In the Holy Roman Empire, the German term Hochstift (plural: Hochstifte) referred to the territory ruled by a bishop as a prince (i.e. prince-bishop), as opposed to his diocese, generally much larger and over which he exercised only spiritual authority.[1] The terms prince-bishopric (Fürstbistum, or simply Bistum) 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.
- ^ Hochstift. The lands ruled by a bishop as a prince (as opposed to his diocese). In the case of an archbishop: Erzstift. In the case of a prelate: Stift. Joachim Whaley, Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, Oxford University Press, 2012, volume 2, Glossary of German terms and other terms.