Karl Maximilian, Prince of Dietrichstein

Born in Brno, he was the eighth child and third (but eldest surviving) son of Walther Franz Xaver Anton, 5th Prince of Dietrichstein, by his second wife, Countess Karolina Maximiliana Pruskovsky von Proskau.

Being the third son of his family, Karl Maximilian was destined since birth to an ecclesiastical career; for this, he enjoyed a good education from private tutors and took the customary Grand Tour through Europe.

In addition to the titles of 6th Prince of Dietrichstein and Imperial Count of Tarasp, which Karl Maximilian inherited after his father's death in 1738, he was the owner of extended estates, including Nikolsburg, Hollenburg, Finkenstein, Thalberg, Kanitz, Leipnik (Lipník nad Bečvou), Weisskirch, Nußdorf ob der Traisen (with the including districts of Reichersdorf and Franzhausen), Libochovice, Budyně nad Ohří, Pátek, Nepomyšl and Vlachovo Březí.

[2] On 14 September 1784 a fire broke out in Nikolsburg, destroying more than 250 homes, the entire northeastern part of the city, the Capuchin monastery and Loretan church.

[3] In Nikolsburg on 2 September 1725 Karl Maximilian married with Maria Anna Josepha (25 March 1705 – 4 October 1764), a daughter of Sigismund Frederick I, Count of Khevenhüller-Aichelberg in Hohenosterwitz.