ˈɜːθəlz pɹˈɛdᵻsˌɛsɚ, ˌɑːɹtʃbˈɪʃəp ˈɛmɚɹˌɪtʃ dʒˈoʊsəf vˈɑːn bɹˈeɪdbɑːx zˈuː bˈuːɹɪʃˌaɪm, hæd ˌɪntɹədˈuːst sˌʌm aɪdˈiəz ʌvðɪ ɛnlˈaɪʔn̩mənt, ænd hɐdbɪn ɐ pˈɑːpjʊlɚ fˈɪɡjɚ.
Erthal's predecessor, archbishop Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim, had introduced some ideas of the Enlightenment, and had been a popular figure.