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Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (or Friedrich Carl, 1674–1746) was thePrince-Bishop of Würzburg andPrince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746. He also served asReichsvizekanzler (Vice-Chancellor) of theHoly Roman Empire from 1705 to 1734.
Friedrich Karl (or Carl) von Schönborn was born inMainz on 3 March 1674, the second son ofMelchior Friedrich, Count of Schönborn-Buchheim [de] (1644-1717, seeList of rulers of Schönborn) and his wife, Maria Anna Sophia von Boineburg (1652–1726).[1]: 18
Friedrich Karl was the nephew ofLothar Franz von Schönborn,Archbishop-Elector of Mainz. Friedrich Karl's older brotherJohann Philipp Franz von Schönborn was one of his predecessors asPrince-Bishop of Würzburg; his younger brotherDamian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn becamePrince-Bishop of Speyer and his youngest brotherFranz Georg von Schönborn becameArchbishop-Elector of Trier.[1]: 18
In 1681, he was sent to study at theJesuit school atAschaffenburg. He became aCanon (Priest) at Würzburg in 1683 and at Bamberg in 1685. He then studied alongside his brother Johann Philipp Franz at Würzburg, Mainz, Aschaffenburg and Rome (Germanicum). HisGrand Tour brought him to the Netherlands, England and France. He finished his studies at theSorbonne.[2] He received theminor orders in 1701. In 1703/4, his uncle Lothar Franz sent him as envoy for the Archbishopric of Mainz to the imperial court at Vienna. He became acanon ofWürzburg Cathedral in 1704, and a canon ofBamberg Cathedral in 1705.[2]
In 1705, Friedrich Karl became Vice-Chancellor for EmperorJoseph I; he held this post under Joseph and his successor,Charles VI, until 1734. In this position, Friedrich Karl worked to protect the security of the smallerImperial Estates, and to strengthen imperial authority. He successfully opposed attempts byPrussia to expand its influence in southern Germany.[2] During his early years he spent most of his time at the Imperial court in Vienna. He had theFederal Chancellery of Austria built between 1717 and 1719 as his office. He also supervised the construction of the Imperial Chancellory Wing of theHofburg Palace in Vienna (1723–30) byLukas von Hildebrandt, where he lived in an apartment. As his private country resort near Vienna, he built theBlauer Hof Laxenburg (1710-1720) and also the Schönborn Palace nearGöllersdorf in Lower Austria; there he also purchased Weyerburg Castle. In 1740 he acquired thePalais Schönborn-Batthyány and moved there.
He was appointedcoadjutor bishop ofBamberg in 1708,[2] withPope Clement XI confirming his appointment on 19 May 1710. Friedrich Karl's opposition to thePragmatic Sanction, as well as his frequent absences from Vienna, caused him to lose influence at the court after 1730.[2]
When the cathedral chapter of Würzburg elected a new bishop in 1724, they rejected Friedrich Karl, due to the unpopularity of his brother Johann Philipp Franz.Christoph Franz von Hutten was elected Bishop of Würzburg instead. In 1724, Friedrich Karl becameDompropst at Würzburg and upon his uncle Lothar Franz' death on 30 January 1729, he succeeded as Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. On 18 May 1729 he was elected unanimously as Bishop of Würzburg, after von Hutten had died. Nonetheless he continued to mainly reside in Vienna for a number of years.
Friedrich Karl had been the favourite nephew of Lothar Franz, who bequeathed to himSchloss Weissenstein, a large Baroque palace atPommersfelden. Among his various residences, Friedrich Karl clearly preferred Würzburg, however.[2][1]: 20
As an imperial prince, Friedrich Karl remained a supporter of the Habsburgs, despite numerous and significant political differences. His considered, moderately absolutist, rule served him well in reorganizing administration, finance and education in both bishoprics. In 1735 he helped to turn theBamberger Akademie intoa full university, by adding law and medical faculties. In 1743 he gave theUniversity of Würzburg new study regulations.[2]
He implemented theperpetual adoration at Würzburg in 1736. In both bishoprics he built or renovated numerous churches, often using Würzburg engineerBalthasar Neumann. Under him, Neumann also completed theWürzburg Residence (begun under his brother) and theSchönbornkapelle ofWürzburg Cathedral. Friedrich Karl also had Neumann build a new summer residence atWerneck.[2]
He died on 26 July 1746 at Würzburg and is buried in theSchönbornkapelle of Würzburg Cathedral.[2]
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| Preceded by | Prince-Bishop of Bamberg 1729–1746 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prince-Bishop of Würzburg 1729–1746 | Succeeded by |
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