Johann Konrad von Reinach-Hirtzbach

Johann Konrad von Reinach-Hirtzbach was born in Michelbach-le-Haut on August 28, 1657, the son of Hans Diebold Freiherr von Reinach-Hirtzbach (d. 1702) and his wife Anna Maria Eva von Freiin von Reinach-Steinbrunnborn (d. 1702).[2]

He was educated at the Jesuit high school in Porrentruy from 1673 to 1678.[2] He was ordained as a priest on September 20, 1678.[3] He was then sent to the Collegium Germanicum in Rome, where he studied theology and philosophy.[2] He was made a canon in 1681, and in 1704, he became the dean of Basel Münster.[2]

On July 11, 1705, the cathedral chapter of Basel Münster elected him to be the new Prince-Bishop of Basel, with Pope Clement XI confirming this appointment on September 5, 1705.[3] He was subsequently consecrated as a bishop by Vincenzo Bichi.[3]

Johann Konrad is generally considered the first absolutist ruler of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel.[2] He instituted administrative centralization, which was ultimately thwarted by popular resistance, but which paved the way for more modern management techniques in the future.[2]

In 1724, Johann Konrad suffered a riding accident, which left him with a disability for the rest of his life.[2] As such, his younger brother, Johann Baptist von Reinach-Hirtzbach (1669–1734), was selected as his coadjutor bishop, though Johann Baptist never became Prince-Bishop because he predeceased Johann Konrad.[2]

Johann Konrad died on March 19, 1737.[3]