The family issued written negotiations about his appointment with the cathedral chapter in Magdeburg, even when the incumbent archbishop, John of Palatinate-Simmern, was still alive.

The proposal of the Wettin family, however, was met with some resistance from the cathedral chapter, as Ernest was only 11 years old at this time.

However, young Ernest satisfied none of the requirements for his appointment (minimum age of 30 years, ordination as priest, and a university education).

It was, therefore, necessary to obtain a papal dispensation, which Pope Sixtus IV (1414–1484) provided in 1478, in exchange for a large sum of money.

In 1479, the year Halle submitted to Ernest II, Gebhard of Hoym was urged by the archbishop to abdicate as Bishop of Hanberstadt.

However, simultaneously holding the bishoprics of Magdeburg and Halberstadt was an incompatible accumulation of benefices under canon law.

This led to a conflict in 1482 when the city refused to pay its "Turkish tax" to Ernest and paid to the Emperor directly, as a sign of its immediacy.

Both sides threatened military action, however, they agreed to have the conflict decided by the court of Emperor Frederick III (1415–1493).

After Ernest subjected Halberstadt militarily in 1486, the city of Magdeburg gave in and dropped its claim of imperial immediacy.