Born in
Vienna, he was the fifth child and first son of
Anselm von Rothschild (1803–1874) and his wife Charlotte von Rothschild (1807–1859). His grandfather
Salomon Mayer von Rothschild (1774–1855), a native from
Frankfurt, had founded the Viennese
S M von Rothschild banking house in 1820, continued as the
Creditanstalt by his father. Nathaniel as the eldest male was expected to take over the running of the family's Austrian banking business. He studied at
Brünn but fell out of favour with his father who considered him extravagant and financially irresponsible. Rather than going into business, Nathaniel spent his life as a
socialite who built mansions and collected works of art. From 1872 to 1884, he had the
Palais Nathaniel Rothschild erected at 14-16 Theresianumgasse in Vienna-
Wieden in a lavish
Ringstraße style inspired by
French Renaissance architecture. He himself lived alone in a small apartment, while in various parts of the building his large collection of art was on display. The palais was badly damaged by the
bombing of Vienna in World War II and afterwards demolished. In 1880, he purchased
Enzesfeld Castle with its vast property from the Counts of
Schönburg-Hartenstein. He also had Hinterleiten Palace in
Reichenau an der Rax erected in a
Louis XIII style from 1884. The picturesque Reichenau area had become easily accessible from Vienna by the opening of the
Southern Railway line and evolved into a popular retreat of the Viennese society, among them Habsburg
Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria who had
Villa Wartholz built nearby. Nevertheless, Nathaniel Rothschild only spent two years at his palace before he placed it at the disposal of the
Ministry of War to use it as a convalescent home for veterans. On his father's death in 1874, Nathaniel and his brother
Ferdinand (1839–1898), owner of
Waddesdon Manor, inherited most of the family's property and art collection. The family business went to the youngest brother
Albert (1844–1911), who successfully carried on the financial empire. Nathaniel Anselm von Rothschild died a bachelor in 1905. He is buried in the
Zentralfriedhof, Vienna. ==References==