- Ernst Bogislaw von Croÿ
Ernst Bogislaw von Croÿ (
26 August 1620 –6 February 1684 ) was a LutheranBishop of Kammin and official in the service ofBrandenburg-Prussia .Family
Ernst Bogislaw was born in
Finstingen as the son ofErnst von Croÿ (1588-1620), Duke ofCroÿ andAarschot , andAnna von Croÿ (1590-1660), daughter ofBogislaw XIII, Duke of Pomerania . Although theHouse 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 on7 October 1620 nearOppenheim while campaigning during theThirty Years' War forFerdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor . Hostile to her husband's family, Anna fled with Ernst Bogislaw to Stettin (Szczecin), the capital of theDuchy 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 theHouse 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 1648Treaty 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 ofFrederick William, Elector of Brandenburg , and served as Statthalter ofHinterpommern 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 ofErnst Ludwig, Duke of Pomerania , and theCroy Tapestry . After his death inKönigsberg , Ernst Bogislaw was buried next to his mother in the palace church of Stolp (Słupsk).References
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