Biography[edit]

He came from the Tyrolean Uradel, was a younger son of the Imperial Count John Leopold, Prince of Trautson and Count of Falkenstein (d. 1724), Lord in Upper Austria, Obersthofmeister, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and his wife, Theresia Ungnad von Weissenwolff Freiin zu Sonnegg u. Ennsegg (d. 1741).^[1] Decisive for his career was his uncle, Ernst von Trautson zu Falkenstein, who from 1685 to 1702 was Prince-Bishop of Vienna.


After a theological education, Trautson earned his doctorate in the Holy Scriptures. The ordination he received on 26 September 1728 in Salzburg. He was first canon in Salzburg, then canon in Passau and Wroclaw, and provost of Ardagger.


On 7 December 1750 he was appointed coadjutor of the Archdiocese of Vienna and titular archbishop of Cartagine. The episcopal consecration was bestowed by Archbishop Sigismund von Kollonitsch on 25 December of the same year. After the death of Cardinal Kollonitsch, he headed from 17 May 1751 the diocese as prince-archbishop.


In a pastoral letter of 1 January 1752, he denounced the abuses of sermons, the superstitious beliefs of the people and excesses of indulgences. He was accused of being a Protestant.


Maria Theresa appointed him protector of the theological and philosophical sciences at the University of Vienna and head of the new building of the university (now Old University and seat of the Austrian Academy of Sciences).


Shortly before his death he was appointed on 5 April 1756 cardinal-priest. He was buried in the episcopal tomb of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.