Birth. September 22, 1576, Münich. Son of Wilhelm V, duke of Bayern (Bavaria), and Renée de Lorraine. The other children were Christoph (1570-1570): Christine (1571-1580); Maximilian I, grand elector, duke of Batern (1573-1651); Maria Anna (1574-1616); Ferdinand, archbishop of Köln, provost of Berchtesgaden and elector of the Holy Roman Empire (1577-1650); Eleonore Magdalene (1578-1579); Karl (1580-1587); Albrecht VI, duke of Leuchtenberger (1584-1666); Magdalene, duchess of Bayern (1587-1628). He is also listed as Ioannes Theodorus de Bavaria.

Education. Studied at the University of Ingolstadt (philosophy and theology); attended the university together with his younger brother Ferdinand.

Early life. Canon of the cathedral chapters of Cologne, Mainz, Salzburg and Trier.

Sacred orders. He never received the sacred orders.

Episcopate. Postulated by the cathedral chapter of Regensburg, July 14, 1579; by apostolic brief, Feliciano Ninguarda, O.P., bishop of Scala, nuncio in Switzerland, was named administrator of the diocese, June 13, 1580; the chapter then elected him bishop on September 6, 1592, and the Holy See confirmed the nomination; on that same day, Andrea Fabrizio, protonotary apostolic, was named co-administrator (1). Went to Rome with his two brothers in 1592 at the request of his father; was received with honors and affection by the Pope, the College of Cardinals and the ambassadors before the Holy See; in the presence of twenty eight cardinals, he delivered an elegant oration; he was ascribed the Congregation for German affairs; after a few months, returned to Bavaria.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of December 18, 1596 (2); he never went to Rome to receive the red hat and the deaconry. In the solemn consecration of the Jesuit church in Münich, built by his father, he delivered a grave e dotta homily. He preached and taught the people with his word as well as with his example (3).

Death. May 18 1598 (Julian Calendar; May 28, 1598 Gregorian Calendar), of the injuries sustained when he fell from a \ horse, in his father's castle in Dachau. Buried in the tomb of his ancestor in the collegiate church of S. Maria, Münich (4).

Bibliography. Cardella, Lorenzo. Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa. Rome : Stamperia Pagliarini, 1793, VI, pp. 45-47; Chacón, Alfonso. Vitæ, et res gestæ Pontificvm Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalivm ab initio nascentis Ecclesiæ vsque ad Vrbanvm VIII. Pont. Max. 2 volumes. Romae : Typis Vaticanis, 1630, II, cols. 1893-1894; Eubel, Conradus and Gulik, Guglielmus van. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1935; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, III, 282; Gauchat, Patritium. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, Münich : Sumptibus et Typis Librariae Regensbergianae, 1935; reprint, Padua : Il Messagero di S. Antonio, 1960, IV, 5 and 291; Hausberger, Karl. "Philipp Wilhelm, Herzog von Bayern." Die Bischöfe des Heiligen Römischen Reiches, 1448 bis 1648 : ein biographisches Lexikon, pp. 534-535; Oratio in obitvm serenissimi Philippi, S.R.E. Cardinalis Episcopi Ratisbonensis, Comitis Palatini Rheni, Dvci vtrivsqve Bauariae : Ratisbonae pronunciata, X. iunii in templo S. Pauli Collegii Societatis Iesu, anno domini M.D. XCVIII. Ingolstadii : Ex officina typographia Ederiana, 1599; Gratulatio serenissimo et reverendissimo principi ac domino Philippo, episcopo Ratisbonensi. Author: Philipp Wilhelm, Regensburg Bischof. Publisher: Ingolstadii : W. Eder, 1597.Gratulatoriae Acclamationes Sermis Principibus Rmo. Philippo Episcopo Ratisbonensi, et Ferdinando, Comitibus Rheni, utriusq; Bavariae Ducib[us], Gulielmi utriusq, Bavariae Ducis etc. Filiis, diversis temporibus Ingolstadii inscriptae, et cum 7mo Octob. die Anno 1590. Academiae Ingolstadiensi publice valedicerent, in unum fascem comportatae et dedicatae. Ingolstadii : Eder, 1590; Philipp Wilhelm, Regensburg Bischof. Gratulatio serenissimo et reverendissimo principi ac domino Philippo, episcopo Ratisbonensi. Ingolstadii : W. Eder, 1597.