Born in Düsseldorf, he was the tenth child but seventh son of Philip William, Elector Palatine and Landgravine Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. Initially destined to the Church, in 1677 he was appointed Coadjutor and in 1685 Canon in Konstanz. Also, he studied at the Heidelberg University, where he was Rector in 1685.