Bishopric of Dorpat
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The Bishopric of Dorpat (in Estonian: Tartu piiskopkond) was a medieval principality which existed from 1234 to 1558, generally encompassing what are now Tartu, Põlva, Võru and Jõgeva counties in Estonia. The Bishopric was part of Livonian Confederation. The first bishop of Dorpat (Tartu) was Hermann von Buxhoeveden, the brother of Albert, bishop of Riga and leader of the Livonian Crusade. The Estonian Diocese was established by the bishop of Riga in 1211 and its first nominal seat was Leal (Lihula) in western Estonia. In 1224 Estonian bishop Hermann took possession of parts of what is today southeastern Estonia and chose Dorpat as his new seat. The principality was founded mainly on territories of Ugaunian tribe of ancient Estonians. In 1242 Bishop Hermann with his Ugaunian subjects was defeated by Novgorod's prince Alexander Nevsky in famous Battle on Lake Peipus.The Bishopric of Dorpat was an important Hanseatic trade center.
In the end of 14th century former Dietrich Damerow became the Bishop of Dorpat. He was the archenemy of the Livonian Order and made a coalition against it with Lithuania, Mecklenburg and Victual Brothers (notorious pirates of the Baltic Sea). He even asked King Richard II of England to take Dorpat under his protection. The Order invaded the bishopric in 1379 with no success. After settling the conflict the Livonian Order lost its right to demand vassals of bishoprics take part in military campaigns.
During its last years, the Bishopric of Dorpat had a dispute with Russia which became later the main pretext of the Livonian War. Tsar Ivan the Terrible demanded that the bishopric pay huge tribute of 40,000 talers. Ivan insisted that the Dorpat was the ancient Russian fortress of Yuryev (referring to short term Ruthenian rule of the area after conquest by prince Yaroslav I the Wise, 1030-1061(?)). The rulers of Dorpat tried to negotiate a smaller amount in the interest of extending the truce, but Ivan dismissed the diplomats and started the war. In 1558 Tartu was conquered by Russian troops and the Bishopric of Dorpat ceased to exist.
[edit] The Bishopric today
The centre of the bishopric was the Tartu (Dorpat) castle. The castle was damaged during the Northern War and was dismantled during the 18th century, later (at the beginning of 19th century) in the same place was erected the observatory (known as old observatory). The Dome of the bishopric has been in ruins since the 17th century.
[edit] The Bishops of Dorpat
- Hermann I von Buxhövden 1224-1248
- Alexander 1263-1268
- Friedrich von Haseldorf 1268-1288
- Bernhard I 1289-1302
- Dietrich II Vyshusen 1302-1312
- Nikolaus 1312-1323
- Engelbert von Dolen 1323-1341
- Johannes I Viffhusen 1346-1373
- Heinrich I von Velde 1373-1378
- Dietrich III Damerow 1378-1400
- Heinrich II Wrangel 1400-1410
- Bernhard II Bülow 1410-1413
- Dietrich IV Resler 1413-1441
- Bartholomäus Savijerwe 1441-1459
- Helmich von Mallinkrodt 1459-1468
- Andreas Pepler 1468-1473
- Johannes II Bertkow 1473-1485
- Dietrich V Hake 1485-1498
- Johannes III von der Rope 1499-1505
- Gerhard Schrove 1505-1513
- Johannes IV Duesborg 1513-1514
- Christian Bomhower 1514-1518
- Johannes V Blankenfeld 1518-1527
- Johannes VI Bey 1528-1543
- Jodokus von der Recke 1544-1551
- Hermann II Wesel 1552-1560
