Brixen, Bistum

Brixen, Diocese of: The episcopal see of Sabiona, which according to legend was founded by St. Cassian in the 4^th century, was transferred to Brixen/Bressanone in the 10^th century: first historically documented bishop of Säben (Sabiona) was St. Ingenuin, mentioned in 588/89. Sabiona was suffragan to Aquileia, from 798 to Salzburg. Ludwig the German conferred immunity on the property in 845. St. Albuin transferred the episcopal see to Brixen. The Emperors Otto II, Heinrich II, Konrad II (counties in the Inn and Eisack valleys in 1027), Heinrich III and Heinrich IV (counties in the Puster valley/Val Pusteria in 1091) enlarged the property. Bishop Poppo (1039-1044) was Pope (Damasus II) for 23 days. In 1179 the bishop of Brixen obtained the right to levy tolls and the right of coinage by Friedrich Barbarossa, though it was the governors (Counts of Andechs, after 1241 Counts of the Tyrol) who benefited from these rights. The 15^th century saw several conflicts with the Princes of the Tyrol originating from different sovereign rights (Nikolaus von Cues 1450-1564). As a consequence of the peace of Lunéville the secular territory became part of the Austrian monarchy in 1803.

The diocese consisted of the entire territory of North, East and South Tyrol and of Vorarlberg; in 1902 422,000 Catholics, 1,362 secular priests and priests of a religious order, 502 pastoral centres (of which 377 were in the Tyrol and 125 in Vorarlberg), as well as the Theological Department of Innsbruck University belonged to the diocese of B. The bishop was appointed by the Emperor.

After 1919 an administrator was nominated for the territories in the Tyrol; in 1964 the diocese of Innsbruck was set up, the diocese of Brixen was transferred to Bozen. From 1818 Vorarlberg had a vicar-general in Feldkirch who was suffragan bishop to Brixen, in 1968 Feldkirch became a diocese in its own right.