Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch

Count Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch (3 July 1716 – 5 January 1795) was a German Prince-Bishop of Breslau and an important promoter of music.

Schaffgotsch was born in Bad Warmbrunn in the Riesengebirge mountains to the House of Schaffgotsch, an old Silesian aristocratic family. He was educated by the Jesuits at the Collegium Romanum in Rome. In 1738, Schaffgotsch was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in Vienna and was appointed a canon in Olomouc, Halberstadt and later in Breslau. During this time he became a member of the fraternal organization known as Freemasons and was heavily influenced by the Enlightenment-era ideas and philosophies. And although Freemasonry was condemned by Pope Clement XII in 1738 in the Papal Bull In eminenti, Schaffgotsch supported the creation of the first Freemason loge in the Austrian capital, Vienna. Despite his disagreements with the Vatican, in 1743 he was created an abbot and soon after a coadjutor bishop of Breslau to Prince-Bishop Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf. Following Sinzendorf’s death in 1747, Schaffgotsch was elevated by King Frederick II of Prussia to Prince-Bishop. This appointment was confirmed by Pope Benedict XIV on 5 March 1748 despite Schaffgotsch’s relationship with Freemasons. Count Philipp Gotthard of Schaffgotsch was finally consecrated on 1 May 1748.

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