Cathedral of Chur. Photo: www.kath.ch

Christianity in Graubünden and the last Prince-Bishop of the Holy Roman Empire

Christianity took root in Switzerland at the beginning of the 5th century and throughout the 6th century. The oldest church foundations in St. Maurice, Chur, and Geneva date from the 4th century.

The abbey of St. Maurice was founded in 516. Christian congregations existed in the fifth century in Romainmôtier, Nyon, Yverdon, Avenches, Windisch, Augst, Basel, and Martigny. The abbeys of Moutier-Grandval and St. Ursanne were founded around 630.

It took some longer in the countryside. Most churches were founded in the late 6th and early 7th centuries, and the dioceses gradually expanded across the countryside.
Christianity was already firmly rooted in Raetia in the 5th century.

Raetia prima. Raetia, Churraetia or Graubünden

In the 5th century, Christianity was firmly rooted in the Roman province of Raetia prima et Curia or Chur (Churraetia or Rhaetia). The bishop of Chur was first mentioned in 451.

Around 600, a bishopric was founded in Constance, in the duchy of Alemania. This bishopric greatly influenced present-day Switzerland’s territories until the French occupation (1798-1813).

Churraetia remained independent long after the Romans’ departure, but the Carolingians took over in the 8th century. The Victorid dynasty, which had reigned since 550, died out around 775, and Charlemagne (1748-1814) appointed Carolingian counts as rulers of Churraetia. They founded monasteries in Reichenau, Pfäfers, and Disentis and appointed bishops in Constance and Chur and abbots in the monasteries.

The bishop of Chur was first mentioned in 451. Around 600, a diocese was founded in Constance in the Duchy of Swabia (Herzogtum Alamannien). Raetia remained independent for a long time, but the Carolingians became increasingly dominant.

The Victoriden dynasty, which had ruled over Raetia since 550,  extinguished around 775. Charlemagne appointed Frankish counts as rulers of Raetia. The Carolingians founded monasteries in Reichenau, Pfäfers, and Disentis in the eighth century and appointed Frankish bishops in Constance and St. Gallen.

They also controlled the passes and roads to Lombardy. The Carolingian/Frankish rulers and their successors (from 962 onwards, the German kings and later the Habsburg emperors) maintained their influence for centuries to come, formally until the transfer of Tarasp (1803) and Rähzüns (1819) to the canton of Graubünden.

Emperor Lothar I (795-855) divided the Carolingian Empire in 843 in the Treaty of Verdun. Chur was attached to the archbishopric of Mainz. Mainz seceded in 1803 during the imperial deputation of Regensburg (Regensburger Reichsdeputationshauptschluss).

The  last Prince-Bishop

When Bishop Karl Rudolf von Buol-Schauenstein (1760-1833) died, he was the last bishop in Europe to hold the title of Prince-Bishop of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.