Karl Chotek von Chotkow

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Karl Graf Chotek von Chotkow and Wognin, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber , 1834

Karl Graf Chotek von Chotkow and Wognin , Czech .: Karel hrabě Chotek z Chotkova a Vojnína (* July 23, 1783 in Vienna ; †  December 28, 1868 there ) was court chancellor of the Austrian Empire , as president of the gubernial in Prague, promoter of the infrastructure in Bohemia , Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and honorary citizen of Innsbruck and Prague .

origin

Karl Graf Chotek came from the old Bohemian noble family of Chotek von Chotkow and Wognin from the ancestral seat Chockow near Radnitz in western Bohemia and was the son of Johann Rudolph Graf Chotek von Chotkow and Wognin (1748-1824), heir to the family fideic commiss of Jeniowes ( Jenineves ) and World Trade Veltrusy ) in Central Bohemia, 1802 Gubernialpräsident in the Kingdom of Bohemia and Austro-Hungarian State and Conference Minister, and Maria Sidonia Countess von Clary and Aldringen , a daughter of Franz Wenzel Fürst von Clary and Aldringen and Maria Josepha, née Countess von Hohenzollern-Hechingen .

Education and life path

Karl Graf Chotek studied law at the University of Vienna and Charles University in Prague , entered the administrative civil service of the Habsburg monarchy in 1803 and was court secretary in the court chamber in Vienna in 1806/1807 . 1811 Gubernialrat in Brno in Moravia , 1812 district chief of the old Moravian district of Prerau , was appointed to the Trieste district office in 1813 , where he was court advisor in 1816 and governor until 1818. 1818 Gubernial Vice- President of the State of Tyrol , from 1819 to 1825 governor and appointment as an honorary citizen of Innsbruck, 1825 court chancellor and president of the study court commission in Vienna, from 1826 to 1843 Oberstburggraf in Bohemia . There, above all, promotion of industry and infrastructure, since 1828 organization of social and health services in the city of Prague. He became a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and an honorary citizen of Prague .

family

Marie Countess Chotek, b. Berchtold

Karl Graf Chotek married Marie Countess Berchtold , Freiin von Ungarschitz, Pulitz and Fratting (born January 21, 1794 in Vienna; † February 18, 1878 ibid) on June 9, 1817 in Vienna , a daughter of Anton Graf Berchtold Freiherr zu Ungarschitz and the Marie Huszar de Szent-Barath. In 1818 and 1821 the sons Karl and Franz were born, who did not survive the infancy. Two other sons started families and had offspring.

  1. Count Anton von Chotek , * 1822 in Innsbruck, † 1893 in Großpriesen (Březno), on Großpriesen and Zahorzan in Northern Bohemia, married to Olga von Moltke , daughter of Paul Friedrich von Moltke , Imperial Russian State Councilor and diplomat, and Natalie von Berkholtz . Count Anton Chotek was envoy of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in Saint Petersburg from 1870, then in Brussels . Based on the construction plans of the imperial Russian summer residence Gatchina near Saint Petersburg, the Chotek family had the art-historically remarkable Kacina Palace built in the Neuhof estate, today Nove Dvory in Central Bohemia in the Czech Republic , and now a museum. His marriage to Olga von Moltke has three children:
    1. Karl, * 1887, † January 23, 1970 in Aichach, k. and k. Chamberlain and legation secretary, married to Ada Princess zu Hohenlohe- Langenburg,
    2. Antoinette, * 1888, illegitimate and
    3. Ada, * 1890, nun.
  2. Bohuslaw Graf Chotek , born July 4, 1829 in Prague, † October 11, 1896 in Görlitz in Upper Lusatia, since 1867 in the diplomatic service of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy , from 1869 to 1871 envoy in Saint Petersburg in Russia, 1871 provisional governor in Bohemia , then envoy to Madrid, Brussels and Dresden, married to Wilhelmine Countess Kinsky zu Wchinitz and Tettau, from whose marriage eight children came. Her daughter Sophie Chotek von Chotkowa , (Ischl July 1, 1900) Princess and (Vienna October 4, 1909) Duchess von Hohenberg (* 1868, † 1914 in Sarajewo) was married ( morganatic marriage ) to Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este , Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Karl Graf Chotek as governor of Tyrol and Vorarlberg

From 1818 to 1825, Karl Graf Chotek, coming from Trieste, initially worked as a privy councilor in Tyrol , where he became vice-president and, in 1819, governor of Tyrol and Vorarlberg.

Founding of the Tiroler Sparkasse

Together with the mayor of Innsbruck Felix Adam von Riccabona, Karl Graf Chotek founded the “Sparkasse in Innsbruck” (today Tiroler Sparkasse ) as the second savings bank in Austria (after the First Austrian Spar-Casse ) in 1822 . In memory of Karl Graf Chotek as one of the founders, the Tiroler Sparkasse awards the "Graf Chotek University Prize" every two years, in which very good diploma and master's theses in administrative sciences are awarded cash prizes.

Foundation of the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum

As provincial governor, Count Karl Chotek founded a committee in Innsbruck for the establishment of a "patriotic museum for Tyrol", which later became the provincial museum Ferdinandeum . Archduke Johann had planned this project as early as 1800 as a "collection of all provincial products that should serve as a model for the other hereditary states", which was only realized on May 13, 1823 on the initiative of Chotek due to the effects of the Napoleonic wars .

The statutes for the re-establishment of this state museum had progressive content. "The advancing formation of the nation in general, and in particular, but especially the awakening and stimulation of the common interest ... in products of nature, art and antiquity ..." as well as the publication of a scientifically founded journal were her concern. This definition of the purpose of the foundation went far beyond the romantic-historicizing ideas of the Biedermeier period at that time , should capture and organize all the circumstances of the Crown Land of Tyrol and make them presentable and serviceable for the future.

Establishment of fire insurance

Social Political significant was the introduction of a fire insurance , which under Emperor Josef II. Had to enforce yet. Count Chotek supported the efforts of Baron Josef von Giovanelli (1784–1845) to found a non-profit institute, which took place on February 1, 1825. He then became the first honorary citizen of Innsbruck in 1825.

Improvement of the infrastructure as governor in Bohemia

Burgrave of the Kingdom of Bohemia Official Seal, 1836

Chotek's services in cultural policy initially led to an appointment to Vienna in 1825 as court chancellor and president of the study court commission . In October 1826 he became Colonel Burgrave and Imperial and Royal Gubernial President of the Kingdom of Bohemia in Prague. He held this office until 1843, when he became a promoter of industry, social and health services with the establishment of the general hospital in Prague and the establishment of a children's institution. In 1832 he had the Volksgarten laid out and initiated the construction of the chain bridge over the Vltava .

In Prague, Count Chotek met the historian and politician František Palacký , with whom he was a close friend until his death and who furthered his knowledge of the Czech language.

As Colonel Burgrave of Prague, Chotek worked energetically and purposefully. His main focus was on improving the infrastructure, especially the construction of good roads and bridges. He also campaigned for the first horse-drawn tram in Prague and steam shipping on the Elbe , as well as for the expansion of the Prague sewer system and street lighting . He supported the development of industry, education and the arts. In 1827 he wrote a decree according to which the export of art of historically valuable objects required the approval of the state administration.

A popular destination for walkers, the Volksgarten , one of the first publicly accessible parks in Prague between Prague Castle and the Lesser Town district, was laid out in 1832 on behalf of the Count Karl (Karel) Chotek and named after him "Chotek Park" (Chotkovy sady) named. In 1842 Karl Chotek received the honorary citizen of Prague for his services .

Intrigues and sometimes criticism of his expensive projects forced him to resign and, at the end of July 1843, at the end of July 1843, at his request, was relieved of his position as Count of the Colonel. Karl Count Chotek spent his twilight years at the Velké Březno (Großpriesen) Castle in northern Bohemia. He died on December 28, 1868 in Vienna and was buried in the family crypt in Valtířov (Waltirsche) near Leitmeritz an der Elbe, a parish belonging to the Großpriesen rule.

literature

Web links

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personal data
SURNAME Chotek von Chotkow, Karl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Chotek von Chotkow and Wognin, Karl Graf; Chotek z Chotkova a Vojnína, Karel
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bohemian nobleman, administrator and politician
DATE OF BIRTH July 23, 1783
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH December 28, 1868
Place of death Vienna