Prince-Bishopric of Metz

Prince-Bishopric of Metz
*Principauté épiscopale de Metz* (fr)
*Fürstbistum Metz* (de)
Prince-Bishopric of Metz Principauté épiscopale de Metz (fr); Fürstbistum Metz (de)
the 10th century–1552
	Coat of arms
	The Three Bishoprics of Metz, Toul and Verdun, about 1648
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire
Capital	Metz; Vic-sur-Seille (from 1234)
Common languages	Lotharingian French
Government	Principality
Historical era	Middle Ages
• County of Metz; established	842
• Ceded to Metz diocese	10th century
• Metz Imperial City	1189 - 1234
• Imperial immediacy; confirmed	1357
• Three Bishoprics; annexed by France	1552
• Treaty of Westphalia; recognises annexation	; 1648
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	County of Metz
Early modern France

The Bishopric of Metz was a prince-bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire. It was one of the Three Bishoprics that were annexed by France in 1552.

The Bishops of Metz had already ruled over a significant amount of territories within the former Kingdom of Lotharingia, which by the 870 Treaty of Meerssen became a part of East Francia. They had to struggle for their independence from the Dukes of Lorraine, acquired the lands of the Counts of Metz, but had to face the rise of their capital Metz to the status of an Imperial City in 1189. In 1234 the unrest of the Metz citizens forced the bishops to move their residence to Vic-sur-Seille.

In 1357 Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg again confirmed the bishopric's Imperial immediacy. From the accession of Henri of Lorraine-Vaudémont in 1484 however, the diocese was ruled by bishops from the House of Lorraine, who by their close relations with the House of Valois brought Metz unter the influence of the French crown. By the 1552 Treaty of Chambord, an alliance of revolting Protestant Imperial princes led by Elector Maurice of Saxony promised the overlordship over the Three Bishoprics of Metz, Toul and Verdun to King Henry II of France. Metz was occupied by Henry's troops and annexed by the French crown, finally acknowledged by the Empire in the 1648 Peace of Westphalia.

See also