Reservatum ecclesiasticum
Encyclopedia
The reservatum ecclesiasticum was a measure inserted into the Peace of Augsburg
of 1555 to balance the principal proviso of cuius regio, eius religio
in ecclesiastical lands. In the hereditary dynastic lands, such as those governed by a prince or a duke, the principle of cuius regio, eius religio (Latin: whose land, his religion) provided that the religion of the people would be the same as that of the territorial ruler.
If this same principle were applied in ecclesiastical lands, such as those ruled by a Prince-Bishop
or an Abbot
, the conversion of an incumbent to Lutheranism would convert the entire principality to Protestantism. The reservatum ecclesiasticum was inserted to prevent this: in the event that the prince converted to Lutheranism, the ruler would forfeit his seat and be replaced by a Catholic. The measure was only inserted into the treaty as a result of Imperial authority, as it was not supported by Protestants participating in the treaty.
The measure was contested in 1583 when the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg
, converted to Protestantism, specifically to Calvinism. In the Cologne War
, supported by the Dutch Republic
and the Palatinate, he was eventually defeated by his Catholic replacement, Ernest of Bavaria
, who was supported by his brother
and Philip II of Spain
, whose army, under the command of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
, physically recovered the electoral territory. Ernest's victory upheld the principle of the reservatum ecclesiasticum.
The measure continued to be a grievance of Protestants. After the ascension of Matthias
as Holy Roman Emperor
, his new chancellor Melchior Klesl
hoped to dissolve the religious alliances of the time — the Protestant Union
and the Catholic League
— and bring people of all faiths back under the authority of the Emperor. In response, the Protestant Union's Assembly at Rothenburg ob der Tauber
voted in March 1613 to not disband while the Catholic League was still in existence, and to ensure certain long-standing grievances were rectified, including the reservatum ecclesiasticum.
Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg, also called the Augsburg Settlement, was a treaty between Charles V and the forces of the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of Lutheran princes, on September 25, 1555, at the imperial city of Augsburg, now in present-day Bavaria, Germany.It officially ended the religious...
of 1555 to balance the principal proviso of cuius regio, eius religio
Cuius regio, eius religio
Cuius regio, eius religio is a phrase in Latin translated as "Whose realm, his religion", meaning the religion of the ruler dictated the religion of the ruled...
in ecclesiastical lands. In the hereditary dynastic lands, such as those governed by a prince or a duke, the principle of cuius regio, eius religio (Latin: whose land, his religion) provided that the religion of the people would be the same as that of the territorial ruler.
If this same principle were applied in ecclesiastical lands, such as those ruled by a Prince-Bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
or an Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, the conversion of an incumbent to Lutheranism would convert the entire principality to Protestantism. The reservatum ecclesiasticum was inserted to prevent this: in the event that the prince converted to Lutheranism, the ruler would forfeit his seat and be replaced by a Catholic. The measure was only inserted into the treaty as a result of Imperial authority, as it was not supported by Protestants participating in the treaty.
The measure was contested in 1583 when the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg
Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg
Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. After pursuing an ecclesiastical career, he won a close election in the Cathedral chapter of Cologne over Ernst of Bavaria. After his election, he fell in love with and later married Agnes von Mansfeld-Eisleben, a Protestant...
, converted to Protestantism, specifically to Calvinism. In the Cologne War
Cologne War
The Cologne War devastated the Electorate of Cologne, a historical ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire, present-day North-Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany...
, supported by the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and the Palatinate, he was eventually defeated by his Catholic replacement, Ernest of Bavaria
Ernest of Bavaria
Ernest of Bavaria was Prince-elector-archbishop of the Archbishopric of Cologne from 1583 to 1612 as successor of the expelled Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg. He was also bishop of Münster, Hildesheim, Freising and Liège....
, who was supported by his brother
William V, Duke of Bavaria
William V, Duke of Bavaria , called the Pious, was Duke of Bavaria from 1579 to 1597.- Education and early life :...
and Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, whose army, under the command of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Alexander Farnese was Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1586 to 1592, and Governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1578 to 1592.-Biography:...
, physically recovered the electoral territory. Ernest's victory upheld the principle of the reservatum ecclesiasticum.
The measure continued to be a grievance of Protestants. After the ascension of Matthias
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
as Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
, his new chancellor Melchior Klesl
Melchior Klesl
Melchior Klesl was an Austrian statesman and cardinal of the Roman Catholic church during the time of the Counter-Reformation...
hoped to dissolve the religious alliances of the time — the Protestant Union
Protestant Union
The Protestant Union or Evangelical Union was a coalition of Protestant German states that was formed in 1608 to defend the rights, lands and person of each member....
and the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
— and bring people of all faiths back under the authority of the Emperor. In response, the Protestant Union's Assembly at Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken , the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany, well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. In the Middle Ages, it was an Imperial Free City...
voted in March 1613 to not disband while the Catholic League was still in existence, and to ensure certain long-standing grievances were rectified, including the reservatum ecclesiasticum.