|
The Land and Archdiocese of Salzburg in the modern age |
|
Until the late 18th century the archbishops ruled as absolute royal sovereigns. They were assisted in government by the cathedral chapter and the diet as the assembly of the states. The cathedral chapter was composed of 24 canons who had to prove at least 14 noble ancestors. They presided over all key positions (like present-day politicians). Actual administrative duties were entrusted to laymen specially educated for these tasks. The representatives of the country had assembled for the first time as a diet in 1327. While Salzburg’s cultural achievements increased in importance, the political significance of the Land started to decline towards the end of the 16th century. Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau (1587 to 1612) was the last prince to try to extend his territory by waging war against Berchtesgaden in 1611. His attempt failed. Nevertheless his name remains engraved in history because he was responsible for redesigning the entire centre of Salzburg around the new cathedral as well as commissioning the construction of the Mirabell Palace. |
 |
Markus Sitticus von Hohenems (archbishop from 1612 to 1619) is equally well known nowadays because it was he who commissioned the new cathedral in Salzburg and the construction of Hellbrunn Palace. The Italian-Tyrolean Count Paris von Lodron (1619 to 1653) managed, thanks to his diplomatic talents, to keep Salzburg Land largely intact throughout the Thirty-Years War. The new university of Salzburg was also inaugurated in this period, in 1622. Archbishop Johann Ernst Count Thun (1687 to 1709) commissioned the building of the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Ursulinen Church and the Collegiate Church as well as the presbytery and St. John’s hospital, nowadays the general hospital in Salzburg. During the rule of the last two princearchbishops Sigismund von Schrattenbach (1753 to 1771) and Hieronymus Count Colloredo (1772 to 1803), Salzburg found it increasingly difficult to resist the continuous pressure exerted by its Bavarian and Austrian neighbours. The territorial integrity was nevertheless preserved until the end of the century. Under Archbishop Hieronymus the land again enjoyed a great flourishing in the economy and scientific developments. In the year 1803, the religious principality was finally secularised and that brought an end to the secular power of the princearchbishops of Salzburg. |
|
