Augsburg, Bishopric of

AUGSBURG, BISHOPRIC OF: The origin of the Augsburg bishopric is lost in obscurity, but there is no doubt that it goes back to the days of the Roman empire. The importance of the colony of Augusta Vindelicorum is sufficient to account for the early introduction of Christianity there. That it was evangelized from the north of Italy is probable from the fact that it originally formed a part of the ecclesiastical province of Aquileia. It survived the downfall of the empire, the Alemannic conquest, and the subjection of the Alemanni in their turn to Frankish rule. The early boundaries of the diocese, including not only Suabian but also Bavarian and Frankish territory, give further evidence that it was in existence before the establishment of Teutonic dominion. The present diocese has lost a few Austrian districts and those parts which are now in Württemberg, but has retained so much of the old diocese of Constance as is now Bavarian. From the foundation of the archbishopric of Mainz, Augsburg was a suffragan see under its jurisdiction until the reorganization of 1817 transferred it to the newly founded province of Munich. The secular jurisdiction which the bishops of Augsburg had exercised for more than a thousand years was taken from them in 1802 and transferred to the Elector of Bavaria.

(A. Hauck.)

Bibliography:P. I. Braun, Geschichte der Bischöfe von Augsburg, 4 vols., Augsburg, 1813-15; A. Steichele, Das Bistum Augsburg . . . beschrieben, 6 vols., Augsburg, 1864-1901; consult also Rettberg, KD; Friedrich, KD; and Hauck, KD.