François-Charles d'Erbach-Schönberg

## Ritter von Schoenbourg

Portrait by Pompeo Batoni, François-Charles d'Erbach-Schönberg, c. 1749

Republik der Sieben Vereinigten Provinzen der Niederlande (1747–1777)

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• (1744-1747)
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Lieutenant Colonel, Dragoon Regiment Prins van Nassau-Saarbrucken

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• (1747-1749)
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Colonel, Dragoon Regiment Graaf van Erbach

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• (1749-1772)
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Major General, Dragoon Regiment Graaf van Erbach

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• (1772-1777)
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### Died

† September 29th, 1788, Château de Schönberg, Schönberg, Comté d'Erbach-Schönberg

### Burial

Gronau, St. Annakirche's Mausoleum, Starkenburg, Hesse-Darmstadt

### Spouse

Auguste Karoline, Gräfin aus Ysenburg und Büdingen ⚭ c. 1778

### Issue

Auguste Louise zu Erbach-Schönberg (☆ October 28th, 1784 - † April 14th, 1828)

### Mother

Ferdinande Henriette zu Stolberg-Gedern (☆ October 2nd, 1699 - † January 31st, 1750)

### Father

Georges I Auguste d'Erbach-Schönberg (☆ June 17th, 1691 - † March 29th, 1758)

### Siblings

Christine zu Erbach-Schönberg (1721-1767)
Georg Ludwig zu Erbach-Schönberg (1723-1777)

Christian Adolf zu Erbach-Schönberg (1725-1726)

Karoline Ernestine zu Erbach-Schönberg (1727-1796)

Christian zu Erbach-Schönberg (1728-1799)

Auguste zu Erbach-Schönberg (1730-1801)

Georg August zu Erbach-Schönberg (1731-1799)

Karl zu Erbach-Schönberg (1732-1816)

Friedrich zu Erbach-Schönberg (1733 - died in infancy)

Luise Eleonore zu Erbach-Schönberg (1735-1816)

### Religion

Protestantism (Lutheran)

**François Charles d'Erbach-Schönberg** (German: *Franz Karl zu Erbach-Schönberg*; **Château de Schönberg**, 28th July 1724 - 29th September 1788), acknowledged since his inception as **Chevalier de Schoenbourg** *;* was a Franconian patrician, a militant, agricultural reformist and a noble attendant within the Prussian court. Born from a lineage of ancient nobility, yet situated within the more modest and progressive segment of the Empire, François Charles did not possess the reputation of a notably promising bachelor in terms of career prospects (whether military or civil) or prospects of patrilineal inheritance. Excluding the possibility of inheriting the regency of the subcounty of Erbach-Schönberg, it was within the distinguished ranks of the Hessian, Austrian, and Dutch military establishments that Francois-Charles truly flourished, exceeding all predictions.

Francois-Charles exhibited a distinct inclination towards the realm of Fine Arts. He developed a profound appreciation for the aesthetic pursuits, diverging from the expectations surrounding his future endeavors. Embracing the tenets of Vedutism and the Canaletto-influenced Mannerism, these artistic movements would leave an indelible imprint on his creative sensibilities. A collection of paintings that vividly depict the sprawling grounds and architectural grandeur of the Château de Schönberg estate is attributed to him.

Described by his contemporaries as an introverted individual, exhibiting limited inclination towards socializing and playful pursuits, a contrasting narrative emerges from the accounts of his sister, **Caroline-Ernestine**, with whom he would forge a deep bond and maintain frequent correspondence. In her diaries, she portrays him as possessing a sensitive and serene disposition, accompanied by a modest wit and tempered pride that, however, remains discreetly veiled within his conversations, which tend to shy away from grandiose topics.

Recalled for his intrinsic modesty and unassuming character, led a divergent life that embraced the allure of worldliness over provincial simplicity. This pursuit, however, brought him to the brink of destitution before his eventual ascension to the regency of the subcounty. Nonetheless, he remained steadfast in his unwavering commitment to Puritan religious principles.

## Family Heritage

**George I August of Erbach-Schönberg** (1691-1758), the inaugural and sovereign Count of the sub-county of Schönberg who forged the nascent lineage of the Erbach progeny, scion of **George Albert II,** Count of Erbach-Fürstenau, and Anna Dorothea Christina of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg, emerged as a man of strong political passions and a fiery temperament. Owing to the consummate diplomatic skills cultivated during his years of erudition at Gießen and Leipzig, he unfurled the county's gates to the Germanic world towards which it seemingly gravitated inexorably. To him are ascribed the ecclesiastical edifices of Reichenbach, Rimbach, and König, as well as the augmentation of the Schonberg Castle in Bensheim. His ascendancy saw him elected as an *Advisor to the Imperial Court* and *Director of the College of Franconian Counts.*

## Early Life

### **Birth**

Francois-Charles, born on a sweltering day of July 28th, 1724, emerged as a scion of the humble comital family of Erbach-Schönberg. As the second-born child amidst a progeny of thirteen, he was the offspring of ***Georg August, Graf zu Erbach-Schönberg** ,* who, at the time of his birth, dutifully served in the military under the Prussian crown, and Ferdinande Henriette, Gräfin zu Stolberg-Gedern. The circumstances surrounding his birth were marked by considerable challenges as his mother endured a laborious ordeal lasting six arduous hours.

However, despite the arduousness of the labor, Francois-Charles entered the world as a healthy and thriving newborn. In attendance at the birth were the Governess, the Nanny, and the Midwife, all of whom diligently ensured the successful delivery. Additionally, a select number of local gentry, albeit in a less proportion, were present to extend their felicitations and bestow gifts upon the newborn.

In the twelfth day following his birth, François Charles underwent the sacrament of Lutheran baptism in a discreet ceremony hosted at the **Friedhofskirche St. Crescens** (Saint Crescentius's Graveyard Church) in Bensheim. The hour-long ceremony was officiated by the Mainzer Domprediger, Philipp Adam Schultheis. Serving as godparents for the infant were George-Guillame d'Erbach-Erbach and Sophie-Charlotte d'Erbach-Erbach, paternal cousins from the main branch of the House of Erbach, which were represented by a legislative officer through proxy.

#### **Infancy**

In the first year of his life, however, the young scion displayed troubling signs of respiratory fatigue, accompanied by the bluish tint of his lips -likely attributed to deformities resulting from the strenuous childbirth-. Confronted with dire predictions from the alchiatrist, the family went to extraordinary lengths, even settling the bill for a casket for the infant. Yet, against the odds, the worst-case scenario was averted, and the youngster emerged with a labored breath that gradually improved over the years. It was during this period, as he would fondly recall in his diaries, that he forged a deep affection for his governess, **Fräulein Marta Schreiner**. He sang hers praises in this manner: *"What pious virgin, more than a mother, tends to the bedside of an ailing child, with a devotion surpassing that of any other".* She would go on to become a central figure in his artistic life, serving as both muse and confidante.

### **Childhood & Education**

Despite being born in a rural and isolated setting like the Odenwald Valley, François Charles defied common prejudice by willingly embracing his father's determination for a comprehensive and dynamic education. George I August of Erbach-Schönberg, having himself received one of the finest educations of the era by attending Germany's foremost institutions for cultural development, was not only a devoted patron of the arts but also a fervent supporter of military excellence. It became a moral imperative that his offspring excelled. As first measure, he appointed the Lutheran Chaplain of the Family, **Theodor Eustace Schmidt**, as the tutor for the comital's infants — an astute and conservative man who spared no effort in imparting lessons on morals, piety, and familial duty to the Fatherland. This approach earned him strong resentment from François Charles, who would describe him in his letters to his cousin **Sophie** as follows:

*<<..A gruff and sinister man, perpetually hunched as if engrossed in nefarious dealings, for whom I marvel that God would choose to convey His word. He compels us to pray incessantly, reminding us of moral obligations to the Lord even during the brief respites granted...He wields his ruler as if it were a rapier ready to pierce us, and not much time passes before either George or I find ourselves punished and chastised..>>*

Nevertheless, this was the moral code George I August sought to instill in his scions, aiming to fortify them in all that would prove beneficial. In these formative years, under the guidance of Herr Schmidt, he honed his skills in the liberal arts, encompassing subjects such as grammar (embracing German, extensively French following the example of the European elite, rudiments of Italian and Russian) rhetoric, study of Ecclesiastical Latin and Greek as well as theological studies, arithmetic, geometry, and music.

### **Adolescence**

##### *War of Polish Succession (1733-1738)*

The aftermath of the signing of the Treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714), which had concluded the War of Spanish Succession, marked a two-decade period characterized by significant instability in the relations among all European powers emerging from the conflict. The instability was primarily attributed to the fact that the agreements signed had left almost all signatories dissatisfied, albeit for different reasons. While various upheavals were taking place in Europe, another serious dispute unfolded among all major European powers, this time also involving Russia and Prussia. The event, known as the '**War of the Polish Succession**', began in the year 1733 with the death of **King Augustus II**'the Strong' of the Wettin dynasty.

Throughout the spring and summer of 1733, France amassed forces along its northern and eastern borders. Despite the advice of the elderly **Prince Eugene of Savoy**, then seventy-one years old, recommending a more bellicose approach against potential French actions in the Rhine Valley and Northern Italy, only minimal steps were taken to improve imperial defenses along the Rhine. When hostilities erupted, the Austrians mostly left without effective external allies on their southern and western borders. Their Russian and Saxon allies were occupied in the Polish campaign, and the Emperor distrusted Frederick William I of Prussia, who was willing to provide assistance. On April 9, 1734, an Imperial War (Reichskrieg) was declared against France, obliging all imperial states to participate. The County of Erbach would not have been exempt from its duties.

##### *Beyond the Imperial Rows (1734-1736)*

On the 10th of October, following a declaration of war, France initiated hostilities three days later. The invasion commenced with the occupation of the Duchy of Lorraine, during which the French forces erected two bridges over the Rhine—one near Germersheim and another in close proximity to Oberhausen. On the 12th of October 1733, French troops successfully crossed the Rhine at Kehl and launched an assault on the local fortress. This stronghold was defended by 1306 men from district troops and 106 Austrian infantrymen under the command of Field Marshal of Württemberg and Lieutenant **Ludwig Dietrich von Pfuhl**, respectively. The fortress capitulated on the 29th of October.

The situation in German territory appeared dire, with France swiftly gaining control over predetermined objectives in a matter of weeks. In response to the French assaults, the emperor promptly mobilized his forces, initiating the recall of troops from various states within the empire. This prompted a call to the foremost military experts, among whom was **George I Augustus of Erbach-Schonberg**, to lend their expertise to the imperial cause. On November 3rd of the same year, the Schönberg's convoy, led by the Count and his elder sons, embarked on a journey towards Heilbronn—an imperial encampment and the central command headquarters of the Rhine army. The voyage proved arduous; winter was looming, and the roads were in disrepair. After a brief sojourn at the Benedictine Monastery of Mosbach Abbey, they arrived at what François Charles himself termed the "Warlike Acheron" in his letters.

The severe winter conditions took a toll on the Imperial ranks, with the health of the soldiers reaching its lowest ebb. George I Augustus tirelessly worked to address the challenges, earning the recognition of Charles Alexander, Duke of Württemberg. The Duke, taken aback by the audacity of a father bringing his sons onto the battlefield, responded with a firm declaration: *"Pour l'Empereur, même le futur"* (For the Emperor, even the future). Intrigued, if not genuinely fascinated, the Duke agreed to take one of the young Schönbergs under his wing. It presented a golden opportunity for François Charles, offering him a chance to be mentored by such a seasoned military figure.

## Titles, Styles, and Honours

### **Titles and Styles**

* **28th July, 1724 - 11th February, 1777:** His High-Born, François Charles d'Erbach-Schönberg, Chevalier of Schoenbourg
* **11th February, 1777** **-** **29th** **September** **1788:** His Right-Honourable Illustriousness, the Count of Erbach-Schönberg

### **Honours**

* Chevalier de l'Ordre de Sainte-Anne. (*Russia, 1762*)