FRANKENBERG, JOHANN HEINRICH. — Archbishop of Mechelen and cardinal, b. 18 Sept. 1726 — Glogau, of a noble and ancient family of Silesia, d. 12 June 1804 — Breda. He entered the ecclesiastical career as dean at Olmütz and later as archdeacon of the cathedral of Breslau; in March 1759 Empress Maria Theresa appointed him Archbishop of Mechelen, and Pius VI created him cardinal on 1 June 1778. He administered his diocese with dignity and conscientiousness.
However, he could not agree with the imperial authority because of the caesaropapist interference of Emperor Joseph II. F. opposed in every way the establishment of general seminaries in his diocese, and fought, though in vain, against state overreach, supported however by popular favor. The situation became very tense, so much so that an imperial decree of August 1789 granted the reopening of the episcopal seminaries. The resistance of the political authorities came, however, too late, because shortly thereafter civil war broke out, which lasted for more than a year. The cardinal openly sided with the insurgents; nevertheless, upon the victorious return of the Habsburgs on 13 Dec. 1790, he did not fail to urge upon his diocesans the necessity of obedience to constituted authorities.