Franz Ludwig Freiherr von Erthal (16 September 1730 in Lohr am Main - 14 February 1795 in Würzburg) was the prince-bishop of Würzburg and Bamberg from 1779 until his death. He was buried at the Würzburg Cathedral (#45 diagram).

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2024)

From 1779 until his death, he was very prudent as the prince-bishop of Bamberg and Würzburg in personal union. He was permeated with the ideas of the Enlightenment and promoted the education of the clergy. In Bamberg, he built the first modern hospital and introduced a first public social insurance. The University of Bamberg received a chair for veterinary medicine under its government. Politically, he was loyal to the house of Habsburg and close to Emperor Joseph II. Unlike his predecessor Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim, Erthal was no friend of profane pleasures, and there were no hunts and opera performances at his court. The Würzburg Residenz was however completed during his reign.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Franz Ludwig von Erthal". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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