Background
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).
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).
He was then sent to the Collegium Germanicum in Rome, where he studied theology and philosophy.
He was ordained as a priest on September 20, 1678. He was made a canon in 1681, and in 1704, he became the dean of Basel Münster. 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.
He was subsequently consecrated as a bishop by Alessandro Bichi.
Johann Konrad is generally considered the first absolutist ruler of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. He instituted administrative centralization, which was ultimately thwarted by popular resistance, but which paved the way for more modern management techniques in the future.
In 1724, Johann Konrad suffered a riding accident, which left him with a disability for the rest of his life. Johann Konrad died on March 19, 1737.