His relative Sigmund (3 October 1614 – 7 December 1699) was more successful. He rose to the rank of Colonel in service with Bernard of Saxe-Weimar and became a Major-General in the French army. When he returned home, he entered a career in politics becoming a member of the "Grosser Rat" in 1645. A few years later, Sigmund led Confederation troops successfully against the rebels in the Swiss peasant war of 1653. However, he was not as lucky in the 1st Battle of Villmergen in 1656. The Catholic forces were successful and the resulting treaty was unpopular in Bern. While Sigmund was heavily criticized for his defeat, his political career was unharmed. He was elected as the fifth von Erlach "Schultheiss" in 1675 and held the office until 1699. He died wealthy, successful but childless, so his estates passed on to other relatives.