Map of the modern diocese of Basel within Switzerland
may refer to either the
Roman Catholic diocese in
Switzerland (German:
Bistum Basel, Latin:
Dioecesis Basileensis) or to the historic prince-bishopric (German:
Fürstbistum Basel), a secular state in which the bishop governed parts of Switzerland and France until late in the 1700s. The bishop of Basel has not resided in the city of
Basel since 1528.
Solothurn is the seat of the Bishop of
Basel.
Today the diocese of Basel includes the Swiss cantons of
Aargau,
Basel-Country,
Basel-City,
Berne,
Jura,
Lucerne,
Schaffhausen,
Solothurn,
Thurgau, and
Zug.
History
Map of the Bishopric of Basel in the 16th century
Basel itself became episcopal seat in ca. 740, continuing the 4th century diocese of
Augusta Raurica.
Prior to the
Reformation, the bishop resided in Basel, from 1528 in
Porrentruy, and since 1828 in
Solothurn.
From 999 to 1802, the Bishop was not only diocesan
Ordinary but also a
Prince-Bishop, ranking as an ecclesiastical
Reichsfurst of the
Holy Roman Empire. Following the Imperial Reform of 1495, the prince-bishopric was part of the
Upper Rhenish Circle of the
Imperial Circle Estates.
By the 16th century, the Prince-Bishopric of Basel comprised:
The Prince-Bishopric also held the following territories, which were lost before 1527:
Ordinaries
Haller House in
Solothurn, residence of the Bishop of Basel.
For a list of bishops prior to 1583, see:
List of Bishops of Basel
