Johann Philipp Anton Freiherr von und zu Franckenstein, born in

Forchheim Forchheim () is a town in Upper Franconia (german: Oberfranken) in northern Bavaria, and also the seat of the administrative district of Forchheim. Forchheim is a former royal city, and is sometimes called the Gateway to the Franconian Switzer ...

on 27 March 1695, appointed in 1743 as Vicar-General of

Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main (river), Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-we ...

, was from 1746 to 1753 ruling Prince-bishop of Bamberg.

Biography

Early life

Johann Philipp Anton von Franckenstein was the son of Johannes Freiherr von und zu Frankenstein and his wife Maria Margareta ''

Freiin (; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , literally "free lord" or "free lady") and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire ...

'' von Eyb. His great uncles were

Johannes Karl von und zu Franckenstein Johannes Karl von und zu Franckenstein (1610–1691) was the Prince-Bishop of Worms from 1683 to 1691. Biography A member of the House of Franckenstein, Johannes Karl von und zu Franckenstein was born in Castle Frankenstein in 1610. On 17 A ...

Profile from catholic-hierarchy.org
Article on German Wikipedia (Prince-Bishop of Worms), Johann Martin von Eyb (Prince Bishop of Eichstätt) und

Marquard Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg Marquard Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg (14 May 1644–9 Oct 1693, aged 49) was the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1683 to 1693. Biography Marquard Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg was born in Eichstätt on 14 May 1644. He became a canon o ...

(Prince-Bishop of Bamberg). Philipp Anton grew up in

Franconia Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch''). The three administrative regions of Lower, Middle and Upper Fr ...

, studied canon and civil law at the

Pontificium Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum de Urbe The ''Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum'', or simply ''Collegium Germanicum'', is a German-speaking seminary for Catholic priests in Rome, founded in 1552. Since 1580 its full name has been ''Pontificium Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum de Urb''e ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, followed by extensive educational journeys and was appointed

canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western ca ...

of Bamberg, shortly after also lord of the cathedral in Würzburg and Mainz.

Ecclesiastical career

Starting his studies in 1711, Philipp Anton was appointed

in Bamberg in 1719. Shortly after his nomination he was also accepted as canon by the cathedral chapter of Würzburg and Mainz. On 22 September 1736 Johann Philipp Anton was ordained priest by his predecessor Prince-bishop

Friedrich Karl von Schönborn Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (or Friedrich Carl, 1674–1746) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746. He also served as ''Reichsvizekanzler'' (Vice-Chancellor) of the Holy Roman Empire from 1705 to 17 ...

. He celebrated his primacy on 30 October the same year in Ullstadt. As canon of Mainz he participated in a Dalmatian play at the coronation of Emperor

Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII (6 August 1697 – 20 January 1745) was the prince-elector of Bavaria from 1726 and Holy Roman Emperor from 24 January 1742 to his death. He was a member of the House of Wittelsbach, and his reign as Holy Roman Emperor thus marked the ...

in the Frankfurt Cathedral in 1742, wearing the cross of the crowning archbishop. From 1743 Franckenstein served as

Vicar general A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ...

in the

Electorate of Mainz The Electorate of Mainz (german: Kurfürstentum Mainz or ', la, Electoratus Moguntinus), previously known in English as Mentz and by its French name Mayence, was one of the most prestigious and influential states of the Holy Roman Empire. In the ...

. When Prince-Bishop Friedrich Karl Graf von Schönborn died on 26 July 1746 in Würzburg, Franckenstein was elected bishop of Bamberg and became his successor with

Pope Benedict XIV Pope Benedict XIV ( la, Benedictus XIV; it, Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758.Antipope ...

confirming the appointment on 19 December 1746. Profile from catholic-hierarchy.org
/ref> He received the episcopal ordination on 26 September 1746 and was consecrated bishop on 23 March 1749 by the auxiliary bishop of Bamberg, Heinrich Joseph von Nitschke. Franckenstein Wappen IV

Politics and patronage

After his election, which was also supported by Empress

Maria Theresa Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position ''suo jure'' (in her own right). ...

(she thanked him for ''his patriotic sentiments''), he quickly reached a settlement with his cathedral chapter as prince-bishop and was able to settle centuries-old disputes. In 1748, Johann Philipp Anton von Frankenstein appointed the artist Ferdinand Dietz, whom he held in high esteem, as his court sculptor. He also brought the painter

Giuseppe Appiani Giuseppe Appiani (1740 or 1754–1812) was an Italian painter of the Neoclassic periods. He was born in Vaprio d'Adda, near Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most ...

to Bamberg and commissioned him to produce a magnificent large ceiling fresco in the White Hall of Seehof Castle. He also promoted the composer Johann Jakob Schnell, who dedicated one of his better known works to him. Philipp Anton was benevolent and popular as prince-bishop, he loved Italian arts and architecture and had the residence and Seehof castle considerably enlarged and renewed. His artistic sense, which was characterized by the Late Baroque, is especially praised. He employed well-known artists for the execution of his plans at great cost. As head shepherd of his diocese he took special care of the training of priests, as head of state, he stood on the side of

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

and tried to alleviate the turmoil and horrors of the

War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession () was a European conflict that took place between 1740 and 1748. Fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, related conflicts included King George's W ...

. He died on 3 June 1753 in Bamberg and was buried in Bamberg Cathedral. His funeral monument is in

Michaelsberg Abbey, Bamberg Michaelsberg Abbey or Michelsberg Abbey, also St. Michael's Abbey, Bamberg (german: Kloster Michaelsberg or ''Michelsberg'') is a former Order of Saint Benedict, Benedictine monastery in Bamberg in Bavaria, Germany. After its dissolution in 18 ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franckenstein, Johann Philipp Anton von 1695 births 1753 deaths Prince-Bishops of Bamberg People from Forchheim Barons of the Holy Roman Empire