Ambassador Basch

**Joseph Viktor Francis von Basch** (15 October 1738-) was an Austrian diplomat. His main goal was to secure the Franco-Austrian alliance. First with the unsuccessful attempt to marry Princess Lea Genevieve to Charles VI, then between the marriage of Louis XVI to Archduchesse Maria Carolina.

## Early Life

Viktor was born in Vienna, Austria to Ferdinand Francis Hanz Josef Graf von Basch and Theresa Sophia Anna Grafin von Basch. Viktor had two older brothers, Josef Hanz Michel and Charles Josef Leopold. He also had a younger sister named Theresa Maria Antoina.

### Education

In early childhood his education comprised of private tutors where he was taught science, history, foreign languages, etc. When he was 12 was he sent to study law and diplomacy at a university in Vienna until he was 18. After, he went on his Grand Tour where he visited Berlin, the Netherlands, Italy, Paris, and England.

## Austrian Diplomat and Courtier

In 1758 his father passed away from illness but in reality it was his brother, Josef Hanz Michel, working with his brother, Charles Josef Leopold. Viktor was able to acquire some poison for them but did not directly cause his father's death but got a sizeable amount of inheritance.

After his education he joined the Austrian diplomatic service. Soon he was sent to Lisbon in 1759 as an envoy on the occasion of the death of the death of King John V of Portugal while also trying to secure a trade agreement for Trieste. In 1760 he traveled to Paris assisting the Austrian ambassador to France, the Prince von Starhemberg, who his family was related to.

### Ambassador of Austria in France

When Ambassador von Starhemberg became ill and eventually passed away, he was appointed the Ambassdor of Austria in 1761 by the recommendation of Starhemberg. In 1761, his first and most important task as the Ambassdor of Austria was to secure the Franco-Austrian alliance with the marriage between Princesse Lea Genevieve and Charles VI. The marriage arrangement failed when Charles VI died of consumption when he returned from his visit to France.

Princesse Lea Genevieve fell pregnant with Charles VI's child and she went to Ambassador Viktor to help her. Viktor helped plan for the Princesse to go to Vienna for six months in order to keep the child a secret under the guise of mourning for her fiance. The Princesse's child, Sophia "Amalia" Yvette, was taken to a the Stift Klosterneuberg to be raised in a convent close to Vienna. The only people who know was the Empress Maria Theresa, the Princess, a few of her maids, and himself.

### Back in the Holy Roman Empire

Viktor went back to Paris after the birth of the Princesse's child until 1763. As the outcome of the Seven Years War proved disappointing for both countries, he and his family moved back to Vienna where he was sent to Brussels and other lands in the Empire. Mostly due to the fact that the new Emperor, Leopold II, did not like Ambassador Basch and wanted to remove him from the vicinity of his mother, Empress Maria Theresa. But due to his work both under Starhemberg and as Ambassfor himself improving the relationship between France and Austria, he received the title of Ambassador of the Emperor.

### Ambassador of Austria in France

In 1765 he was sent back to Versailles in order to secure an alliance with France through the marriage between Louis XVI and Archduchess Maria Carolina. Mostly due to his previous success, good relationship with the Royal Family, and his "friendship" with Francois de Polignac, who was believed by the Empress to have assassinated Louis XV.

## Marriage and Family

In 1758 he married Elisabeth von Braun which was arranged by his family. Elisabeth gave birth to his son and heir, Josef Peter Francis, 6 months after their marriage in 1759. This created a bit of scandal at Court but it passed quickly.

## Titles and Styles

**15 October 1738-1761** *His Grace, Viktor von Basch*

**1761-1763** *His Excellency, Viktor von Basch, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of Austria*

**1763- Present** *His Excellency, Viktor von Basch, Ambassador of the Emperor*