Franz Egon von Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franz Egon of Fürstenberg
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 10 April 1626 Heiligenberg, Principality of Fürstenberg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 1 April 1682 (aged 55) Strasbourg, Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg |
| Noble family | Fürstenberg |
| Father | Egon VIII of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg |
| Mother | Anna Maria of Hohenzollern-Hechingen |
Franz Egon von Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg (born April 10, 1626 – died April 1, 1682) was a German count. He lived during the time of the Holy Roman Empire, which was a large group of lands in Central Europe. Franz Egon became a powerful leader. He served as the main advisor, or prime minister, for the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. At the same time, he also worked for Louis XIV of France, helping to influence important events in the Empire. Later in his life, Franz became the Prince-Bishop of Strassburg, which meant he was both a religious leader and a ruler of a territory.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Franz Egon was born on April 10, 1626, in a place called Heiligenberg. He was one of the older sons of Egon VIII of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg. His father was a general for Bavaria and fought bravely in the Thirty Years' War, a big conflict that affected much of Europe.
Around 1640, Franz and his younger brother, Wilhelm, went to a school called Gymnasium Tricoronatum. There, they met Maximilian Henry of Bavaria. The three became good friends, and this friendship would be very important for their future careers.
Starting a Career in the Church
Franz began his religious career at a young age. When he was just nine years old, he joined the cathedral chapter in Cologne. A cathedral chapter was a group of priests who helped manage a large church. By 1644, he was part of the Archbishop-Elector's privy council. This was a group of trusted advisors who helped the ruler make important decisions.
In 1650, his friend Maximilian Henry became the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. This was a very important position, as an Archbishop-Elector was a powerful religious leader who also had political power and helped choose the Holy Roman Emperor. Franz moved to Maximilian's court and decided to focus on his church career. He quickly became Maximilian's prime minister, his chief advisor. Franz and his brother Wilhelm became very good at guiding the Archbishop-Elector. They often used his position to help Louis XIV of France and his plans for the Empire.
Working with France
In 1651, a powerful French leader named Cardinal Mazarin stayed in Cologne. He was there to find safety during a time of trouble in France called the Fronde. During this time, Cardinal Mazarin got to know Franz and Wilhelm. He saw how much influence they had in Cologne and other parts of the Empire. The Cardinal started to encourage them to support France's goals. He helped them work on forming alliances in the Rhineland region to protect against enemies.
Franz received many important church positions. In 1655, he was given roles in the church chapters of Strassburg, Liège, and Hildesheim. These jobs gave Franz money and also allowed him to help choose future leaders in these areas. This gave him even more political power. He later became a suffragan bishop (a bishop who helps another bishop) and a dean (a senior church official) in Cologne. He also became a provost (another type of church leader) in Hildesheim.
When Emperor Ferdinand III died in 1657, Cardinal Mazarin asked Franz to help influence who would become the next Emperor. The Cardinal even suggested that Louis XIV of France could become Emperor! The Cardinal's main negotiator, Hugues de Lionne, met with Franz and Wilhelm. He offered them money from the French king if they would continue to work for France's interests.
In 1658, when the Electors (the people who chose the Emperor) met in Frankfurt, Franz hosted many fancy parties for them. He also made sure the Electors could meet with French representatives. On June 4, 1658, Lionne, Franz, and Wilhelm signed an agreement. This agreement said that France would support the brothers if they kept working for "all the plans and interests of His Majesty in Germany." As part of this, the Cardinal promised to make Franz the bishop of Metz.
After Leopold I became the new Emperor, Franz and Wilhelm played a big part in creating the League of the Rhine in August 1658. This group was supported by France and was meant to keep the new Emperor's power in check. The Habsburg family, who Leopold belonged to, tried to offer Franz and Wilhelm rewards if they would stop the League from forming, but the brothers refused.
Becoming Prince-Bishop of Strassburg
In 1662, the previous prince-bishop of Strasbourg passed away. The French king offered a lot of money to help Franz get elected as the new leader. Emperor Leopold offered similar amounts to get his cousin, Sigismund Francis, elected instead. However, Sigismund had to step aside when he inherited other lands. So, Franz was elected on January 18, 1663. Franz asked Rome if he could give up this title later if a better one came along, as he still hoped to become Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. Rome said no, and he accepted the position without any conditions.
In 1664, Emperor Leopold made the Fürstenberg-Heligenberg territory a principality instead of just a county. He also gave Franz and Wilhelm the title of Prince, even though their brother ruled the land. This was an attempt to bring the brothers closer to Austria, but it didn't seem to change their loyalty much.
Franz also became a prince-abbot (a religious leader who also ruled a territory) of Luders and Murbach. He was also an abbot (head of a monastery) of Stablo and Malmedy.
In 1673, Franz moved into the newly renovated Château des Rohan (Mutzig). This castle became the official home for the bishops of Strasbourg.
Later Life and Death
In 1674, a treaty was signed between the Emperor and the Elector of Cologne. Because of this, Franz lost all his positions in Germany and had to go to France for safety. However, he and his brother William were later forgiven as part of the Treaty of Nijmegen in 1679. After this, he returned to Cologne. When the French took control of Strasbourg in 1681, he moved there. Franz Egon von Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg died on April 1, 1682.
Images for kids
-
Franz Egon of Fürstenberg
