Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek

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The Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek (Estonian: ; German: ) was a semi-independent principality in what is now Saare and Lääne counties of Estonia.

The bishopric was created in 1228 by the Papal legate William of Modena as a compromise between the church and the Livonian Order, the main power of the region. It was part of the Livonian Confederation. The seat of the bishopric was Hapsal (Haapsalu). Another important possession was the castle of Arensburg (Kuressaare) on the island of Ösel (Saaremaa). The principality ceased to exist in 1560 when its last prince-bishop Johannes V von Münchhausen sold it to Denmark. The Danish king's brother Magnus, duke of Holstein, was elected bishop on 13 May 1560 despite being Lutheran. Denmark ceded Wiek (Lääne County) to Poland-Lithuania in exchange for parts of Ösel belonging to the Livonian Order. Later Ösel became a Danish possession.

Bishops and Prince-Bishops of Ösel-Wiek

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