GALEN, CHRISTOPH BERNHARD TON, Bishop of Minister, and one of the greatest gen erals of his time, was b. at Bispink, in Westphalia, Oct. 15, 1600. After completing his studies in the Jesuit college of Munster, and at the universities of Cologne, Mavence, Louvain, and Bordeaux, he held several political offices, and was at last made bishop of Mtinster, Nov. 14, 1650. The vigor of his administration immediately began to appear in restoring church-discipline, in allaying a famine which prevailed at the time,•in pro moting trade, and ridding the country of foreign troops. He soon, however, fell into disagreements with the inhabitants of Minister, who, on applying to Holland, received 25,009 guilders to assist them against him; but with the support of 1200 cavalry from the the bishop reduced the town into submission in 1660, and continued to maintain his ascendency by severe measures. In 1664, on being appointed, along with the markgraf of Baden, director of the military affairs of the Rhenish alliance, he pro ceeded with most of his own troops to the seat of the war against the Turks. After his return, he entered into alliance with England against the Netherlands, but the war was soon concluded, in conSeqence of the•treaty brought about by Louis XIV. in 1666,
according to which the states-general promised the restoration to the bishop of all his lands. A dispute, however. afterwards arose, and in 1672, G. again went to war with the Dutch in alliance with France. After some successes obtained in union with Turenne, he suffered such a heavy loss during the siege of Coevorden, by a storm which placed his camp under water, that he willingly concluded a treaty with the allies in 1674, in which he promised to give up all his conquests in the Netherlands. In the fol• lowing year, he changed sides, and entered into alliance with the emperor against the French. By taking part, also, with the king of Denmark and the elector of Branden burg in the war with Sweden, he added the duchy of Bremen and other places to his possessions. In 1678, he obtained considerable pecuniary compensation for being drawn into war with East Friesland; but while the peace negotiations were going on lie died, Sept. 19. The family of G. is one of the oldest in Westphalia, and is at present repre sented by count Matthias von Galen, whose brother, count Ferdinand, distinguished himself in the Prussian service as an able diplomatist.