Ferdinand H. Risenfels Freiherr (1688-1754)

Ferdinand Heinrich was born in 1688, the only son of Johann Konrad von Risenfels and Maria Elisabeth von Berchem.  The family had its origins in the Tyrol and their family name was Riss.  However in the seventeenth century, Matthäus Riss, a wealthy merchant from Steyr, was ennobled by the Emperor with the title “von Risenfels”.  He purchased several estates, including Seisseneg in Lower Austria.  In 1686, his son, Franz Matthäus was created Freiherr (or baron) Risenfels. 

Ferdinand Heinrich was the grandson of Franz Matthäus.  Like his father before him, he entered the service of the Bavarian state, and then, in 1719, became a member of the imperial council for Lower Austria.  He subsequently served as imperial envoy in Graubünden (now in Switzerland), where he successfully resolved a dispute between the Bishop of Chur and the civil authorities. 

In 1713, he inherited the family estates and considerable wealth from his uncle.  In 1716 he married Maria Anna von Klenau-Janowitz and they had six children, 4 boys and 2 girls.  Ferdinand Heinrich died in 1754.  By then, the castle at Seisseneg was firmly established as the principal family seat and where the library was housed. 

The estate was established as a “Family Trust” and the books all carry a bookplate stating “Bibliotheca Fideicomissaria Familiae Risenfelsianae … “ (Library of the Risenfels Family Trust).  The library was eventually sold at auction in 1924.