The following persons were Bishops of the Diocese of Oldenburg or Lübeck (until 1180), Prince-Bishops of the diocese of Lübeck and the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck (1180–1535), Lutheran Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck without pastoral function, and pastoral chairmen of the Evangelical Lutheran State Church in the Region of Lübeck.

Titles of the incumbents of the Lübeck See Not all incumbents of the Lübeck See were imperially invested princely power as Prince-Bishops and not all were papally confirmed as bishops. In 1180 part of the Lübeck diocesan territory were disentangled from the Duchy of Saxony and became an own territory of imperial immediacy called Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck, 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 Lübeck 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. The respective incumbents of the see bore the following titles: Bishop of Oldenburg (Aldinborg/Starigard) until 1160 Bishop of Lübeck 1160–1180 Prince-Bishop of Lübeck from 1180 to 1586, which the incumbents in 1535 and between 1561 and 1586 being de facto Lutherans Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck 1586 to 1803. 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). After 1648 (Peace of Westphalia) the Lutheran administrators were generally imperially accepted as holding the princely regalia.

Catholic Bishops of Oldenburg (Aldinborg/Starigard) till 1160

+ Bishops Life Reign Notes Image Coat-of-arms Bishops of Oldenburg (Aldinborg/Starigard)Mareus952–968 also Marcus, MarkoEkward968–974 Wago974–983 Egizo983–988 Volkward989–990 Reginbert992–1013 Bernard1013–1023 Reynald1023–1030 Meinher1030–1038 Abelin1038–1048 Ehrenfried1051–1066 sede vacante1066–1149 Vicelinusca. 1090–11541149–1154 After Oldenburg's destruction by the Danes in 1149 the see provisionally moved to St. Peter's Church in Bosau, built in 1151Gerald of Oldenburg (Lübeck)1155–1163 In 1156 Gerald started the construction of St. John's Cathedral in Oldenburg. In 1160 the see moved to Lübeck

Catholic Bishops of Lübeck (1160–1180)

+ Bishops Life Reign Notes Image Coat-of-arms Bishops of LübeckGerald of Oldenburg (Lübeck)1155–1163 In 1156 Gerald started the construction of St. John's Cathedral in Oldenburg. In 1160 the see moved to LübeckConrad of Riddagshausenas Conrad I1164–1172 under his reign Lübeck's St. Peter's Church, the city's second main church, was establishedHenry of Brusselsas Henry I1172–1182 on his Holy Orders Duke Henry the Lion laid the cornerstone for the Lübeck Cathedral

Catholic Prince-Bishops of Lübeck (1180–1535)

+ Catholic Prince-Bishops of Lübeck (1180–1535) Prince-Bishops Life Reign Notes Image Coat-of-armsHenry of Brusselsas Henry I1172–1182 on his Holy Orders Duke Henry the Lion laid the cornerstone for the Lübeck CathedralConrad II1183–1184 Theodoric I1186–1210 Bertold1210–1230 John I1230/1231–1247 Albert Suerbeeras Albert Ib. ca. 12001247–1253  before Archbishop of Armagh (1240–1246), Administrator of the Diocese of Chiemsee (1246–1247), later Prince-Archbishop of Riga (1253–1273)John of Diestas John II1254–1259 , also Dyst or Deest, d. 21 September 1259John of Tralauas John III1260–1276 , also Tralowe, d. 4 January 1276; Rudolph I, King of the Germans invested him with the princely regalia for the prince-bishopric, founder of the prince-episcopal castle in EutinBurkhard of Serkemb. ca. 12361276–1317 double tomb with Johannes Mul (1341–50)Heinrich Bochholtas Henry II1317–1341 Johannes Mulas John IVb. ca. 12911341–1350 , also Muel or Muhl; double tomb with Burkhard of Serkem (1341–1350)Bertram Cremon1350–1377 d. 5 January 1377Nicolaus Vollkrathenas Nicholas I?–13921377–1379 , also named Ziegenbock, since 1379 Bishop of MeissenConrad of Geisenheimas Conrad III1379–1386 also Gysenheim, Giesenheim, Beymondi; b. in Geisenheim, d. 30 May 1386 in Lübeck.John of Klenedenstas John V1386–1387 , also Clendenst, Kleendienst, or Kleindienst, b. in Lübeck, d. 3 August 1387 ibidem.Eberhard Attendornas Eberhard I1387–1399 also Everhardus de Atendorn, Evert von Attenderen, Athendorn; b. in Lübeck, d. on 21 March 1399.Johann Hundebekeas John VI1399–1420 , also Dülmen, Johann Dulmen, b. in Dülmen, d. 1 January 1420 in LübeckJohannes Scheleas John VIIb. ca. 1385/13901420–1439 Nicolaus Sachauas Nicholas IIb. ca. 13851439–1449 , also CzachowArnold Westphalb. 13991450–1466 Albert Krummendiekas Albert IIb. 1417/14181466–1489 also Krummediek; donated the triumphal cross created by Bernt Notke in the Lübeck Cathedral in 1477Thomas Groteb. ca. 14251489–1492 Dietrich Arndesas Theodoric IIb. 14421492–1506 also Diderich Arnd, Theodorich Arndes, ArendsWilhem Westphalb. 14431506–1509 Johannes Grimholtas John VIIIca. 14501510–1523 , also Grymmolt or GrymmeltHeinrich Bockholtas Henry IIIb. 14631523–1535  also Bokholt, Bokhold, Buchholtz; since 1531 the Free City of Lübeck adopted Lutheranism and inhibited Catholic pastoring in its part of the Lübeck diocese

Catholic and Lutheran Prince-Bishops of Lübeck (1535–1586)

+ Catholic and Lutheran Prince-Bishops of Lübeck (1535–1586) Prince-Bishops Life Reign Notes Image Coat-of-armsDetlev von Reventlowb. ca. 14851535–1535 also Ditlev; first Lutheran prince-bishop, started the Protestant Reformation in the diocese of LübeckBalthasar Rantzauca. 14971536–1547  papally confirmedJodokus Hodfilterb. 15001547–1551  also Hodefilter, papally confirmedTheodor von Rhedenas Theodoric IIIb. 1492–15561551–1554  also Theodorich, Dietrich von Reden, papally confirmed, resignedsede vacante1554–1556 Andreas von Barbyb. 15081556–1559  not papally confirmedJohannes Tiedemannas John IX1559–1561 , papally confirmed, double epitaph with his brothers and capitular canon in Lübeck and Ratzeburg Christopher Tiedemann (d. 1561)Eberhard von Holleas Eberhard IIb. 1531/15321561–1586 papally confirmed; completed the Protestant Reformation in the prince-bishopric proper

Lutheran Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric (1586–1803)

+ Administrators of the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck Administrators Life Reign Notes Image Coat-of-armsJohn Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp1575–16161586–1607  also Administrator of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (1589–1596) and co-ruling Duke of Holstein and of Schleswig (1590–1616)John Frederick of Holstein-Gottorpb. 15791607–1634  also administrator of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (1596–1634) and the Prince-Bishopric of Verden (1631–1634)John X of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorpb. 16061634–1655  Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp1641–16951655–1666  also co-ruling Duke of Holstein and Schleswig (1659–1695)August Frederick of Holstein-Gottorpb. 16461666–1705 Christian August of Holstein-Gottorpb. 16731705–1726 Charles August of Holstein-Gottorpb. 17061726–1727 Adolf Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp1710–17711727–1750 King of Sweden since 1751Frederick August I, Duke of Oldenburgb. 17111750–1785  by the Treaty of Tsarskoye Selo in 1773 also ruling the Duchy of OldenburgPeter Frederick Louis, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp1755–18291785–1803  in 1803 secularised to Principality of Lübeck within the Duchy of Oldenburg; also Duke of Oldenburg (1823–1829)

Chairperson of the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Lübeck (Eutin) (1921–77)

+Duke Frederick August and his successors served as summus episcopus of the Lutheran church of the Duchy of Oldenburg, including the Principality of Lübeck. After the abdication of the Duke in 1918 the Lutheran church in the principality seceded as Evangelical Lutheran State Church of the Region of Lübeck within the Free State of Oldenburg with effect of 19 May 1921.Pastoral chairperson of the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of the Region of Lübeck (Eutin)Seceded from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg first as Evangelical Lutheran State Church of the Region of Lübeck within the Free State of Oldenburg (as of 1921), after 1937 renamed to Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Eutin. Land Provosts/Bishops Life Term Notes Image Coat-of-armsPaul Rahtgens1867–19291921–1929  titled Superintendent and later Land Provost, the new office was established after summepiscopacy (monarchic governorate of the Lutheran church) ended with the abdication of Oldenburg's monarchsWilhelm Kieckbusch1891–19871930–1978  titled Land Provost (1930–61), thereafter BishopOn 1 January 1978 the Evangelical Lutheran State Church merged with other neighbouring Landeskirchen in the new North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church, which also staffed a position titled Bishop of Lübeck and Holstein between 1978 and 2008.

Sources Friedrich Wilhelm Ebeling, Die deutschen Bischöfe bis zum Ende des sechzehnten Jahrhunderts - Biographisch, literarisch, historisch und kirchenstatistisch dargestellt, vol. 1, Leipzig 1858, S. 562-589. Ernst Friedrich Mooyer, Verzeichnisse der deutschen Bischöfe seit dem Jahre 800 nach Chr. Geb., Minden 1854, S. 56-57. Hermann Grote, Stammtafeln, Leipzig 1877

Notes