Nicolaus von Tüngen
Encyclopedia
Nicolaus of Tüngen was bishop of Warmia
from 1467 until 1489.
Nicolaus von Tüngen came from a Prussian burgher
family in Tüngen near Wormditt (after 1945 Bogatyńskie
near Orneta
) in Warmia
. He worked in the Roman Curia
for many years as a secretary, and at the same time accumulated many church offices (1459 Canon of Breslau, now Wrocław ) and Canon of Warmia). After the death of Warmia's Bishop Paul von Legendorf he was chosen as his successor by the Warmia diocese
chapter
on 10 August 1467. Tüngen received the pope's agreement for his nomination on 4 November 1468 and obtained the bishop's insignia in Rome.
The king of Poland, Casimir IV
, did not accept the choice of Tüngen as bishop. He instead nominated Wincenty Kiełbasa, the bishop of Kulm (Chełmno) and administrator of the Poznań
diocese
, as the new bishop of Warmia. The Warmia chapter accepted the king's will, entrusting Kiełbasa temporary administration of the Warmia diocese at Marienburg (Malbork
Sejmik
) on 1 December 1467. Tüngen did not withdraw his candidacy, however and soon the already mentioned papal provision strengthened von Tüngen's position. In September 1469 Kiełbasa withdrew his claim to the Warmia bishopric. One year later Tüngen unofficially arrived in Warmia.
Kiełbasa's resignation did not mean the resignation of the Polish king from his aim of putting his own candidate in office. Casimir IV intervened with the pope, Paul II
, who ordered Tüngen to resign the Warmia bishopric (his successor, Pope Sixtus IV
, nominated Tüngen bishop of Kammin). The new candidate nominated for the post in 1471 was Andrzej Oporowski, archdeacon
of Gniezno
and a royal secretary.
Oporowski's nomination did not change the situation in Warmia. The nominee was not allowed to assume his office because of protests from the clergy and people of Warmia and the Prussian Estates. At the same time Nicolaus of Tüngen began to strive to obtain his desired bishopric and tried to secure Warmia's full autonomy from Poland. Supported by the Teutonic Knights
, Tüngen gained control of most of Warmia's castles and towns. He also gained the support of the king of Hungary
, Matthias Corvinus, then in conflict with Poland, entrusting him with protecting the bishopric.
In 1478, Polish forces intervened militarily in Warmia and gained control of most of it. This armed conflict is known as the War of the Priests
.
In 1479, an agreement reached between Casimir II and Matthias Corvinus further weakened Tüngen's position. Peace negotiations to end the conflict took place in Piotrków Trybunalski
. The agreement reached on 15 July 1479 put Warmia under the Polish king's protection, and required the bishops of Warmia
to swear an oath of fealty
to him. The Warmia chapter was also required to elect as bishop a person to the liking of the king. As part of the agreement Tüngen was allowed to remain Bishop of Warmia, after he paid homage
to the king, entitling him to be one of the senators of Poland
(just like Polish bishops).
After 1479 bishop Tüngen made efforts to rebuild the diocese after the devastations caused by the Polish troops on Prussian soil. Tüngen funded the altar in St. George's church in Königsberg
, and in his will he gave large sums to the monasteries and churches of the diocese. To the end of his life he remained in de facto opposition to the Polish king, for example by entering into a confederation with the Prussian estates in 1485 in defence of their privileges.
As a supporter of Warmia's autonomy from Poland, Tüngen was greatly worried by the king's plan to nominate his own son Frederic Jagiellon as the next bishop after Tüngen's death. To prevent this, the then elderly bishop made efforts in Rome to nominate Lucas Watzenrode
as coadjutor bishop
. These efforts were interrupted by his death, yet his will was respected when the diocese chapter did select Watzenrode as the next bishop, taking advantage of the fact that the 1479 agreement did not specify which candidate to the king's liking was to be chosen.
Bishops of Warmia
This is a list of Bishops and Prince-Bishops of the Diocese of Warmia The Bishopric was founded in 1243 as the Bishopric of Ermland, one of four bishoprics of Teutonic Prussia. In 1356 it became an Imperial Prince-Bishopric under Emperor Charles IV, and from 1512 until the 20th century it was an...
from 1467 until 1489.
Nicolaus von Tüngen came from a Prussian burgher
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
family in Tüngen near Wormditt (after 1945 Bogatyńskie
Bogatynskie
Bogatyńskie is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Orneta, within Lidzbark County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland...
near Orneta
Orneta
Orneta is a town in northern Poland, in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, with a population of 9,859 .- History :Wormditt, a village of Old Prussians, was first mentioned in 1308...
) in Warmia
Warmia
Warmia or Ermland is a region between Pomerelia and Masuria in northeastern Poland. Together with Masuria, it forms the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship....
. He worked in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
for many years as a secretary, and at the same time accumulated many church offices (1459 Canon of Breslau, now Wrocław ) and Canon of Warmia). After the death of Warmia's Bishop Paul von Legendorf he was chosen as his successor by the Warmia diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
on 10 August 1467. Tüngen received the pope's agreement for his nomination on 4 November 1468 and obtained the bishop's insignia in Rome.
The king of Poland, Casimir IV
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
, did not accept the choice of Tüngen as bishop. He instead nominated Wincenty Kiełbasa, the bishop of Kulm (Chełmno) and administrator of the Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, as the new bishop of Warmia. The Warmia chapter accepted the king's will, entrusting Kiełbasa temporary administration of the Warmia diocese at Marienburg (Malbork
Malbork
Malbork is a town in northern Poland in the Żuławy region , with 38,478 inhabitants . Situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously assigned to Elbląg Voivodeship...
Sejmik
Sejmik
A sejmik was a regional assembly in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and earlier in the Kingdom of Poland. Sejmiks existed until the end of the Commonwealth in 1795 following the partitions of the Commonwealth...
) on 1 December 1467. Tüngen did not withdraw his candidacy, however and soon the already mentioned papal provision strengthened von Tüngen's position. In September 1469 Kiełbasa withdrew his claim to the Warmia bishopric. One year later Tüngen unofficially arrived in Warmia.
Kiełbasa's resignation did not mean the resignation of the Polish king from his aim of putting his own candidate in office. Casimir IV intervened with the pope, Paul II
Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
, who ordered Tüngen to resign the Warmia bishopric (his successor, Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
, nominated Tüngen bishop of Kammin). The new candidate nominated for the post in 1471 was Andrzej Oporowski, archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
and a royal secretary.
Oporowski's nomination did not change the situation in Warmia. The nominee was not allowed to assume his office because of protests from the clergy and people of Warmia and the Prussian Estates. At the same time Nicolaus of Tüngen began to strive to obtain his desired bishopric and tried to secure Warmia's full autonomy from Poland. Supported by the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
, Tüngen gained control of most of Warmia's castles and towns. He also gained the support of the king of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Matthias Corvinus, then in conflict with Poland, entrusting him with protecting the bishopric.
In 1478, Polish forces intervened militarily in Warmia and gained control of most of it. This armed conflict is known as the War of the Priests
War of the Priests
The War of the Priests was a drawn-out dispute with Poland over the independence of the Royal Prussian Prince-Bishopric of Ermland . The Second Treaty of Thorn that had been sealed in 1466 at Toruń affected also the Bishopric of Warmia, which claimed to have received Prince-Bishopric status a...
.
In 1479, an agreement reached between Casimir II and Matthias Corvinus further weakened Tüngen's position. Peace negotiations to end the conflict took place in Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski is a city in central Poland with 80,738 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , and previously was the capital of Piotrków Voivodeship...
. The agreement reached on 15 July 1479 put Warmia under the Polish king's protection, and required the bishops of Warmia
Bishops of Warmia
This is a list of Bishops and Prince-Bishops of the Diocese of Warmia The Bishopric was founded in 1243 as the Bishopric of Ermland, one of four bishoprics of Teutonic Prussia. In 1356 it became an Imperial Prince-Bishopric under Emperor Charles IV, and from 1512 until the 20th century it was an...
to swear an oath of fealty
Fealty
An oath of fealty, from the Latin fidelitas , is a pledge of allegiance of one person to another. Typically the oath is made upon a religious object such as a Bible or saint's relic, often contained within an altar, thus binding the oath-taker before God.In medieval Europe, fealty was sworn between...
to him. The Warmia chapter was also required to elect as bishop a person to the liking of the king. As part of the agreement Tüngen was allowed to remain Bishop of Warmia, after he paid homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to the king, entitling him to be one of the senators of Poland
Senate of Poland
The Senate is the upper house of the Polish parliament, the lower house being the 'Sejm'. The history of the Polish Senate is rich in tradition and stretches back over 500 years, it was one of the first constituent bodies of a bicameral parliament in Europe and existed without hiatus until the...
(just like Polish bishops).
After 1479 bishop Tüngen made efforts to rebuild the diocese after the devastations caused by the Polish troops on Prussian soil. Tüngen funded the altar in St. George's church in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, and in his will he gave large sums to the monasteries and churches of the diocese. To the end of his life he remained in de facto opposition to the Polish king, for example by entering into a confederation with the Prussian estates in 1485 in defence of their privileges.
As a supporter of Warmia's autonomy from Poland, Tüngen was greatly worried by the king's plan to nominate his own son Frederic Jagiellon as the next bishop after Tüngen's death. To prevent this, the then elderly bishop made efforts in Rome to nominate Lucas Watzenrode
Lucas Watzenrode
Watzenrode may refer to:*Lucas Watzenrode the Younger , prince-bishop of Ermland, Warmia, uncle of Nicolaus Copernicus*Lucas Watzenrode the Elder , Hanseatic League tradesman in Thorn , Prussia, grandfather of Nicolaus Copernicus...
as coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
. These efforts were interrupted by his death, yet his will was respected when the diocese chapter did select Watzenrode as the next bishop, taking advantage of the fact that the 1479 agreement did not specify which candidate to the king's liking was to be chosen.