Fürstenberg ( ) , contemporaneously also known as Ferdinandus liber baro de Furstenberg , ( 26 October 1626 - 26 June 1683 ) was , as Ferdinand II , Prince Bishop of Paderborn from 1661 to 1683 and also Prince Bishop of Münster from 1678 to 1683 , having been its coadjutor since 1667/68 . He was brought almost complete restoration to the Bishopric of Paderborn after the devastation of the Thirty Years War . In foreign policy , he followed the principle of armed neutrality , but tended increasingly clearly to lean towards the French position . He distinguished himself as an author of historical works , a poet of Latin poetry and a correspondent with the great scholars of his time . He also emerged as a patron of the arts and religion and had numerous churches built or renovated . He is considered one of the most outstanding representatives of Baroque Catholicism . Background and education . Ferdinand of Fürstenberg was born on 26 October 1626 at Bilstein Castle in the Duchy of Westphalia into the Westphalian family of Fürstenberg . His father , Frederick of Furstenberg , was the Landesdrost or state governor for the Electorate of Cologne . His mother was Anna Maria ( née von Kerpen ) . He was the eleventh child of their marriage . His siblings include clergyman , artist and officer , Caspar Dietrich of Furstenberg , the cathedral provost in Münster and Paderborn , John Adolphus of Fürstenberg , the diplomat and head of the family , Frederick of Furstenberg , the dean William of Furstenberg and the Landkomtur Francis William of Furstenberg . His godfather was Elector Ferdinand of Bavaria . To the latter he owed the fact that he was given a diocesan stipend from Hildesheim at the age of seven . And thanks to the intercession of the emperor , in 1639 a benefice in the cathedral chapter of Paderborn was added to his income . As was customary in the family , Ferdinand of Fürstenberg was given an exceptionally good education for a member of the nobility at that time . Fürstenberg initially attended the Jesuit grammar school in Siegen . After that he studied philosophy in Paderborn and Münster . After the death of his parents Fürstenberg returned for a time to Bilstein Castle , where the castellan introduced him to the basics of jurisprudence . In 1648 he began his studies into theology and law at the University of Cologne . There he came into contact with important scholars especially among the Jesuits . He also came into contact with other leading scholars of his time , especially in Münster and Cologne . They included Aegidius Gelenius . In this period Fürstenberg began to carry out historical studies himself . In Münster he also came to know Fabio Chigi , the nuntius in the peace negotiations of the Thirty Years War and , later , Pope Alexander VII . In 1649 after completing his studies , he was given a place and vote in Paderborns cathedral chapter . One year later he was installed as a subdeacon . He was invited to Rome by Fabio Chigi . There he met his brother , John Adolphus in 1652 . Papal chamberlain and scholar in Rome . In Rome Fürstenberg worked as part of the retinue of Chigis . Through Chigis he came into contact with scholars there . He lived under the same roof with philologist Nikolaes Heinsius and they formed a lifelong friendship . He also had a close friendship with Lukas Holste . The latter motivated Ferdinand to undertake further language studies and arranged for him to have access to the Vatican library , which he ran . Fürstenberg also came into close contact with many Italian scholars . On the election of Fabio Chigi to the Papacy as Pope Alexander VII in 1655 , Fürstenberg was appointed as Papal Private Chamberlain ( Geheimkämmerer ) . Like his brother William later , Fürstenberg acted as an advisor to the Pope on German matters . He was a member of an Academy of Fine Arts , later even becoming its president . In 1657 he was chamberlain to the archsodality at Campo Santo and Provisor of the German Kirche Anima . But above all , he devoted himself to academic work , for example , producing numerous copies of documents from the Vatican archives . These included the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae by Charlemagne . Some finds he left to others to publish , some he published himself . In addition , he emerged as a sponsor of large-scale academic projects such as the publication of Acta Sanctorum by Jean Bolland and his successor , the Bollandists . The discovery of documents from his Westphalian homeland prompted Ferdinands decision to write a history of the Bishopric of Paderborn . In 1659 Ferdinand was ordained as a priest . As a result , he was given several benefices . These included the Priory of the Holy Cross in Hildesheim , a cathedral chapter position in Münster and the opportunity of another in Halberstadt . In 1660 he became a papal legate and handed over the cardinalate to Francis William of Wartenberg . In addition he had to undertake diplomatic missions to Leopold I and many of the imperial princes . In Westphalia he also studied sources for his planned history of the bishopric . After his return to Rome Fürstenberg devoted himself mainly to historical research in the Vatican Archives . Time as a bishop . Ferdinand mainly had his brother , William , to thank for his election in 1661 as Bishop of Paderborn . His defeated opponent for the post was Maximilian Henry of Bavaria . Ferdinand was consecrated a bishop while still in Rome . He received his mitre in the German national church of Santa Maria dell’Anima from cardinal state secretary , Giulio Rospigliosi . He did not enter Paderborn 4 October 1661 . Internal politics in Paderborn . The state of Paderborn was still suffering from the consequences of the Thirty Years War , because Ferdinands predecessor had been unable to rebuild the economy for financial reasons . A primary objective for Ferdinand of Fürstenberg was thus the internal health of the land . His numerous construction projects were designed not least to employ the tradesmen of the prince bishopric . In addition , he encouraged the re-cultivation of fields that had lain waste . He had a forestry act passed and had censuses taken and tax lists made out . With limited success he support the establishment of factories . Even the healing baths in Bad Driburg had his support . To improve communications he supported a post coach service between Kassel and Amsterdam . Following a treaty , the town of Lügde from the County of Pyrmont was annexed by the Prince Bishopric of Paderborn . During his time the conditions for access of the nobility to the state parliament were tightened . Henceforth the knights had to prove sixteen noble ancestors , if they wanted to have a seat and vote in parliament . He had the city of Paderborn strongly fortified . The education system and Jesuit college set up under Dietrich of Fürstenberg were strongly promoted by Ferdinand . In addition , he has also tried to improve rural education and established new schools . In a special way , Ferdinand is credited with enforcing the law of the land . If need be , strict sentences were passed on people , regardless of status . The marshal , Kurt von Spiegel , and a pastor from Buke were executed for example . Coadjutor and bishop in Münster . The election of the coadjutor in Münster was problematic , because von Galen had promised in his electoral capitulation not to create such a position . In particular , William of Furstenberg , who had meanwhile become the secret private chamberlain of the Pope , obtained a dispensatory papal bull in Rome that permitted Ferdinand to accede to the office . However , Ferdinand , along with his brothers John Adolphus of Furstenberg and Francis William of Furstenberg , guaranteed before the election that he would not intervene in the government of the Prince Bishopric of Münster until the death of von Galen . In the crucial vote , Ferdinand narrowly won at the expense of his rival , the Elector of Cologne , Maximilian Henry of Bavaria . Both sides appealed to the curia in Rome . But thanks not least to the influence of William of Furstenberg , Ferdinands claim was confirmed . With that , the right of succession in Münster was decided . The local cathedral dean , Jobst Edmund von Brabeck , crossed over to the side of Cologne and became governor ( Statthalter ) of Hildesheim Abbey . The relationship with von Galen was problematic and their correspondence remained frosty . The military thinking of Galen was foreign to the scholarly nature of Ferdinand . In November 1679 , following the death of von Galen , Ferdinand made a ceremonial entry into Münster . After decades of far-reaching military power politics the land hoped for peace and a reduction in military expenditure . So they viewed their new prince , who was regarded as peace-loving , with confidence . In fact , after taking over the Prince Bishopric of Münster , Ferdinand pursued a new political line there . Von Galen had left large debts behind in the state of Münster . This , together with the more peaceful course adopted by Ferdinand , led to a sharp reduction in the number of Münster troops . With regard to Sweden he renounced the conquests of von Galens time . Only the Barony of Wildeshausen remained in the hands of the Bishopric of Münster as compensation for the damage inflicted by the Swedes . From France , Ferdinand received 50,000 Reichsthaler and Louis XIV promised to invest in the Catholic institutions in the Duchy of Bremen and Principality of Verden . Another externally oriented action for Münster was the destruction of Bevergern Castle as a gesture towards the Netherlands . Internally , however , Ferdinand left few personal traces in Münster . His main effort remained the Prince Bishopric of Paderborn . The running of the state he left to the officials inherited from his predecessor . Church policy . Ferdinand took his priestly office very seriously . He himself said mass daily and performed the majority of pontifical masses himself . He undertook visitation trips through his area of responsibility and promoted the education of clerics in accordance with the principles of the Council of Trent . He based the appointment of priests on their performance . Because he saw the monasteries as centres for the renewal of the Catholic faith in people , he promoted these institutions . Pastoral activities paid particular attention to the Capuchin and Jesuit orders . He was supported by the Vicar General , Laurentius von Dript . Pope Innocent XI appointed Ferdinand in 1680 as Vicar Apostolic for Halberstadt , Bremen , Magdeburg , Schwerin and Magdeburg . The Catholic mission was to be entirely peaceful in these areas which had become Protestant . He supported missionary work in Japan and China by the Jesuits through a large donation of 101,700 thalers . Prince Bishop Ferdinand was closely linked to the Danish convert and natural historian , Niels Stensen , who he named in 1680 as his suffragan bishop in Münster . Stensen was not just significant for Ferdinand as a scholar , but also made a major contribution to the Missio Ferdinanda , to the mission foundation of 1682 for popular missions in Westphalia , to the Far East mission and to pastoral care in Northern Europe . Foreign policy . Overall Ferdinand pursued a peaceful foreign policy of armed neutrality , which avoided direct participation in war whenever possible . But Ferdinands foreign policy swung between loyalty to the emperor and the leaning towards France . Ferdinand was greatly impressed by the personality of Louis XIV . Yet , following a family tradition , he initially remained a Habsburg adherent . Later on , his policy was oscillated before increasingly leaning towards the French side . Despite his tendency to take a neutral stance , in 1665 he sent a small contingent of troops to support the war by the Bishop of Münster , Christoph Bernhard von Galen , who attacked the Netherlands together with Charles II of England . He opposed the war itself , but felt compelled to support von Galen , in order to be appointed by him as coadjutor of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster . Behind the scenes , Ferdinand tried to end the war , which ended with the Treaty of Cleves in 1666 . Death . Ferdinand died on 26 June 1683 in Paderborn . Works ( selection ) . - Monumenta Paderbornensia . 1669 - Cels [ issi ] mi ac rev [ erendissi ] mi principis Ferdinandi episcopi Paderbornensis … 1677 ( UB Paderborn ) - Poemata Ferdinandi Episcopi Monasteriensis Et Paderbornensis , S . R . I . Principis , Comitis Pyrmontani , Liberi Baronis De Furstenberg . Paris , 1684 ( UB Paderborn ) - Denkmale des Landes Paderborn . Translated from the Latin and furnished with a biographe of the author by Franz Joseph Micus . Paderborn : Junfermann , 1844 ( UB Paderborn ) Literature . - Hans J . Brandt , Karl Hengst : Die Bischöfe und Erzbischöfe von Paderborn . Paderborn , 1984 , , pp . 249–256 . - Jörg Ernesti : Ferdinand von Fürstenberg ( 1626–1683 ) . Geistiges Profil eines barocken Fürstbischofs ( = Studien und Quellen zur Westfälischen Geschichte . Vol . 51 ) . Bonifatius , Paderborn , 2004 , . - Jörg Ernesti : Drei Bischöfe – ein Reformwille . Ein neuer Blick auf Ferdinand von Fürstenberg ( 1626–83 ) und sein Verhältnis zu Christoph Bernhard von Galen und Niels Stensen . In : Westfalen , Hefte für Geschichte , Kunst und Volkskunde . Vol . 83 , 2005 , pp . 49–59 . - Helmut Lahrkamp : Ferdinand von Fürstenberg . In : Helmut Lahrkamp et al. : Fürstenbergsche Geschichte . Vol . 3 : Die Geschichte des Geschlechts von Fürstenberg im 17 . Jahrhundert . Aschendorff , Münster , 1971 , pp . 119–149 . - Konrad Mertens : Die Bildnisse der Fürsten und Bischöfe von Paderborn von 1498 - 1891 . Schöningh , Paderborn , 1892 ( UB Paderborn ) External links . - Digitale Sammlung der UB Paderborn : Büchernachlass Ferdinands von Fürstenberg - Ausstellung Historisches Museum im Marstall Paderborn : Ein westfälischer Fürstbischof von europäischer Bedeutung Ferdinand II . von Fürstenberg 17 . September 2004 bis 9 . Januar 2005 - Eintrag auf catholic-hierarchy.org