Bishop of Utrecht

The origin of the diocese dates back to 695 when St. Willibrord was consecrated bishop of frisians at Rome by Pope Sergius I, and with the consent of the Frankish ruler, Pippin of Herstal, he settled at the market-town of Utrecht. After Willibrord's death the diocese suffered greatly from the incursions of the Frisians, and later on of the Normans.

Related Topics:
Diocese - 695 - St. Willibrord - Pope Sergius I - Frankish ruler - Utrecht - Frisians - Normans

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Better times appeared during the reign of the Saxon emperors, who frequently summoned the Bishops of Utrecht to attend the imperial councils and diets. In 1024 the bishops were made Princes of the Holy Roman Empire and the new prince-bishopric of Utrecht was formed. It contained not only the present day Dutch province of Utrecht, but also the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel.

Related Topics:
Saxon emperors - 1024 - Holy Roman Empire - Dutch - Utrecht - Groningen - Drenthe - Overijssel

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In 1122, with the Concordat of Worms, the emperor's right of investiture was annulled, and the cathedral chapter received the right to the election of his bishop. It was, however, soon obliged to share this right with the four other collegiate chapters in the city: St. Salvator, St. John's, St. Peter's, St. Mary's. The Counts of Holland and Geldern, between whose territories the lands of the Bishops of Utrecht lay, also sought to acquire influence over the filling of the episcopal see. This often led to disputes and consequently the Holy See frequently interfered in the election. After the middle of the 14th century the popes repeatedly appointed the bishop directly without regard to the five chapters.

Related Topics:
1122 - Concordat of Worms - Holland - Geldern - Holy See - 14th century

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In 1527, the Bishop sold his territories to Emperor Charles V and the principality became part of the Habsburg dominions; the chapters voluntarily transferred their right of electing the bishop to Charles, and Pope Clement VII gave his consent to these proceedings.

Related Topics:
1527 - Emperor Charles V - Habsburg - Pope Clement VII

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In 1559 Utrecht was raised to the rank of an archdiocese and metropolitan see with six suffragan dioceses, but this new ecclesiastical assett had not a long existence. When the northern provinces of the Netherlands revolted, the archdiocese fell, with the overthrow of the Spanish power. According to the terms of the Union of Utrecht, the rights and privileges of the Roman Catholic religion were guaranteed, but on June 14, 1580, the practice of that religion was forbidden by the magistrates of Utrecht. The Cathedral of Saint Martin was taken from the archbishop and his Chapter; in truth the Government of the United Provinces was unable to control the extremists.

Related Topics:
1559 - Archdiocese - Union of Utrecht - June 14 - 1580 - United Provinces

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On August 25, 1580, Archbishop Schenk died, and two successors appointed by Spain did not receive canonical confirmation, neither could they enter their diocese.

Related Topics:
August 25 - 1580 - Archbishop Schenk

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The See remained vacant until 1602, when the place of Archbishop was taken by the apostolic vicars of the Dutch Mission (Hollandse Zending), who, however, were generally driven from the country by the States-General and forced to administer their charge from abroad. These vicars were consecrated as titular archbishops in order not to offend Dutch Government, but with the condition that he might assume the real title of Archbishop of Utrecht when circumstances would permit.

Related Topics:
1602 - Archbishop - Apostolic vicars - Dutch Mission - States-General - Titular archbishops

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During the last period of the apostolic vicariate, Jansenism and Gallicanism spread among the clergy and vicar Petrus Codde was suspended by the Pope, who accused him of being a jansenist. He continued as Archbishop and remained out of Communion with the Papacy. After his death the majority of the diocesan clergy continued to claim the right to elect its own bishops.

Related Topics:
Jansenism - Gallicanism - Petrus Codde

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Having obtained the permission of the Dutch government, in 1723 the chapter elected a new archbishop, who was not confirmed and excommunicated by Pope Benedict XIII. This was the beginning of what would become the Old Catholic Church. All the Old Catholic Archbishops until 1858, notified their election to the Popes.

Related Topics:
1723 - Excommunicated - Pope Benedict XIII - Old Catholic Church - Old Catholic Archbishops - 1858

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In 1853 the Holy See re-established its own hierarchy in the Netherlands, unofficially called the "New Catholic Church".

Related Topics:
1853 - Holy See

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At present the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht, since 1945 often a cardinal, is the Primate of Netherlands and the Metropolitan of a province with six suffragans.

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