Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim

Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim

Adam Friedrich Graf von Seinsheim (1708–1779) was the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1755 to 1779 and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1757 to 1779.

Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim was born in Regensburg on 16 February 1708, the son of Maximilian Franz Graf von Seinsheim (1681-1739) and his wife Anna Philippina Gräfin von Schönborn (1685-1721).^[1] His mother was the sister of Franz Georg von Schönborn, Archbishop-Elector of Trier; Friedrich Karl von Schönborn, Prince-Bishop of Bamberg and Würzburg; and Damian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn, Prince-Bishop of Speyer.^[1]

He became a canon of Bamberg Cathedral and Würzburg Cathedral in 1718.^[1] He studied Christian theology at the University of Salzburg (master's degree 1724) and at the Collegium Germanicum 1725-27; and law at the University of Würzburg and Leiden University.^[1] In 1747, he became provost of the Church of St. Gangolf in Bamberg.^[1] He was ordained as a priest on 29 September 1753.^[2]

The cathedral chapter of Würzburg Cathedral unanimously elected him Prince-Bishop of Würzburg on 7 January 1755, with Pope Benedict XIV confirming his appointment on 17 March 1755.^[2] He was consecrated as a bishop by Cardinal Franz Christoph von Hutten zu Stolzenfels, Prince-Bishop of Speyer, on 15 June 1755.^[2] At the insistence of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, he was elected Prince-Bishop of Bamberg on 21 April 1757, thus creating a personal union between the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg and the Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg.^[1] The pope confirmed this appointment on 23 May 1757.^[2]

Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim supported the imperial side during the Seven Years' War.^[1] Troops from the Kingdom of Prussia invaded both bishoprics during the course of this war.^[1]

He died of pneumonia in Würzburg on 18 February 1779 and is buried there.^[1]

References

1. Article on German Wikipedia
2. Profile from catholic-hierarchy.org