Franz Anton von Harrach


Franz Anton von Harrach zu Rorau was appointed coadjutor of Vienna and Titular Bishop of Epiphania in Syria in 1701, was from 1702 to 1705 Prince-Bishop of Vienna, 1705 coadjutor of Salzburg, and ruled from 1709 to 1727 as one of the most important Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg.

Biography

Early life

Franz Anton was a son of Ferdinand Bonaventure Graf von Harrach, confidant of Emperor Leopold I, and Johanna Theresa Gräfin von Lamberg. His younger brother was Aloys Thomas Raimund von Harrach, the progenitor of the house. Franz Anton grew up in Madrid, studied canon and civil law at the Pontificium Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum de Urbe in Rome, and was raised by Emperor Leopold ad personam in the Imperial princely state.

Ecclesiastical career

In 1685, Franz Anton was canon in Passau, 1687 canon in Salzburg, and 1692 there dean. Emperor Leopold I appointed him coadjutor of Vienna in July 1701, the Papal confirmation taking place on 1 December. He was also Titular Bishop of Epiphania. When Prince-Bishop Ernest Graf von Trautson died on 7 January 1702, Harrach became his successor and received the episcopal ordination by Johann Philipp von Lamberg, Prince-Bishop of Passau. On 19 October 1705, he was appointed coadjutor of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Johann Ernst von Thun und Hohenstein, and confirmed in April 1706 by the Pope. After the death of Thun, he was on 29 May 1709 made reigning Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg.
Franz Anton was benevolent, affable and popular as prince-bishop, he loved pageantry and had the Mirabell Palace considerably enlarged and renewed. The result was an impressive Rococo staircase and marble hall. From 1710 to 1711, he had the Salzburg residence renewed. His reign was calm overall, even contemporaries spoke of the "Golden Age of Harrach". His artistic sense, which was characterized by the Late Baroque, is especially praised. He employed well-known artists for the execution of the plans at great cost. The architects were Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, sculptor Georg Raphael Donner, painters Johann Michael Rottmayr and Martino Altomonte.
Prince-Bishop Harrach endeavored to promote business and commerce as a source of prosperity. For trading in Venice and the Mediterranean, he had the major trade routes extended. He lies buried in the crypt of Salzburg Cathedral.