Background
Johann Theodor was a son of Elector Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria and of his wife Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska (daughter of King John III Sobieski of Poland).
Johann Theodor was a son of Elector Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria and of his wife Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska (daughter of King John III Sobieski of Poland).
He was educated at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria and at the University of Siena.
Johann Theodor was elected bishop of Regensburg by its cathedral chapter on 29 July 1719, at age 15. The election received papal confirmation 14 October 1721. He was elected coadjutor bishop of Freising by its cathedral chapter on 5 November 1723.
The election received papal confirmation on 12 April 1726, and he was permitted to retain the see of Regensburg.
Johann Theodor was ordained subdeacon in 1724. He was ordained priest on 8 April 1730.
On 9 September 1743 Johann Theodor was created a Cardinal-Priest by Pope Benedict XIV, but his name was reserved in pectore and was not announced until 17 January 1746. On 27 April 1746 he received the cardinalatial title of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
On 23 January 1744 Johann Theodor was elected Prince-Bishop of Liège by the cathedral chapter.
The election received papal confirmation 12 February 1744, and he was permitted to retain the sees of Regensburg and Freising. Johann Theodor did not participate in the conclave of 1758 following the death of Pope Benedict XIV. He was the last representative of the Wittelsbach family to occupy the bishopric of Liège. Johann Theodor was known as a great hunter, patron of music (he played the violoncello) and theatre, and held a splendid court at Liège.
He was said to have had affairs with several women despite his clerical status and was liked by the inhabitants of the bishopric.
Asthmatic and tubercular, he gave into the advice of his doctor, a physician named Steppler (a German from Munich), who claimed that his sickness originated from coal vapours. He thus went for regular stays in Germany, though this did not improve his health.
Johann Theodor died on 27 January 1763, in Liège, Belgium.
