Charles-Thomas de Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort

## Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort

Graf von Kleinheubach

Freiherr von Wertheim-am-Main

Freiherr de Rochefort

### Born

7th March, 1714, Fürstbischöfliche Residenz zu Augsburg, Augsburg, Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg

### Died

6th June, 1789, Schloß Löwenstein, Kleinheubach, Principality of Löwenstein (Aged 75)

### Burial

Gruft der Stiftskirche Wertheim, Principality of Wertheim

### Mother

Christina Franziska Polyxena von Hessen-Rheinfels

### Father

Dominik Marquard zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort

### Religion

Protestantism (Lutheranism)

**Karl Thomas zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort** (7th March, 1714 - Présent) is the current-reigning 3rd ***Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort***. A Bohemian aristocrat, whose lineage stems from the illustriousness of the Wittelsbach's and the hopefulness of the Bohemian peerage, Karl Thomas' would change the tides of fortune for his family as he re-aligned his principality from the corruption of the Habsburgs and secured himself as a pro-Prussian prince.

Born at the Episcopal Residential Palace in Augsberg, ***Karl Thomas zu Löwenstein*** would be remembered as the longest-reigning Prince of Löwenstein. Well-known in the circle of *Frédéric le Grand,* Karl Thomas was remembered for his quick-wits, sharp mind, and diligence as a bureaucrat, economical reformist, and a stickler for etiquette. Entering the Prussian military service in his youth as a *Fahnenjunker*, he soon rose through the ranks, becoming an Aide to **Friedrich II**. A veteran of many Friderician campaigns, and the sensation of many courts and camps alike; Karl Thomas was remembered by contemporaries for bringing his family into an era of wealth, fame, and influence.

## Early Years

### ***Birth***

The occasion of Karl Thomas' birth took place in the chambers of his parents at the Fürstbischöfliche Residenz in the Bishopric of Augsburg. Born during the early hours of a warm spring day on March 11th, 1735, the young ***Erbprinz zu Löwenstein*** was born. He was the second of 10 children to be conceived, but the eldest of 9 to survive infancy.

Karl Thomas' was baptised the following week in Augsberg Cathedral. The ceremony was presided over by his granduncle, Fürstbischöf ***Alexander Sigismund von der Pfalz***. The occasion was ceremonious and joyous, as it signified a new generation of Löwenstein princes.

### ***Childhood & Education***

Karl Thomas' childhood would be best described as a happy one. The eldest of nine siblings, and the first in the generation of new Löwenstein princes, the young Erbprinz had much pride and expectation on his shoulders. At the time of his birth, the Löwensteins were a moderately wealthy family of the Bohemian aristocracy loyal to the Habsburgs. Shortly after his birth and baptism, he was placed into the care of a small troop of governesses and wetnurses. The notable amongst them was the Baroness *Theresia Benedictine Christine von der Goltz* - a minor noblewoman Prussia who had settled in Augsburg at the time.

At the later age of twelve, Karl Thomas' parents received letters-patent to the *Hofburg* in Vienna as his father was obliged to participate in a series of meetings that would eventually result in the ***Pragmatic Sanction**.* During his youth in Vienna, Karl Thomas' education included subjects paramount to a future sovereign; *Literature, Stationery, History, Mathematics, Geometry, Fencing, Horseback riding* and the most important of all, *dancing, social etiquette,* and the numerous languages at court: *German, Italian, French, Latin* and even hints of *English*. A worldly education was in order for a worldly prince. Karl Thomas' was a robust and active youth, who never ceased to tire his chaperons and companions. For his sixteenth birthday, he Karl Thomas' acquired his first hunting rifle and was allowed to participate in a hunt - an activity that would captivate him and remain as a favourite pass-time for much of his life.

### ***Adolescence***

In late 1728, then-prince *Dominik Marquard* (Karl Thomas' father) had decided to take the family on a visit to Prussia, on the hopes of spectating one of the reviews being held in Potsdam that summer. The decision was a moving one, for Karl Thomas' mother had died in July during childbirth to what would've been his youngest sister. The trip was an imperious one, as the *Reich* sustained a terrible infrastructure system, and many roads weren't properly maintained; horrendous mud trenches during storms, bumpy old roads, and a countryside laden with the unknown dangers of highwayman, thieves and untamed Hungarian partisans.

After a three-week journey, the train of Löwensteiner coaches arrived in Potsdam. The first sight that greeted the young Karl Thomas' was a frightening beauty as a column of the infamous *Potsdam Giants* marched by their carriage; Some hindered men all easily over six feet in height, clad in a Prussian-blue uniform, each with a giant mitre cap and snowy-white powdered wigs. They marched in synchronized time, moving as if they were a wall. The sight of these soldiers captivated the young Karl Thomas' as he made up his mind on his career. Soon after, the Löwenstein's presented themselves to the Prussian Court in the S*tadtschloss* of Potsdam. For the next five years, Karl Thomas' and his family stayed in Prussia, soon moving to Berlin after being invited by the infamous *Soldatenkönig* Friedrich Wilhelm I.

During his time at the Prussian Court, Karl Thomas' joined the ranks of the other gentleman-heirs at the Prussian Court and was placed into the army. It was in the Prussian service, that his horsemanship and skill with a hunting rifle quickly made his superiors take a likening to him - including the King himself. Amongst those, he reported to was the ageing Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, nicknamed *Der Alte Dessauer.* Prince Dessau had a fleet of valets and aides, who often presided over Karl Thomas' military education. Karl Thomas' took devotedly to his studies, and spent much of his time with his tutors and superiors. It was noted that most of these men were old, traditionalist and pious. Several traits which would rub off on the young prince himself.

## Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort

### ***Ascending the Throne***

In late February of 1735, Karl Thomas' father, *Dominik Marquard* had departed from Berlin on business to Venice, in hopes of attending the Mardi Gras. What was unexpected, however, was his assassination. It is said that a masked assailant, whilst drunk, stabbed the Prince with a glass dagger after hallucinating that he was the devil. With the unexpected death of his father came the premature end of the era of the Habsburg's influence over the House of Löwenstein. All eyes soon fell upon Karl Thomas' when word got back in Berlin of his father's death. Karl Thomas' inherited a vast fortune, over seven considerable estates, and would now usher in a new age of Prussianised glory as he now reigned as the third ***Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort.***

### ***Early Acts***

#### **War of the Polish Succession**

A prince in his prime, aged only twenty-one at his succession, Karl Thomas' was one of the youngest-reigning German princes in the new generation born between 1710-1718. His reign began during a continental crisis in Europe as the War of the Polish Succession had broken out only two years prior. Now equipped with a Prussian education, a talent for the hunt, and a love for horseback riding - Karl Thomas' sought it fit to join the Prussian Kronprinz - his friend, his future monarch, and the figure of his admiration - *Friedrich II* at the front with the infamous Prince *Eugen von Savoyen*.

Poland-Lithuania's crown was at an auction with the death of the infamous king ***Augustus the Strong*** (German: *August der Starke*;) who left the throne vacant as his son's succession was not secure. Augustus failed in an attempt to settle the Polish crown on his son, *Augustus III,* leading to a contest for the throne when he died in 1733. Unable to sue for a logical peace, the *Sejm Diet* of Poland collapsed into anarchy shortly after the death of Augustus the Strong. By the time that Karl Thomas' Principality had pledged support to the Prussian cause, the war was already in the upper hand. Just a year earlier, Kronprinz Friedrich had secured the capitulation of Danzig, the last stronghold of the Leszczyński's.