Background
He was the son of the reigning Count Frederick and his wife Francisca Charlotte, née Countess of Lippe. His father died young and Charles Paul Ernest became head of the Bentheim-Steinfurt family in 1733.
He was the son of the reigning Count Frederick and his wife Francisca Charlotte, née Countess of Lippe. His father died young and Charles Paul Ernest became head of the Bentheim-Steinfurt family in 1733.
Initially, he had to share power in the territories of Steinfurt and Alpen with his great-uncle Statius Philip (1668-1749). Under the guardianship of his great-uncle, he enjoyed an excellent education. His Hofmeister Johann Christoph Buch accompanied him on several long journeys to perfect his foreign language skills.
In 1749, he great-uncle and regent Statius Philip died, and Charles Paul Ernest took up the business of government.
At times, he lived in Paris, where he became acquainted with Voltaire. Charles Paul Ernest had a strong interest in history an collected rare books, incunables, manuscripts, images, coins and natural history curiosities.
In 1765, he began creating the Steinfurter Bagno Park. He had the welfare of his subjects at heart.
His subjects liked and revered him.
In 1770, he joined the Palatinate Academy of Sciences in Mannheim.