Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic diocese of Trier is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church
in Germany. As former archbishopric
and Electorate of Trier it was one of the most important as both an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire
, and as a diocese of the church. Unlike the other Rhenish dioceses — Mainz and Cologne
, Trier was the former Roman provincial capital of Augusta Treverorum. Given its status, Trier has always been the seat of a bishop since Roman times, one of the oldest dioceses in all of Germany. The diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese in the time of Charlemagne, and was the metropolitan for the dioceses of Metz
, Toul
and Verdun. After the victory of Napoleon, the archdiocese was lowered to a diocese and is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cologne
. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Saint Peter
.
for all the churches and monasteries, as well as villages and castles that belonged to the Church of St. Peter at Trier. In his will he also elevated the diocese to the Archdiocese of Trier, with suffragans on both sides of the Rhine. This arrangement lasted over a thousand years.
In Early Modern times, the archdiocese of Trier still encompassed territory along the Moselle River
between Trier, near the French border, and Koblenz
on the Rhine. The Archbishop of Trier
, as holder of an imperial office was traditionally an Imperial Elector
of the German king. The purely honorary office of Archchancellor of Gaul arose in the 13th century. In this context that was taken to mean the Kingdom of Arles
, or Burgundy, technically from 1242 and permanently from 1263, and nominally until 1803. Arles along with Germany
and Italy
was one of the three component kingdoms of the Empire.
The last elector removed to Koblenz
in 1786. From 1795, the territories of the Archbishopric on the left bank of the Rhine — which is to say almost all of them — were under French occupation, and were annexed in 1801 and a separate bishopric established (later assuming control of the whole diocese in 1803). In 1803, what was left of the Archbishopric was secularized and annexed by the Princes of Nassau.
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...
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Germany. As former archbishopric
Archbishopric of Trier
The Archbishopric of Trier was a Roman Catholic diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Its suffragans were the dioceses of Metz, Toul and Verdun. Since the 9th century the Archbishops of Trier were simultaneously princes and since the 11th...
and Electorate of Trier it was one of the most important as both an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, and as a diocese of the church. Unlike the other Rhenish dioceses — Mainz and Cologne
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne
The Archdiocese of Cologne is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and northern Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.-History:...
, Trier was the former Roman provincial capital of Augusta Treverorum. Given its status, Trier has always been the seat of a bishop since Roman times, one of the oldest dioceses in all of Germany. The diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese in the time of Charlemagne, and was the metropolitan for the dioceses of Metz
Diocese of Metz
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz is a Diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in France. In the Middle Ages it was in effect an independent state, part of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the bishop who had the ex officio title of count. It was annexed to France by King Henry II in...
, Toul
Diocese of Toul
The Diocese of Toul was a Roman Catholic diocese seated at Toul in present-day France. It existed from 365 until 1824. From 1048 until 1552 , it was also a state of the Holy Roman Empire.- History :...
and Verdun. After the victory of Napoleon, the archdiocese was lowered to a diocese and is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cologne
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne
The Archdiocese of Cologne is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and northern Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.-History:...
. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Saint Peter
Cathedral of Trier
The Cathedral of Saint Peter is a church in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the oldest cathedral in the country. The edifice is notable for its extremely long life span under multiple different eras each contributing some elements to its design, including the center of the main chapel...
.
History
The bishops of Trier were already virtually independent territorial magnates in Merovingian times. In 772 Charlemagne granted Bishop Wiomad complete immunity from the jurisdiction of the ruling countCount
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
for all the churches and monasteries, as well as villages and castles that belonged to the Church of St. Peter at Trier. In his will he also elevated the diocese to the Archdiocese of Trier, with suffragans on both sides of the Rhine. This arrangement lasted over a thousand years.
In Early Modern times, the archdiocese of Trier still encompassed territory along the Moselle River
Moselle River
The Moselle is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, joining the Rhine at Koblenz. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Mosel through the Our....
between Trier, near the French border, and Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
on the Rhine. The Archbishop of Trier
Archbishopric of Trier
The Archbishopric of Trier was a Roman Catholic diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Its suffragans were the dioceses of Metz, Toul and Verdun. Since the 9th century the Archbishops of Trier were simultaneously princes and since the 11th...
, as holder of an imperial office was traditionally an Imperial Elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
of the German king. The purely honorary office of Archchancellor of Gaul arose in the 13th century. In this context that was taken to mean the Kingdom of Arles
Kingdom of Arles
The Kingdom of Arles or Second Kingdom of Burgundy of the High Middle Ages was a Frankish dominion established in 933 from lands of the early medieval Kingdom of Burgundy at Arles...
, or Burgundy, technically from 1242 and permanently from 1263, and nominally until 1803. Arles along with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
was one of the three component kingdoms of the Empire.
The last elector removed to Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
in 1786. From 1795, the territories of the Archbishopric on the left bank of the Rhine — which is to say almost all of them — were under French occupation, and were annexed in 1801 and a separate bishopric established (later assuming control of the whole diocese in 1803). In 1803, what was left of the Archbishopric was secularized and annexed by the Princes of Nassau.
Ordinaries
- Jakob von Sierck † (19 May 1439 Appointed - 28 May 1456 Died)
- Johann Markgraf von Baden † (21 Jun 1456 Appointed - 9 Feb 1502 Died)
- Jakob Markgraf von Baden † (9 Feb 1503 Succeeded - 27 Apr 1511 Died)
- Richard Greiffenclau von Vollrads † (15 May 1511 Appointed - 13 Mar 1531 Died)
- Johann von Metzenhausen † (27 Mar 1531 Appointed - 22 Jul 1540 Died)
- Johann Ludwig von Hagen † (9 Aug 1540 Appointed - 23 Mar 1547 Died)
- Johann von Isenburg † (20 Apr 1547 Appointed - 18 Feb 1556 Died)
- Johann von Leyen † (25 Apr 1556 Appointed - 10 Feb 1567 Died)
- Jakob von Eltz † (7 Apr 1567 Appointed - 4 Jun 1581 Died)
- Johann von Schönenberg † (31 Jul 1581 Appointed - 1 May 1599 Died)
- Lothar von Metternich † (7 Aug 1599 Appointed - 17 Sep 1623 Died)
- Philipp Christoph Reichsritter von Sötern † (25 Sep 1623 Appointed - 7 Feb 1652 Died)
- Karl Kaspar Reichsfreiherr von Leyen-Hohengeroldseck † (7 Feb 1652 Succeeded - 1 Jun 1676 Died)
- Johann Hugo von Orsbeck † (1 Jun 1676 Succeeded - 6 Jan 1711 Died)
- Karl Joseph Ignaz Herzog von Lothringen † (24 Sep 1710 Appointed - 4 Dec 1715 Died)
- Franz Ludwig Pfalzgraf am Rhein zu Neuburg † (20 Feb 1716 Appointed - 3 Mar 1729 Resigned)
- Franz Georg Reichsfgraf von Schönborn † (2 May 1729 Appointed - 18 Jan 1756 Died)
- Johann Philipp Reichsgraf von Waldendorff † (18 Jan 1756 Succeeded - 12 Jan 1768 Died)
- Klemens Wenzeslaus Herzog von Sachsen † (10 Feb 1768 Appointed - 29 Nov 1801 Resigned)
- Charles Mannay † (5 Jul 1802 Appointed - 9 Oct 1816 Resigned)
- Josef von Hommer † (3 May 1824 Appointed - 11 Nov 1836 Died)
- Wilhelm Arnoldi † (21 Jun 1842 Appointed - 7 Jan 1864 Died)
- Leopold Pelldram † (29 Dec 1864 Appointed - 3 May 1867 Died)
- Matthias EberhardMatthias EberhardMatthias Eberhard was a German Roman Catholic Bishop of Trier.After successfully completing the gymnasium course of his native town, he devoted himself to the study of theology, was ordained in 1839, and soon after made assistant at St. Castor's in Coblenz...
† (16 Jul 1867 Appointed - 30 May 1876 Died) - Michael Felix Korum † (12 Aug 1881 Appointed - 4 Dec 1921 Died)
- Franz Rudolf Bornewasser † (27 Feb 1922 Appointed - 20 Dec 1951 Died)
- Matthias Wehr † (20 Dec 1951 Succeeded - 19 Nov 1966 Retired)
- Bernhard Stein † (13 Apr 1967 Appointed - 5 Sep 1980 Retired)
- Hermann Josef Spital † (24 Feb 1981 Appointed - 15 Jan 2001 Retired)
- Reinhard MarxReinhard MarxReinhard Marx is a German Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the incumbent Cardinal archbishop of Munich and Freising. Pope Benedict XVI elevated Cardinal Marx to the cardinalate in a consistory on 20 November 2010...
(20 Dec 2001 Appointed - 30 Nov 2007 Appointed, Archbishop of München und Freising {Munich}) - Stephan AckermannStephan AckermannStephan Ackermann was appointed Bishop of Trier in the Moselle area of Germany in 2009. He had previously served with the title of Sozopolis in Haemimonto as auxiliary bishop in the same diocese from 2006....
(8 Apr 2009 Appointed - )