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 (prince-bishop) in the Prince-Bishopric of Minden (; est. 1180 and secularised in 1648), 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: Bishop of Minden until 1180 Prince-Bishop of Minden from 1180 to 1554 and again 1631 to 1648 Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Minden 1566 to 1630 and again 1631 to 1645. Either simply de facto replacing the Prince-Bishop or lacking canon-law prerequisites the incumbent of the see would officially only hold the title administrator (but nevertheless colloquially referred to as Prince-Bishop).
Catholic Bishops of Minden till 1180 Roman Catholic Bishops of Minden till 1180EpiscopatePortraitNameBirth and deathwith placesReason for end of officeNotes 803–813 Erkanbertalso Ercumbert, Herkumbert, Herumbert Gollachgau (near Würzburg), *unknown – 7 June 830*, Minden resigned? saint, feast day: 7 June 813–853 Hardward *unknown – 16 September 853*, Minden death saint, feast day: 13 April 853–880 Theodericas Dietrich I *unknown – 2 February 880*, near Ebstorf killed in action martyr, saint, feast day: 2 February 880–886 Wulfharalso: Wulfar or Wolfer *unknown – 15 September 886*, Minden killed by invasors 886–887 sede vacante 887–902 Drogo *unknown – 5 June 902* death 902–905 Adalbert 905–914 Bernard 914–927 Lothair 927–950 Ebergisl 950–958 Helmward 958–969 Landward 969–996 Milo 996–1002 Ramward 1002–1022 Dietrichas Dietrich II 1022–1036 Siegbertalso: Sigebert *unknown – 1036* death 1037–1055 Bruno of Waldeck(House of Waldeck) *c. 1000 – 10 February 1055* death 1055–1080 Egilbert Bavaria, *unknown – 3 December 1080* death 1080–1089 Reinward 1080–1096 Volkmar 1089–1097 Ulrich 1097–1112 Gottschalk 1097–1105 and again 1113–1119 Wideloalso Witelo, Wylo *unknown – 28 December 1119* death as anti-bishop repressed in 1105, unrivalled in office since 1113 1120–1140 Sigwardalso: Siegward *unknown – 1140* death 1140–1153 Henry Cunoas Henry I 1153–1170 Werner Bückeburg, *unknown – 1170* death celebrated the marriage of Henry the Lion and Matilda of England, Plantagenêt 1170–1185 Anno of Landsberg *unknown – 1185* death
Catholic Prince-Bishops (1180–1554) Roman Catholic Prince-Bishops of Minden (1180–1554)Reign and episcopatePortraitNameBirth and deathwith placesReason for end of officeNotes 1170–1185 Anno of Landsberg *unknown – 1185* death 1185–1206 Thietmar also: Thiemo, modernised: Dietmar Bavaria, *unknown – 5 March 1206* death saint, feast day: 5 March 1206–1209 Henryas Henry II *unknown – 30 July 1209* death 1209–1236 Conrad of Rüdenberg also: of Diepholzas Conrad I *unknown – 26 June 1236* death 1236–1242 William of Diepholzas William I(Counts of Diepholz) *unknown – 2 May 1242* death brother of the next 1242–1253 John of Diepholz(Counts of Diepholz) *c. 1175 – 13 January 1253* death brother of the former 1253–1261 Wedekind of Hoyaas Wedekind I(Counts of Hoya) *unknown – 1261* death son of Henry II, Count of Hoya 1261–1266 Cuno 1266–1275 Ottoas Otto I Stendal, *unknown – 1275* 1275–1293 Volkwin of Schwalenberg *c. 1240/1245 – 4 May 1293*, death brother of Ludolph's brother's or sister's spouse 1293–1295 Conrad of Wardenbergas Conrad II *unknown – 1295* death 1295–1304 Ludolph of Rostorf also: Rosdorf Hardenberg, *c. 1240–1304*, Minden death brother of Volkwin's brother's or sister's spousethrough his sister Jutta granduncle of the next 1304–1324 Godfrey of Waldeck(House of Waldeck) *c. 1255/1260 – 14 May 1324* death brother of Adolf II of Waldeck; by his granduncle's wife also grandnephew of Ludolphmoved the prince-episcopal residence to Petershagen castle 1324–1346 Louis of Brunswick-Lüneburg(House of Welf) *c. 1300 – 18 July 1346*, Walsrode death son of Otto the Strict 1346–1353 Gerard of Schauenburg as Gerard I(House of Schaumburg) *unknown – 1 January 1353* death son of Adolphus VI, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg 1353–1361 Dietrich Kagelwit also Kugelweit, Dietrich of Portitzas Dietrich III Stendal, *c. 1300 – 17 December 1367 became Prince-Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1361 (as Dietrich I) before Bishop of Schleswig (1351–1353) 1361–1366 Gerard of Schaumburg as Gerard II(House of Schaumburg) *unknown – 25 September 1366* son of Adolphus VII, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-PinnebergCarl Stüve, Die Geschichte des Hochstifts Osnabrück bis zum Jahr 1508, Jena and Osnabrück: Friedrich Frommann / Kißling'sche Buchhandlung, 1853, vol. 1, pp. 229–481. 1366–1368 Otto of Wettinalso: of Golßenas Otto II(House of Wettin) *unknown – 16 July 1368* death son of Otto, Burgrave of Wettin and Golßen 1369–1383 Wedekind of Schalksbergalso: Wittekind vom Bergeas Wedekind II *unknown – 1383* death son of Wedekind IV, Lord of Schalksberg 1384–1397 Otto of Schalksbergalso: vom Bergeas Otto III *unknown – 1 January 1398* resigned last heir of the Lordship of Schalksberg, which he bequeathed to the Minden see; son of Wedekind IV, Lord of Schalksberg 1397–1398 Gerard of Hoyaas Gerard III(Counts of Hoya) 1398 Marquard of Randegg also: Randeck *unknown – 28. December 1406* became Prince-Bishop of Constance in 1398 nephew of Patriarch Marquard of Randeck 1398–1402 William of Buchenas William II death 1402–1403 sede vacante 1403–1406 Otto of Rietbergas Otto IV *unknown – 1406* death son of Otto II, Count of Rietberg 1406–1436 Wilbrand of Hallermund also: Wulbrand *? – 23 December 1436* death before prince-Abbot of Corvey Abbey (1398–1406), last heir of the County of Hallermund, son of Wilbrand, Count of Hallermund, 1436–1473 Albert of HoyaGerman: Albrecht(Counts of Hoya) son of Eric I, Count of Hoya 1473–1508 Henry of Schauenburgas Henry III(House of Schaumburg) son of Otto II, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg 1508–1529 Francis of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttelas Francis I(House of Welf) *1492 – 25 November 1529*, Wolfenbüttel death son of Henry IV 1530–1553 Francis of Waldeckas Francis II(House of Waldeck) Sparrenberg Castle, *1491 – 15 July 1553*, Wolbeck (a part of today's Minden) death also Prince-Bishop of Münster (1532–1553) and of Osnabrück (1532–1553) 1553–1554 Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel(House of Welf) Wolfenbüttel, *29 June 1528 – 3 May 1589*, Wolfenbüttel resigned, became heir to the Principality of Wolfenbüttel Prince of Wolfenbüttel (1568–1589) and of Calenberg (1584–1589)
Lutheran Prince-Bishop and Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric Lutheran Prince-Bishop and Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric (1554–1631)Reign and episcopatePortraitNameBirth and deathwith placesReason for end of officeNotes 1554–1566 George of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel(House of Welf) *22 November 1494 – 4 December 1566*, Verden upon Aller death elected by the Minden chapter and papally confirmed bishop, turned Lutheran and thus later acceding only as administrator (lacking papal confirmation) of the Bremen and Verden sees (1558–1566) 1566–1582 Hermann of Schauenburg(House of Schaumburg) *1545–1592* son of Otto IV of Schaumburg 1582–1585 Henry Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel(House of Welf) Hessen am Fallstein, *15 October 1564 – 20 July 1613*, Prague resigned, became Prince of Calenberg and of Wolfenbüttel in 1589 also administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Halberstadt (1566–1613) 1585–1587 sede vacante 1587–1599 Anthony of Schauenburg(House of Schaumburg) *1549–1599* death son of Otto IV of Schaumburg 1599–1625 Christian of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Celle(House of Welf) *9 November 1566 – 8 November 1633* deposed as Christian the Elder also Prince of Lunenburg-Celle (1611–1633) 1625–1631 sede vacante
Catholic Prince-Bishop (1631–1648) Roman Catholic Prince-Bishop of Minden (1631–1648)Reign and episcopatePortraitNameBirth and deathwith placesReason for end of officeNotes 1631–1648 Francis of Wartenbergas Francis III Munich, *1 March 1593 – 1 December 1661*, Ratisbon deposed by the Swedish conquerors papally appointed, lacking the capitular elective mandate also Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück (1625–1634 and again 1648–1661), of Verden (1630–1631), of Ratisbon (1649–1661), and Vicar Apostolic of the Archdiocese of Bremen (1645/1648) after 15 May 1648 The Prince-Bishopric was converted into a heritable monarchy, the Principality of Minden, ruled in personal union by the House of Hohenzollern in Brandenburg.
Auxiliary bishops Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, O.S.A. (7 Jun 1428 to 8 Oct 1468)"Bishop Johann Christiani von Schleppegrell, O.S.A." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 Johannes Tideln, O.P. (7 Feb 1477 to 28 Jul 1501)"Bishop Johannes Tideln, O.P. Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 Ludwig von Siegen (bishop), O.F.M. (20 May 1502 to 13 Feb 1508)"Bishop Ludwig von Siegen, O.F.M." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016 Johannes Gropengeter, O.S.A. (9 Jan 1499 to 25 Jan 1508) Heinrich von Hattingen, O. Carm. (10 Dec 1515 to 1519)
Sources Website Chronik Alt-Minden (retrieved on 29 April 2010) "Liste der Bischöfe" on Lexikon des Mittelalters
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