Medieval bishop
As a medieval bishop you would be a shepherd of souls, a great landlord and a royal politician all at once – often wearing a mitre one day and riding with an army the next.
Shepherd of a diocese
A bishop led a diocese from his cathedral, the church that held his cathedra, or throne. Only he could ordain priests, consecrate churches and – in the western Church – confirm the faithful. He visited parishes, held synods to set rules for the clergy, judged church court cases such as marriage disputes, and was responsible for the religious life of thousands of people. Cathedral chapters of canons helped run the diocese and in many periods elected the bishop. His symbols of office were the mitre, the crozier – shaped like a shepherd’s crook – and a ring signifying his bond with the diocese.
Landlord and statesman
Bishops were also among the richest landholders in Europe, with villages, towns, mills and forests whose revenues paid for cathedrals, clergy and charity. Many came from noble families and served kings as chancellors, diplomats and advisers. In the Holy Roman Empire some ruled as princes, and a bishop might lead troops in war.
This dual role produced conflict. The Investiture Controversy of the 11th and 12th centuries was fought over whether kings or the pope had the right to appoint bishops, and it was settled, in compromise, by the Concordat of Worms in 1122.
Bishops in Polish history
Poland’s church organisation dates to the year 1000, when the Archdiocese of Gniezno was created with dioceses at Kraków, Wrocław and Kołobrzeg. The Archbishop of Gniezno became the Primate, the senior churchman of the realm. Bishop Stanisław of Kraków was killed in 1079 in a conflict with King Bolesław the Bold and was later canonised, becoming one of Poland’s patron saints. In Poland bishops also sat on the royal council and later in the Senate, where they took precedence over lay lords.
