Coadjutor Wilhelm is elected the bishop of Ösel-Wiek

12. November 1532

Conflict between the bishop of Ösel-Wiek, Reinhold von Buxhoeveden, and his vassals began in 1530, but propelled out of control two years later, after the leader of the vassals, Georg von Ungern, made an offer to the coadjutor of Riga, margrave Wilhelm, to step up as the coadjutor.

At that time, Ungern was one of the most important advisers of Wilhelm, margrave's ambitions were far reaching, and both Ungern and margrave were Lutherans - thus they found a common ground. In November of the same year, Wilhelm rode secretly through the territories of the Livonian Order and was elected the bishop of Ösel-Wiek on November 12. Bishop Buxhoeveden did not give up: he still had the support of the Stift Bailiff of Saaremaa and Kuressaare, Gotthard von Gilsen; Wilhelm received the support of Läänemaa (Wiek). Thus, the bishopric of Ösel-Wiek had split up and a serious confrontation had developed.