Eric of Saxe-Lauenburg (prince-bishop)
Encyclopedia
Eric of Sachsen-Lauenburg (born: 1472; died: 20 October 1522) was Bishop of Hildesheim as Eric II from 1502 to 1502 and Bishop of Münster as Eric I from 1508 to 1522.
and Dorothea of Brandenburg
(1446–1519), daughter of the Elector Frederick II
of Brandenburg. He came into contact with the cathedral chapter
at Cologne
at an early age. In 1484 it was proposed that he should study at university, so he went to Cologne and graduated in law (in particular, canon law) at the University of Cologne.
In 1487, he was ordained as a priest and on 27 October 1490, he received a prebendary
in Cologne. He held another prebendry in Hildesheim
, where he was elected bishop on 21 May 1502. His election was confirmed by Pope Alexander VI. His consecration
was scheduled for 12 July 1503, however, he resigned before that date in favour of his brother John IV of Saxe-Lauenburg
, possibly because the Diocese of Hildesheim was too heavily indebted. Eric returned to his post in Cologne.
In 1508, Conrad VI of Rietberg, Bishop of Osnabrück and Münster, died. The cathedral chapter at Münster elected Eric as his successor, preferring him over Francis of Waldeck and John of Rietberg, a nephew of the late Conrad and canon
at Cologne. Eric was consecrated a bishop in the same year and celebrated his First Mass, assisted by his brother John and his half-brother Bernard. Eric appointed Bernard of Saxony, an illegitimate son of his father and Provost
of Cologne and Magdeburg
, as Auxiliary bishop
in Münster.
During the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud, Eric supported his brother, the Bishop of Hildesheim. This, he belonged to the League of Lüneburg, opposing Henry the Younger of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Eric I of Brunswick-Göttingen-Calenberg
, Bishop Francis
of Minden, and the Knights of Saldern. Emperor Charles V
imposed an imperial ban on all members of the League, including Eric.
During a dispute with Count Klaus the Hedges Rider of Tecklenburg, Eric occupied the County of Lingen.
Life
Eric was one of ten children of Duke John V of Saxe-LauenburgJohn V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
John V of Saxe-Lauenburg was the eldest son of Duke Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg and Adelheid of Pomerania-Stolp , daughter of Duke Bogislaus VIII of Pomerania-Stolp...
and Dorothea of Brandenburg
Dorothea of Brandenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg
Dorothea of Brandenburg was a princess of Brandenburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg.- Life :...
(1446–1519), daughter of the Elector Frederick II
Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick II of Brandenburg , nicknamed "the Iron" and sometimes "Irontooth" , was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1440 until his abdication in 1470, and was a member of the House of Hohenzollern.-Biography:Frederick II was born in Tangermünde to Frederick I, Brandenburg's...
of Brandenburg. He came into contact with the cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
at Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
at an early age. In 1484 it was proposed that he should study at university, so he went to Cologne and graduated in law (in particular, canon law) at the University of Cologne.
In 1487, he was ordained as a priest and on 27 October 1490, he received a prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
in Cologne. He held another prebendry in Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
, where he was elected bishop on 21 May 1502. His election was confirmed by Pope Alexander VI. His consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
was scheduled for 12 July 1503, however, he resigned before that date in favour of his brother John IV of Saxe-Lauenburg
John IV of Saxe-Lauenburg (prince-bishop)
John IV of Saxe-Lauenburg was a Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim.-Life:The son of Dorothea of Brandenburg and Duke John V of Saxe-Lauenburg stood for election as prince-archbishop of Bremen, however, the majority of the canons of the cathedral chapters of Bremen and Hamburg elected Johann Rode...
, possibly because the Diocese of Hildesheim was too heavily indebted. Eric returned to his post in Cologne.
In 1508, Conrad VI of Rietberg, Bishop of Osnabrück and Münster, died. The cathedral chapter at Münster elected Eric as his successor, preferring him over Francis of Waldeck and John of Rietberg, a nephew of the late Conrad and canon
Canon
-Culture and arts:*Canon , material that is considered to be genuine*Western canon, the books, music, and art that have been the most influential in shaping Western cultureMusic...
at Cologne. Eric was consecrated a bishop in the same year and celebrated his First Mass, assisted by his brother John and his half-brother Bernard. Eric appointed Bernard of Saxony, an illegitimate son of his father and Provost
Provost
Provost may refer to:* Provost , an officer of local government, including the equivalent of a mayor in Scotland* Provost , a senior academic administrator or the head of certain higher-education colleges * Provost , a ranking that was second only to Master in Renaissance England* Provost , a...
of Cologne and Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, as Auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
in Münster.
During the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud, Eric supported his brother, the Bishop of Hildesheim. This, he belonged to the League of Lüneburg, opposing Henry the Younger of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Eric I of Brunswick-Göttingen-Calenberg
Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Eric I, the Elder was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1495 and the reigning prince of Calenberg-Göttingen.- Ancestry :Eric I was born on 16 February 1470 in Neustadt am Rübenberge at the castle of Rovenburg....
, Bishop Francis
Francis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Francis of Brunswick-Lüneburg was the youngest son of Henry the Middle. Following a thirty-year joint reign of Brunswick-Lüneburg with his brother Ernest the Confessor, he ruled the newly-founded Duchy of Gifhorn from Gifhorn Castle for over 10 years from 1539 until his death in 1549...
of Minden, and the Knights of Saldern. Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
imposed an imperial ban on all members of the League, including Eric.
During a dispute with Count Klaus the Hedges Rider of Tecklenburg, Eric occupied the County of Lingen.