Editing Clemens August of Bavaria (section)

==Biography==
Clemens August (Clementus Augustus) was born in [[Brussels]], the son of Elector [[Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria|Maximilian II Emanuel]] of Bavaria and [[Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska]] and the grandson of King [[John III Sobieski]] of [[Poland]]. His family was split during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] and was for many years under house arrest in [[Austria]]; only in 1715 did the family become re-united.

His uncle [[Joseph Clemens of Bavaria|Joseph Clemens]], [[Prince-elector|Elector]] and [[Archbishop of Cologne]], saw to it that Clemens August received several appointments in [[Altötting]], the [[Diocese of Regensburg]], and at the [[Berchtesgaden Provostry|Prince-Provostry of Berchtesgaden]], and he soon received [[papal]] confirmation as Bishop of Regensburg, and later of [[Archdiocese of Cologne|Cologne]].

As Archbishop of Cologne, he was one of the Electors, a [[Prince-Bishop of Münster]], [[Prince-Bishopric of Hildesheim|Hildesheim]], and [[Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück|Osnabrück]], and a [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] of the [[Teutonic Order]].

According to Jan Swafford, Clemens August did not owe his position of power to his "talent, intelligence or reason. In each of his exalted posts, Clemens August was splendidly brainless and incompetent, not in the least interested in governing anything. As [[Prince-elector|Elector]] in Bonn, his attention would be given largely to pleasure in the form of ladies, music, dancing, and erecting monuments to his glory and munificence." (2014)

Clemens August, who mostly sided with the [[Austria]]n [[Habsburg-Lorraine]] side during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]], personally crowned his brother [[Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles VII]] emperor at [[Frankfurt]] in 1742. After Charles's death in 1745, Clemens August then again leaned toward Austria. Over time, Clemens August changed more frequently the alliances, as of Allied of Austria or France, also under the influence of his frequently changing First Ministers and high donations.

He died in [[Schloss Philippsburg (Koblenz)|Schloss Philippsburg]] below the [[Festung Ehrenbreitstein]] in 1761. In March 1761, shortly after his death, [[Pope Clement XIII]] rejected the succession of Clemens August's brother Cardinal [[John Theodore of Bavaria]] as Archbishop and Prince-Elector of Cologne since the pope entertained some doubt on John Theodore's "moral conduct". This was the end of the reign of the Wittelsbach in Cologne after 178 years of continuous rule. In his will, Clemens August donated only to his successor as Elector and the court chamber of the Electorate of Cologne, but not the Elector of Bavaria. His nephew [[Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria|Maximilian III. Joseph]] then tried to challenge the will before the [[Reichskammergericht|Supreme Court of Appeal]], however, this failed on 23 January 1767.