Ernest of Bavaria

Wittelsbach-Hapsburg aristocrat Ernest of Bavaria was Prince-Elector-Archbishop of the Archbishopric of Cologne and, as such, Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Westphalia, from 1583 to 1612 as successor of the expelled Archbishop Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg.
He was also simultaneously Prince-Bishop of Münster, Hildesheim, Freising, and Liège, Count of Loon, and Prince-Abbot of Stavelot. In Freising he had already become bishop by the age of 12.

Early life and education

Ernest was born in Munich, the son of Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, and Anna of Austria. Duke Albert had destined his third son, Ernest, for the clerical vocation. He was educated and trained by the Jesuits at Ingolstadt.