The Prince-Bishopric Era in the Sign of Absolutism (1661 – 1802). 1st Part. The 17th Century.

Georg Tessin (and Hans-Joachim Behr) write the following on this subject:

"The formation of a standing mercenary army in the Prince-Bishopric of Münster is connected with the person of the warlike Prince-Bishop Christoph von Galen.

Only with reservations can some units that were raised in the second half of the Thirty Years' War be claimed as core troop elements for the later prince-bishopric army, since it is not always clearly distinguishable between immediacy regiments and those of the League or of the Dutch–Westphalian Imperial Circle and also those of the Emperor.

In 1632 a presumably Münster regiment Oer with 10 companies of 300 horsemen each served in the army of Count Gronsfeld in Westphalia. In 1633 the prince-bishopric concluded a treaty with Caspar von Oer regarding reinforcement of the regiment and concerning his compensation. In 1637 von Oer recruited a new imperial cavalry regiment. The regiment von Westerholt, mentioned in Münster records, was also probably imperial. Conversely, one can probably call an infantry regiment Münsterian that was raised in 1632 by Alexander von Velen. Velen had previously served the Emperor and in the spring of 1631 had recruited a regiment for the League on the Lower Rhine and in Westphalia. At the request of the Münster estates he obtained leave in order to organize the protection of the Münsterland threatened by Hesse. Colonel von Velen himself took command of the regiment of 3,000 men subsequently raised in the prince-bishopric of Münster. The Velen regiment is named in 1635 in the League’s army in Lower Saxony and Westphalia. In 1638 it served under Field Marshal Count Götze in Upper Germany. There was also a Münster infantry regiment Reumont stationed there, which in 1643, however as an imperial regiment, was quartered in Dorsten.

At the disbanding of the army, in Münster apparently only two companies of cavalry under the captains Meinerzhagen and Gosäus remained in 1649. The few non-disbanded companies of foot soldiers, as in all German territories, were garrisoned in the fortresses and did not form a regimental formation.".

Source: Westfälische Forschungen, 1982, p. 87 ff.

After the Thirty Years' War, in the course of the developing territorial-state sovereignty, the military system evolved toward a standing army. In almost all states this development was accompanied by a power struggle between the ruler and the estates. The estates were supposed to approve the financial means for an instrument that could be used both externally and internally. For this reason they feared — not without justification — an end to their participatory rights in financial matters and in foreign and domestic policy. The ecclesiastical principalities had the particularity that the prince-bishop had to be elected by the cathedral chapter and confirmed by the Emperor as Imperial Prince and by the Pope as Bishop. The cathedral chapter of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster consisted of 41 noble canons who often claimed special privileges for themselves. The city of Münster also asserted such privileges. The prince was supported in his government activities by several administrative bodies, e.g. the Pfennigkammer, the Hofkammer and the Privy Council. The prince-bishops lived under official celibacy and were necessarily dependent on the election decision of the cathedral chapter, so there was no succession from father to son. Under these conditions continuity in foreign and domestic policy was hardly possible. This circumstance also had an adverse effect on military policy and the long-term development of the military system.

In the 17th century the military in the Prince-Bishopric of Münster also mainly consisted of mercenaries who had been recruited by recruiting officers. Forced conscription was not excluded. The army was already divided into infantry, cavalry and artillery, with the infantry, consisting of musketeers and pikemen, forming the main force.

The emergence and formation of a standing army in the Prince-Bishopric of Münster is closely linked with the strong-willed personality of Prince-Bishop Christoph von Galen[1]. His reign (1650–78) was characterized by an internal struggle against the estates to assert an absolutist claim to rule and culminated in the siege and subjugation of his own capital in the year 1661.

[1] See: Theodor Verspohl, The Military Organization of the Münster Prince-Bishop Christoph Bernhard von Galen 1650–1678, Hildesheim 1909.

Christoph Bernhard von Galen (born 12 Oct 1606 at Haus Bisping near Rinkerode; died 19 September 1678 in Ahaus) was one of the most important and most conflict-ridden Prince-Bishops of Münster. He ruled the prince-bishopric from 1650 until his death in 1678. Because of his aggressive foreign policy and the massive use of artillery he went down in history as "Kanonenbernd" or "Bomben-Bernd".

He came from the old Westphalian noble family von Galen. Although his parents were Protestant, after a family tragedy — his father had to be confined for years because of a fatal hunting dispute — he was raised Catholic under the care of his Catholic uncle.

He received his education from 1616 to 1622 at the Jesuit school Paulinum in Münster. Afterwards he studied philosophy as well as church and state law in Cologne, Mainz, Leuven and Bordeaux.

After entering the Münster cathedral chapter he rose in 1642 to treasurer (Thesaurar). On 14 Nov 1650 he was finally elected by the cathedral chapter as the new bishop.

After the Thirty Years' War the relationship between the absolutist-minded Prince-Bishop and the city of Münster, which strove for independence, was extremely tense. When the citizens refused to finance his troops, von Galen had his own city besieged militarily. In the year In 1661 Münster capitulated, it lost its municipal privileges and von Galen had the monumental citadel of Münster built to secure his power.

At the same time he vigorously promoted the Counter-Reformation, fought Protestantism and revitalized Catholic religious life by promoting pilgrimages (such as the Bethen pilgrimage) and processions.

Von Galen was a passionate military strategist and foreign-policy statesman. He created an effective standing army and entangled his bishopric in numerous international conflicts:

Wars against the Netherlands: In alliances (including with England and France) he led two major campaigns (1665 and 1672) against the Republic of the Seven United Provinces to regain formerly lost territories. He became famous for his unsuccessful but devastating siege of Groningen in 1672.

War against Sweden: Later he fought in the Northern War alongside Denmark and Brandenburg against Sweden and in the process captured the Duchy of Bremen-Verden.

Christoph Bernhard von Galen died on 19 September 1678 at Ahaus Castle. He found his final resting place in the St. Joseph's Chapel, which he had built, in St. Paul's Cathedral in Münster. He is historically regarded as a typical representative of baroque absolutism, who radically consolidated the secular sovereignty of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster, but economically burdened the population heavily through his constant wars.

The army of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster reached an utterly disproportionate strength for an ecclesiastical territory of around 60,000 men under arms at the height of Christoph Bernhard von Galen's power.

Von Galen is considered the true creator of the Münster army, as he began to massively expand the forces immediately after taking office. The development of his troop strength in detail:

The beginnings (1651): At the start he took over only 1,500 soldiers from the residual forces of the Thirty Years' War in Westphalia and quickly increased these to 3,000 men to be able to act in foreign policy.

The expansion (1650s/1660s): To finance the troops permanently, he forced the estates to pay funds and built modern citadels in Coesfeld, Vechta and Münster. His army grew during this time into a standing force of several thousand professional soldiers.

The peak (1672): For the major campaign in the course of the Hollandse Oorlog (Dutch War) alongside France, he mobilized, through extensive recruitment and alliance funds (subsidies), a huge army of up to 60,000 soldiers.

However, this enormous military striking power was artificially inflated and was almost entirely financed by foreign subsidy payments (among others from France and England). After von Galen's death in 1678 the state was heavily indebted, so his successors radically cut the military budget and drastically reduced troop strength.

Summary: Under his reign the Prince-Bishopric of Münster ultimately had an effective, but completely oversized, army. In 1672 roughly 60,000 men are said to have been under arms. His ambitious plans did not become reality and the budget of the Münster military was significantly cut under his successors.

The regiments of the Münster army in the 17th century — as was customary in the Baroque era — were named after their respective regiment proprietors or commanders. Because units were renamed, reformed, or merged when their commander changed, the structure was in continuous flux.

At the height of mobilization in 1672 (during the campaign against the Netherlands) the core army consisted of the following documented regiments:

Cavalry (mounted troops & dragoons)

The cavalry formed the mobile elite and was responsible for rapid thrusts and securing flanks:

Münster Body Regiment: The personal regiment of Prince-Bishop Christoph Bernhard von Galen.

Regiment Nagel: Commanded by the Münster commander-in-chief Dietrich Hermann von Nagel zu Vornholz.

Regiment Bentheim: Under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Moritz, Count of Bentheim-Tecklenburg.

Other cavalry regiments in 1672: Regiment Post, Regiment Westerholt, Regiment Meinerzhagen, Regiment Maspach, Regiment Courseiller, Regiment Macdonnel, Regiment Lenard, Regiment Hautin, Regiment Bernsing, Regiment Offen, Regiment Bönninghausen, Regiment Kaldenbach, Regiment Sander and Regiment Probst.

Infantry (foot troops)

The infantry made up the bulk of soldiers in sieges and consisted mainly of musketeers and pikemen:

• Regiment Pleuren: Led by Lieutenant General Oswald von Pleuren (approx. 950 men).

• Regiment Scherenberg: Under the command of Colonel Scherenberg (approx. 891 men).

• Regiment Elverfeldt: Commanded by Colonel von Elverfeldt (approx. 850 men).

• Regiment Töller: Led by Colonel Töller (approx. 660 men).

• Regiment Sankt Thuin: Directed by Colonel Sankt Thuin (approx. 600 men).

• Other infantry regiments: Among others Regiment Walpott

The artillery corps: Although less often organized as a formal "regiment", it formed the technological heart of the army under the "Kanonenbernd". It possessed state-of-the-art siege guns, mortars and incendiary projectiles (the so-called "Münster bombs").

The Münster artillery had a good reputation, especially after its deployment before Belgrade (1688) against the Turks. Its leaders — such as Johann Konrad Schlaun (command: 1733 – 1773) — also made a name for themselves as architects. Its arsenal was ample, but soon became outdated. For the artillery — long a hybrid between a branch of service and a guild — blue coats are attested early on; they also retained the red waistcoats.

The most important deployment locations at a glance:

1. In his own territory (Münsterland & Westphalia)

Before von Galen could become active in foreign policy, he deployed his troops internally to expel foreign occupiers and pacify the region:

Expulsion of foreign troops: After the Thirty Years' War he expelled Hessian troops from Coesfeld, Swedish soldiers from Vechta and Dutch occupiers from Bevergern Castle.

Siege of Münster (1657 and 1660/61): His army besieged its own capital several times to break the citizens' will for independence. After the city's capitulation in 1661 the troops were permanently stationed in the newly built citadel of Münster to control the city.

The starting situation: Imperial immediacy vs. territorial lordship

In the late Middle Ages and during the Thirty Years' War Münster had fought for and achieved a considerable autonomy. The wealthy citizens and guilds governed themselves, had their own jurisdiction and often refused to pay taxes to the bishop. The city's great goal was imperial immediacy — i.e. official recognition as a Free Imperial City subordinate only to the Emperor.

When Christoph Bernhard von Galen became bishop in 1650, this desire for freedom met a ruler who embodied baroque absolutism. For von Galen, an autonomous city at the center of his territory was an unacceptable situation. He wanted to centralize the prince-bishopric and break the power of the estates and cities.

The course of the conflict.

The escalation and the betrayal of alliance (1650–1656)

1650: Immediately after his election, von Galen demands the city's homage. Münster delays this and ties it to conditions. The bishop also demands money for troops, which the city strictly refuses.

1654: Münster commits a diplomatic affront. The city secretly sends envoys to the Protestant Netherlands to conclude a protective alliance against its own Catholic sovereign. Von Galen learns of this and regards it as a grave act of treason.

The first siege and the sham peace (1657–1659)

August 1657: Von Galen loses patience. He gathers around 5,000 soldiers and besieges Münster for the first time. His artillery bombards the city, whereupon the citizens angrily set fire to the prince-bishop's monastery Überwasser outside the walls.

October 1657: The conflict threatens to become an imperial war, as the Netherlands mobilize troops at the border. The Emperor intervenes and mediates the 'Klever Accord'. Von Galen must lift the siege, but the core question of the city's independence remains unresolved. Over the following two years both sides massively rearm in secret.

The great blockade and the starvation siege (1660–1661)

July 1660: After the city once again ignored princely orders, von Galen assembles a far larger army and seals Münster completely off from the outside world.

The tactic of attrition: Instead of storming the strong city walls, von Galen relies on systematic starvation. His troops occupy the surrounding countryside, plunder the citizens' supply depots and intercept every trader.

Cutting off the water: To maximize the pressure, the bishop has the river Aa dammed and diverted. As a result, the city's watermills stand still – milling grain and producing bread become impossible. A severe famine breaks out in the city.

The collapse and the unconditional capitulation (1661)

Spring 1661: The situation in the city is catastrophic, supplies are completely exhausted. The hoped-for military aid from the Netherlands or from the Emperor does not materialize, as no one wants to risk an open war with the militarily powerful bishop. The morale of the starving citizens collapses.

March 26, 1661: The city council recognizes the hopelessness and signs the unconditional capitulation.

The bishop's entry: A few days later Christoph Bernhard von Galen rides high on horseback in a triumphant procession through the gates of the humiliated city. He has the city council deposed, physically burns the city's privileges and immediately begins construction of the citadel to subjugate the city forever.

How did the siege proceed?

The siege from 1660 to 1661 was not a classic assault with ladders and breaches, but a months-long, psychologically and logistically extremely brutal war of attrition. Christoph Bernhard von Galen relied on the tactic of systematic starvation and total isolation.

The military encirclement

Von Galen sealed the city off with a dense ring of fortifications, redoubts and troop camps.

Cutting off the supply: No merchant, no farmer and no message got through anymore. The fertile surrounding countryside that normally supplied Münster with food was controlled and plundered by the bishop's troops.

The blockade of the Aa: The most consequential measure was the deliberate diversion and damming of the river Aa in front of the city's gates. Because the citizens' watermills no longer had any power as a result, no grain could be ground. Flour and bread production almost completely collapsed.

The subjugation had drastic consequences for the citizens of Münster that shaped the city's appearance and administration for centuries:

Loss of all privileges: The city's rights of self-representation and administration were abolished. The city council lost its independence and was subordinated to the bishop.

Disarmament: The city had to hand over its cannons and weapons to the bishop. the citizens' militias were dissolved.

Construction of the citadel: To control the citizens permanently and to nip future uprisings in the bud, von Galen had the monumental, star-shaped citadel of Münster (the present-day palace grounds) built from 1661 in the west of the city. Its cannons were tellingly not aimed outwards, but directly at the city.

Political consequences: Through this victory von Galen finally broke internal resistance and turned Münster into the fortified residential city of an absolutist principality.