József Batthyány

The cardinal was one of Maria Theresa's personal advisors and was considered a mediator and reconciler within the Kingdom of Hungary.

[1] He was born in one of the oldest and most influential Hungarian noble families, as second son of Lajos Batthyány, Palatine of Hungary.

Pope Pius VI made him a Cardinal in the consistory of 1 June 1778 and on 19 April 1782 in a consistory held in the Imperial Palace in Vienna, he conferred on him the title of San Bartolomeo all'Isola.

[2] He was an outstanding church prelate, respected by Emperors Maria Theresa and Joseph II, who rendered great services to his homeland in various difficult situations.

[1] He had the Primate's Palace in Pressburg (Bratislava) built between 1778 and 1781, where he resided as Archbishop until his death, and spent 400,000 florins on it.