Prince-Bishopric of Verden

Prince-Bishopric of Verden
Principality of Verden
(Hoch)Stift Verden (1180–1648)
1180–1648
Coat of arms
Verden (in pink, below right) c. 1655
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire
CapitalVerden (seat of chapter),
Rotenburg (residence of pr.-bishops since 1195)¹
Common languagesGerman, Low German
Religion
Catholic Church till the 1550s, then Lutheranism
GovernmentEcclesiastical principality
Ruler 
• 1395–1398
Prince-Bishop Dietrich
• 1398–1399
Prince-Bishop Conrad II
• 1623–29, 1635–45
Administrator Frederick II
• 1630–1631
Prince-Bishop Francis
• 1631–1634
Admin. John Frederick
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
1180
15 May 1648
Area
1806730 km2 (280 sq mi)
Population
• 1806
20,000
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Duchy of Saxony
Kingdom of Westphalia

The Prince-Bishopric of Verden was an ecclesiastical principality or Hochstift of the Holy Roman Empire, located in Lower Saxony, Germany. Established as a diocese of the Catholic Church in the middle of the 8th century, it was officially dissolved by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, and replaced by the Duchies of Bremen-Verden.