As the third son of his family, since early childhood Walther Franz was destined to a Church career; in consequence, he studied theology and law in Salzburg and later became a Canon in Olomouc and Passau [REF].
The death of his brother Karl Joseph (29 September 1693) without offspring left Walther Franz as the heir of the titles and lands of the Nikolsburg branch of the House of Dietrichstein, because his eldest brother Leopold Ignaz Joseph was unable to produce male offspring.