Philip Christopher of Sötern (German: Philipp Christoph von Sötern) (11 December 1567 - 7 February 1652) was the Bishop of Speyer from 1610 until 1652 Archbishop of Trier from 1623 until 1652.
Philip Christopher was born in Kastellaun to a Catholic mother and a Protestant father. Through the influence of his Catholic uncle, who was a lord of the cathedral in Trier, in childhood he was already Catholic himself. He was educated at the Jesuit school in Trier, and by the age of 17 he was made a member of the cathedral, and was also made a member of those in Speyer and Mainz as well. He was made a Cathedral provost in 1604, and demonstrated himself to be a skillful negotiator and diplomat in sensitive controversies surrounding the archbishopric. Therefore he was recommended and in 1609 was made coadjutor to the bishop of Speyer, succeeding him in 1610.
To guard the Bishopric of Speyer from invasion by France, Philip Christopher constructed many fortifications and castles, among them the Philippsburg. He was a strong supporter of the Counter-Reformation much like his later adversary, Ferdinand II of Austria. In 1623 he was elected the Archbishop of Trier. In both dioceses he implemented rigid taxation systems to finance administration and the construction of further fortifications, arms, and a new archbishop's residence of Philippsburg in Ehrenbreitstein, Coblenz. These measures divided the cathedral chapter and the populace, and in the Thirty Years' War he sided with the Protestants against the Catholic League led by Ferdinand.
The citizens of Trier asked Ferdinand and soldiers in the Spanish Netherlands for assistance against him, and they occupied Trier in 1630. In 1631 he signed a neutrality pact with Sweden and Cardinal Richelieu, who was in charge of French policy at the time, and granted the French use of Ehrenbreitstein and Philippsburg. Philip The French then reconquered Trier for him in 1632. In 1634 he appointed Richelieu the coadjutor of the archdiocese, thus designating him his successor. This and the garrison of French soldiers in strategic Coblenz on the Rhine threatened to divide the Imperial and Catholic forces in the Netherlands from the crownlands of Austria and southern German states, so in 1635 the Spanish captured Trier and imprisoned Philip Christopher for ten years.
Meanwhile with the Holy Roman Emperor's permission the Cathedral chapter took over the running of the archbishopric. Sötern was released in 1645 and again took over the running of the archbishopric, and again secretly conspired with France against the Emperor without result. A brief reconciliation with the cathedral chapter failed, and they appointed Charles Casper of the Leyen coadjutor and designated successor. Philip died in Trier in 1652.
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Preceded by: |
Philip Christopher of Sötern |
Succeeded by: |
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| Lothar of Metternich | Archbishop of Trier 1623 - 1652 |
Charles Casper of the Leyen |
| Eberhard of Dienheim | Bishop of Speyer 1610 - 1652 |
Lothar Frederick of Metternich |