John Theodore of Bavaria

Johann Theodor of Bavaria ( born September 3, 1703 in Munich, † January 27, 1763 in Liège ) was cardinal and bishop of Regensburg since 1719 and Freising since 1727 and Prince-Bishop of Liège since 1744.

Life

His parents were Maximilian II Emanuel and Therese Cunegonde from Poland. Originally it was intended for the secular state. But the death of his elder brother, Philipp Moritz on March 12, 1719 the situation changed. His brother Clemens August I. of Bavaria took over the post in the northwest of the Holy Roman Empire (eg the diocese of Münster ), while Johann Theodor nachrückte. So he became Prince-Bishop of Freising and Regensburg. Since these two dioceses did not represent a particularly large power factor due to their small size, he was of the Francophile electors and later Emperor Karl Albrecht dependent and approached thereby also the Bourbons. Therefore, Louis XV supported. 1732, the candidacy for the office of Johann Theodor high and German Master. However, he was defeated in the election of his brother, Clemens August I. of Bavaria. On September 9, 1743, Pope Benedict XIV took as a cardinal in pectore in the College of Cardinals to. He was awarded the titular church of San Lorenzo in Lucina. Since 1744 he was also bishop of Liege. Pope Clement XIII. denied on March 11, 1761 its approval for the election Johann Theodor to the Archbishop of Cologne, citing scandalous, profane lifestyle.

He came from the last generation Wittelsbach prince-bishops. Already in the next generation no longer enough to later-born sons were available to fill them with clerical offices.

His heart was buried separately and is located in the chapel Altöttings.