Philippe von Gundelsheim (1487–1553) was the Prince-Bishop of Basel from 1527 to 1553.

Biography

Philippe von Gundelsheim was born in 1487.^[1] He studied at Heidelberg University (1503) and the University of Basel (1504–05).^[1] He became a canon of the Basel Münster in 1510.^[1]

On 28 February 1527 the cathedral chapter of Basel Münster, meeting at Delémont, elected him to be the new Prince-Bishop of Basel, with Pope Clement VII confirming his appointment on 31 August 1527.^[2] He was consecrated as a bishop on 31 December 1527.^[2]

In 1529, the city of Basel became Protestant under the leadership of Johannes Oecolampadius.^[1] In 1530, Laufental rebelled against the bishop, but were suppressed using forces from Solothurn.^[1] Because of insolvency, the prince-bishopric grew increasingly dependent on the city of Basel, with the city granting him a mortgage on Birseck Castle in 1542, 1544, and 1545.^[1] In 1547, Philippe and the city formally agreed to allow the city to choose its own religion, recognizing that the city had already become Protestant.^[1]

He died in Porrentruy on 14 September 1553.^[2]

References