He served as eighth prime minister of the western part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Cisleithania) and ninth provincial president of Salzburg.

After studying law, he served as an imperial cavalry officer from 1841 to 1860 and attained the rank of major in Prince Eugene's Dragoons regiment.

In 1867 he entered political life as a member of the Bohemian Landtag (provincial assembly), being elected by the Liberal land proprietors.

Ten months later, on the resignation of Count Hartig, he was appointed Supreme Marshal of the Kingdom of Bohemia, continuing in that office until 1870.

Auersperg's ministry enacted a measure of electoral reform (1873), secured direct elections to the lower chamber of the Reichsrat, and strengthened the political entente with Hungary.