Friedrich Karl von Schönborn

Friedrich Karl von Schönborn

Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (1674–1746) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746.

Friedrich Karl von Schönborn was born in Mainz on 3 March 1674, the second son of Melchior Frederick, Count of Schönborn (the ruler of Schönborn) and his wife, Maria Anna Sophia von Boineburg (1652–1726). Friedrich Karl was the nephew of Lothar Franz von Schönborn, Archbishop-Elector of Mainz. Friedrich Karl's older brother Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn was one of his predecessors as Prince-Bishop of Würzburg; his younger brother Damian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn became Prince-Bishop of Speyer and his youngest brother Franz Georg von Schönborn became Archbishop-Elector of Trier.

In 1681, he was sent to study at the Jesuit school at Aschaffenburg. He received the minor orders in 1701. He became a canon of Würzburg Cathedral in 1704, and a canon of Bamberg Cathedral in 1705.

In 1705, he became Vice-Chancellor for Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor; he held this post under Joseph and his successor, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, until 1731. He was appointed coadjutor bishop of Bamberg on 13 December 1708, with Pope Clement XI confirming his appointment on 19 May 1710.

He was ordained as a priest on 10 June 1728. On 20 June 1728 he was consecrated as a bishop by his uncle Lothar Franz von Schönborn. Upon his uncle's death on 20 January 1729, he succeeded as Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. He was appointed Prince-Bishop of Würzburg on 18 May 1729, with Pope Benedict XIII confirming the appointment on 3 August 1729. He was also appointed Apostolic Administrator of Bamberg on 3 August 1729. As such, there was a personal union between the Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg and the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg from 1729 to 1746.

He died on 26 July 1746 and is buried in Würzburg Cathedral.

See also

• Schloss Weissenstein