Prince-Bishopric of Liège
The Prince-Bishopric of Liège or Principality of Liège was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire that was situated for the most part in present-day Belgium. It was an Imperial Estate, so the bishop of Liège, as its prince, had a seat and a vote in the Imperial Diet. The Prince-Bishopric of Liège should not be confused with the Diocese of Liège, which was larger and over which the prince-bishop exercised only the usual responsibilities of a bishop.
Prince-Bishop Johann Theodor of Bavaria at a court concert at Liège
The Archiepiscopal Palace at Liège
The martyrdom of Saint Lambert
The building of Saint Martin began 965 under the reign of Heraclius
In the Holy Roman Empire, the German term Hochstift referred to the territory ruled by a bishop as a prince, as opposed to his diocese, generally much larger and over which he exercised only spiritual authority. The terms prince-bishopric and ecclesiastical principality are synonymous with Hochstift. Erzstift and Kurerzstift referred respectively to the territory (prince-archbishopric) ruled by a prince-archbishop and an elector-archbishop while Stift referred to the territory ruled by an imperial abbot or abbess, or a princely abbot or abbess. Stift was also often used to refer to any type of ecclesiastical principality.
Hochstifte and dioceses in the late 18th century
Two prince-bishoprics (Hochstifte) in the late 18th century
Stone marker from 1766 demarcating the territories of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster (coat of arms on the left side) and the Dutch province of Overijssel