The Original Occupant

Count Friedrich Karl

von Schönborn- Buchheim

The noble house of Schönborn, the lineage of which dates back tothe 12th century, originated in present- day Germany's Westerwaldregion. Friedrich Karl von Schönborn was born in Mainz, in today'sRhineland- Palatinate, in 1674. He was one of fourteen children of CountMelchior Friedrich von Schönborn, Minister of State of the Elector-ate of Mainz, and Baroness Maria Sophia von Boyneburg. Friedrich

Friedrich Karl'senthusiasm forbaroque architectureand garden designwas one basis forhis cordial relationswith Prince Eugeneof Savoy

Karl eventually rose to occupy high secularand ecclesiastical positions as Imperial ViceChancellor in Vienna( 1705-1734) and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg and Würzburg( 1729-1746).

After having been appointed to his firstchurch positions in Würzburg and Bamberg at avery young age, Friedrich Karl studied theologyas well as law and also pursued philosophicalstudies in Würzburg, Mainz, Aschaffenburg,and Rome. He additionally went on a so- calledgrand tour( the educational journey typical for

young men of his rank) to England and France, eventually completinghis studies in Paris at the Sorbonne. Thereafter, he returned to his uncleLothar Franz von Schönborn, Electoral Prince of Mainz and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. Friedrich Karl then began his diplomatic careerby going to Vienna in 1703/04 as an envoy of the Electorate of Mainz.

Lothar Franz, who had made a protégé of his favourite nephewFriedrich Karl, proceeded to secure him a position as travelling com-panion and cavalier of honour for future Emperor Joseph I. And in 1705,Joseph- by then emperor- appointed him Imperial Vice- Chancellor, forwhich reason Friedrich Karl was permitted to add the imperial eagle andthe coat of arms of the Archduchy of Austria to his family coat of armsas an acknowledgement of his service. As a fiefdom, he was given the

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