Introduction to Modern German History 3. Confession, Faith, and Princely Power: 1555 1618 Tobias Winnerling
Europe in 1555
Holy Roman Empire, 1555
Diocese of Hildesheim within Hildesheim City, part of the Hochstift (diocese) Hildesheim Protestant since 1542, with a Catholic bishop Member of the Hanse Not really a free imperial city, but almost independent
Burgundy in 1477 Revolting Dutch provinces in 1582
Hungary between Habsburgs and Ottomans
From 1568 both Habsburg lines entangled in conflicts Both main conflict areas (Netherlands, Hungary) situated at the fringes of Most of relatively free from military conflict
Introduction to Modern German History: 3. Confession, Faith, and Princely Power: 1555 1618 Council of Trent 1545 1563 Establishes Tridentine Catechism Positions Catholicism against Protestantism Stabilizes papal authority Catholic confessionalization begins Council of Trent, engraving from 1565
Book of Concord ( Konkordienbuch ), Dresden 1580, title page Kalendarium Gregorianum Perpetuum, Rome 1582
Ernest of Bavaria (1554 1612) as bishop of Hildesheim (Peter Weyher, 1573) Gebhard, Freiherr zu Waldburg (1547 1601), Elector of Cologne (Frank Hogenberg, 1584)
Gebhard zu Waldburg tries to secularize the Electorate of Cologe As this would influence the Imperial Election, war breaks out (1583 1588) Spain and Bavaria support Ernest of Bavaria, the Dutch and the Elector Palatine support Gebhard Electorate of Cologne, 1583
3.5 Life and Death and 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Joachim Brandis Family: A Typical Pattern of Mortality First Marriage: with Anna Kleineberges, 1577 1585 [Son] Elisabeth [Son] Anna Joachim Brandis had 18 children, 10 sons and 8 daughters; only 5 survived, 4 daughters and 1 son. [Son] Konrad Elisabeth Joachim Henning Joachim Kaspar Margarethe Joachim Joachim Jacob Johannes Anna Second Marriage: with Anna Weidemeier, 1587 1611 Ursula Anthonius Elisabeth 1577 1578 1579 1580 1581 1582 1583 1584 1585 1586 1587 1588 1589 1589 1590 1591 1592 1593 1594 1595 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 1613 1614 1615
3.5 Life and Death and 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Joachim Brandis Family: A Typical Pattern of Mortality Plague of 1597 Plague of 1608/9 1577 1578 1579 1580 1581 1582 1583 1584 1585 1586 1587 1588 1589 1589 1590 1591 1592 1593 1594 1595 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 1613 1614 1615 Persons in the Family
3.5 Life and Death and 1590s see an overall tightening of confessional discipline Example: In 1593, Joachim Brandis as mayor of Hildesheim is obliged to swear on the Book of Concord and to sign a written vow: I Joachim Brandis the younger, mayor, avow with this my signature that I am devoted to the teachings set down in this Christian Book of Concord by heart, that I believe them in all points to be the salvific divine truth, and that I am determined by the help of God to stay true to them until my end and to profess so publicly for the glory of God. Given Hildesheim, September 27 th 1593.
The county of Hildesheim is composed of three parties: City of Hildesheim (protestant) Estates of the bishopric (protestant) Bishop and cathedral chapter of Hildesheim (catholic) Problem: In case the county is taxed by (Imperial Contributions), who has to pay? Parties fight over the contribution for about fifty years The Empire works slowly, but it works
In 1588 the Imperial Chamber Court becomes blocked The Aulic Court is suspected of pro- Catholic judgements The Imperial Diet of 1597/8 almost ends inconclusively In 1607 disputes arise over the imperial execution against Donauwörth
United duchy of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
In 1609 duke Wilhelm V of Jülich-Cleve-Berg dies heirless Three princes vie for succession The Emperor, Spain, the Dutch Republic, England, and France enter the conflict, almost causing a major war Wolfgang Wilhelm of Pfalz- Neuburg (1578 1653) Johann Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg (1572 1619) Christian II, Elector of Saxony (1583 1611)
Further Reading: Thomas A. Brady Jr.: German Histories in the Age of Reformations, 1400-1650, Cambridge 2009 ULB: 02 his m 255 b 812