Karl Albrecht
In 1700 Albrecht von Erlach's new and more comfortable castle was finished. Because his only child, a daughter, was handicapped, in 1723 he willed the castle to Albert and Abraham von Erlach from another line. In 1735 Abraham von Erlach retired as a mercenary lieutenant-general in French service and returned to Riggisberg. He brought with him his noble wife, the Marquise Masson de Bessé and a black servant in livery, which excited the villagers. His son Abraham Friedrich von Erlach quickly spend his father's and his wife's fortunes and 1793 he was forced to sell the castle to his brother Karl Albrecht Ferdinand von Erlach. Karl Albrecht Ferdinand was a member of the Swiss Guard in the French court and was the last owner to hold the Zwing und Bann right over the villagers. Despite buying the castle and estates from his brother, his finances were also pretty shaky. In 1795 he sold a tract of 33 Juchart to pay off a 9000 Bernese Pound debt. In 1798 he sold another tract of land to pay off an additional 8000 Pound debt. In the same year, following the 1798 French invasion, the old landowners lost their right to personally own villages and lost the Zwing und Bann right. Riggisberg village became part of the Helvetic Republic district of Seftigen under Bern. The Erlachs only retained ownership to the castle and its associated lands. In 1800 he sold the castle and lands to Karl Friedrich Steiger. The following year, Karl Albrecht Ferdinand von Erlach died after falling off a ladder at the family castle in Spiez.