Ernst Bogislaw von Croÿ

Ernst Bogislaw von Croÿ (26 August 1620 – 6 February 1684) was a Lutheran Bishop of Kammin and official in the service of Brandenburg-Prussia.

Family

Ernst Bogislaw was born in Finstingen as the son of Ernst von Croÿ (1588-1620), Duke of Croÿ and Aarschot, and Anna von Croÿ (1590-1660), daughter of Bogislaw XIII, Duke of Pomerania. Although the House of Croÿ was Roman Catholic, his parents marriage contract called for a Protestant education for their children. A few weeks after Ernst Bogislaw was born, his father fell ill and died on 7 October 1620 near Oppenheim while campaigning during the Thirty Years' War for Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. Hostile to her husband's family, Anna fled with Ernst Bogislaw to Stettin (Szczecin), the capital of the Duchy of Pomerania.

Ernst Bogislaw began studying at the University of Greifswald in 1634. His uncle, Bogislaw XIV, Duke of Pomerania, granted him lordship over Naugard (Nowogard) and Massow (Maszewo). When Bogislaw XIV, the last duke of the House of Pomerania, died in 1637, Ernst Bogislaw inherited the late ruler's personal possessions.

From 1637-50 Ernst Bogislaw was the Protestant Bishop of Kammin; the bishopric was promised to Brandenburg-Prussia in the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia. In 1650 he renounced his rights to the bishopric in return for a large payment and the expectancy to his mother's Pomeranian pension. Ernst Bogislaw entered the service of Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, and served as Statthalter of Hinterpommern from 1665-70 and Statthalter of Prussia from 1670-84.

Ernst Bogislaw completed his will shortly before his death. With permission from the authorities of Swedish Pomerania, he bequeathed to the University of Greifswald his assets, including books, the signet ring of Bogislaw XIV, the golden chain of Ernst Ludwig, Duke of Pomerania, and the Croy Tapestry. After his death in Königsberg, Ernst Bogislaw was buried next to his mother in the palace church of Stolp (Słupsk).

References