List of bishops, prince-bishops, and administrators of Minden


This list records the bishops of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Minden, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cologne, who were simultaneously rulers of princely rank in the Prince-Bishopric of Minden, a state of imperial immediacy within the Holy Roman Empire. Minden was the seat of the chapter, the cathedral and residence of the bishops until 1305, Petershagen became the prince-episcopal residence since.

Titles of the incumbents of the Minden See

In 1180 part of the Minden diocesan territory were disentangled from the Duchy of Saxony and became an own territory of imperial immediacy called Prince-Bishopric of Minden, a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince-bishopric was an elective monarchy, with the monarch being the respective bishop usually elected by the Minden Cathedral chapter, and confirmed by the Holy See, or exceptionally only appointed by the Holy See. Papally confirmed bishops were then invested by the emperor with the princely regalia, thus the title prince-bishop. However, sometimes the respective incumbent of the see never gained a papal confirmation, but was still invested the princely regalia. Also the opposite occurred with a papally confirmed bishop, never invested as prince. A number of incumbents, elected by the chapter, neither achieved papal confirmation nor imperial investiture, but as a matter of fact nevertheless de facto held the princely power. Between about 1555 to 1631 all incumbents were Lutherans. The respective incumbents of the see bore the following titles:

Catholic Prince-Bishops (1180–1554)

Lutheran Prince-Bishop and Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric

Catholic Prince-Bishop (1631–1648)

Auxiliary bishops