Everything about Bernhard Von Galen totally explained
Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen (
October 12,
1606–
September 19,
1678), was
prince-bishop of Münster. He was born into a noble
Westphalian family.
Reduced to
poverty through the loss of his paternal inheritance, he took
holy orders; but this didn't prevent him from fighting on the side of the emperor
Ferdinand III during the concluding stages of the
Thirty Years' War. In
1650, he succeeded
Ferdinand of Bavaria,
archbishop of
Cologne, as
bishop of Münster.
After restoring some degree of peace and prosperity in his principality, Galen had to contend with a formidable insurrection on the part of the citizens of Münster; but at length this was crushed, and the bishop, who maintained a strong army, became an important personage in
Europe. In
1664, he was chosen one of the directors of the imperial army raised to fight the
Turks; and after the peace which followed the
Christian victory at
St. Gotthard in August 1664, he aided
Charles II of England in his
Second Anglo-Dutch War with the
Dutch, until the intervention of
Louis XIV and
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg compelled him to make a disadvantageous peace in
1666.
When Galen again attacked the
Dutch Republic six years later in the
Franco-Dutch War, he was in alliance with
Louis XIV, but he soon deserted his new friend, and fought for the emperor
Leopold I against
France. Afterwards in conjunction with
Brandenburg and
Denmark he attacked
Charles XI of Sweden, and conquered the
Duchy of Bremen. He died at
Ahaus. Galen showed himself anxious to reform the
church, but his chief energies were directed to increasing his power and prestige.
Trivia
In the
Netherlands he's known to carry the nickname "
Bommen Berend" (Bernhard
Bombs) because he unsuccessfully lay siege to the Dutch city of
Groningen using bombs. A holiday of this name is still celebrated in the city of Groningen on the 28th of August to celebrate the breaking of the siege. He is also known as "
Zwijnenbisschop" (Swine bishop), a pun on the fact that he was born in a region famous for its
hams.
Further Information
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