Maximilian von Dietrichstein

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Maximilian von Dietrichstein

Maximilian von Dietrichstein (born June 27, 1596 - † November 5, 1655 in Nikolsburg ; Imperial Count von Dietrichstein and owner of the Nikolsburg rule in Moravia , from 1629 the second Imperial Prince of Dietrichstein, Baron of Hollenburg , Finkenstein and Thalberg ) was an Austrian nobleman , Diplomat and Minister in the service of the House of Habsburg . He was imperial chamberlain , chief steward , conference minister and secret councilor of the emperors Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III. , Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and Lord of Nikolsburg , Kanitz , Polná , Leipnik , Weisskirch and Saar .

origin

Dietrichstein comes from the von Dietrichstein family, who belong to the Austrian nobility . He was the younger son of Siegmund (II.) Count von Dietrichstein, Freiherr zu Hollenburg, Finkenstein and Thalberg († 1602), and his wife, Johanna Della Scala Freiin von der Leytter zu Behrn and Vicenz auf Amerang († August 17, 1644 ), from the house of the Scaliger , the former lords of Verona . He was thus a grandson of the baron Adam von Dietrichstein .

biography

Like his ancestors, Dietrichstein entered the service of the House of Austria , but did not pursue a military, but a civilian career. In his youth he witnessed the brotherly quarrel in the Habsburg dynasty in the service of Archduke Matthias of Austria , as he played a growing role in the archduke's efforts to turn the estates away from the increasingly unpopular Emperor Rudolf II and in support of his plans to take over power to cause. First of all, it was a matter of turning things around in Hungary and Croatia , which succeeded, whereby Archduke Matthias was crowned King of Hungary and Croatia in 1608. Then it was a matter of persuading the estates in Bohemia - where Emperor Rudolf II resided - to refuse. Since these efforts were also successful - in particular through the commitment of the Chancellor of King Matthias, the Bishop of Vienna , Melchior Khlesl , cardinal since 1615 - Matthias was also crowned King of Bohemia in 1611. Finally Matthias followed in 1612 as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire . In recognition of the services that Maximilian von Dietrichstein had earned in this difficult task, he was raised to the status of imperial count by Emperor Matthias I shortly after his coronation on September 18, 1612 .

Even before the death of Emperor Matthias in 1619, Maximilian von Dietrichstein was also in the service of his immediate sovereign, Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria, who succeeded his father, Archduke Karl II. , From 1590 in the "Inner Austrian Lands", ie ruled especially in the duchies of Styria , Carinthia and Carniola . He supported his chief adviser, the baron, later Prince of the Reich, Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg in his efforts to position Archduke Ferdinand as the successor to Emperor Matthias. Important steps were the cession of the Kingdom of Bohemia to Archduke Ferdinand in 1617 and the election of King of Hungary and Croatia by the estates on May 16, 1618. A few days later, on May 23, the Prague lintel occurred, whereby it - primarily through the intervention of his uncle, Cardinal Franz Seraph von Dietrichstein , Prince-Bishop and Duke of Olomouc , he succeeded in preventing the Moravian estates from participating in the subsequent uprising. Finally, it was a matter of carrying out the negotiations that ultimately led to the unanimous election of Ferdinand II as the elected Roman Emperor on August 28, 1619. Ferdinand himself, as King of Bohemia, exercised the right to vote as elector . On August 7, 1629, Ferdinand II awarded him the Grand Palatine, which is hereditary according to the law of the firstborn, ie the office of Count Palatine with territorially unlimited competence.

His uncle, Franz Seraph von Dietrichstein, cardinal since 1599 , Prince-Bishop and Duke of Olomouc in 1600, was elevated to the hereditary imperial prince by Emperor Ferdinand II on March 16, 1624 in Vienna as the first of his house . This with the right to be able to pass on the princely status - especially to his nephews. The Cardinal von Dietrichstein then appointed his nephew Maximilian von Dietrichstein as a universal heir and successor in princely dignity. Maximilian did not have to wait for his death, however, since Emperor Ferdinand II - as a special token of grace - on November 8, 1629, ordered an extension of the prince's rank conferred on his uncle, whereby Maximilian himself was elevated to the rank of imperial prince as the second of his house. An imperial confirmation of the award of the imperial prince status for him and his male descent according to the law of the firstborn took place on March 24, 1631. He was then at the Reichstag in Regensburg on the special intercession of Emperor Ferdinand III. against the promise of the acquisition of an imperial territory under the immediate imperial princes with seat and vote. However, because of the traditional resistance of the "old princes" against newly ruled families, it was not possible until February 28, 1654 - at the same time as the princes of Salm , Auersperg and Piccolomini - to be solemnly introduced to the imperial college with a seat and vote.

The Cardinal von Dietrichstein also benefited his nephew by inheriting a Fideikommiss, which he acquired after purchasing the dominions Kanitz, Wostitz (Vlasatice in South Moravia ), Saar ( Žďár nad Sázavou ) (the former Cistercian monastery founded in 1252) in today's Czech Republic and Steinabrunn (im Korneuburg district in Lower Austria ) and established it as a majorate. This contributed significantly to the increase of the princely property.

In 1634 Maximilian was accepted into the Order of the Golden Fleece as the 393rd Knight of the Order since it was founded.

After the death of Emperor Ferdinand II in 1637, he served his son and successor, Emperor Ferdinand III. (1637–1657), almost until his death in 1655 as Chief Chamberlain, Conference Minister and Privy Councilor .

In 1638 he left a large part of the goods of the former Saar monastery for 146,000 guilders to the Cistercian order. He also sold the Steinabrunn estate and, in 1630, the Rosswald bishopric to Georg Maximilian von Hoditz for 15,000 thalers. In 1643 he had a 2000 bucket wine barrel set up in the castle in Nikolsburg.

Marriages and offspring

Maximilian Fürst von Dietrichstein was married twice. The first marriage was concluded on April 23, 1618 with Anna Maria Princess vuz Liechtenstein (* December 7, 1597, † April 26, 1640), the eldest daughter of Charles I of Liechtenstein . The second marriage with Sophie Agnes Countess von Mansfeld- Vorderort (* November 4, 1619, † January 20, 1677), a daughter of Count Wolfgang III. zu Bornstädt was closed on December 4, 1640. There were eleven children from the first marriage and six from the second.

From the first marriage come among others:

  • Anna Franziska (* 1621; † September 16, 1685), ⚭ April 23, 1647 in Vienna Field Marshal General Count Walter Leslie
  • Maria Eleonore (born January 1, 1623 in St. Michael Vienna ; † March 20, 1687 in Brno ) ⚭ 1.) Leo Wilhelm (Lév Vilém) since 1642 Count Kaunitz (born January 16, 1614 - † October 31, 1655 ) ⚭ 2.) in Göding ( Hodonín ) Friedrich Graf von Oppersdorff , Freiherr zu Aich- und Friedstein († January 22, 1699)
  • Johanna Beatrix Countess von Dietrichstein (* 1625; † March 26, 1676), ⚭ August 4, 1644 Karl Eusebius of Liechtenstein Prince of Liechtenstein (1627–1684)
  • Maria Clara (7 September 1626 - 28 January 1667), ⚭ 16 January 1650 in Vienna Johann Friedrich Graf von Trauttmansdorff , Baron von Gleichenberg (5 January 1619 - 4 February 1696)
  • Ferdinand Joseph von Dietrichstein , 3rd Prince of Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg (* 1628/36 in Vienna; † December 1, 1698)
  • Maria Margareta Josefa (* April 18, 1637; † Vienna December 15, 1676), ⚭ May 21, 1657 in Vienna Field Marshal Count Raimondo Montecuccoli (* February 21, 1609 Montecuccoli near Modena; † October 16, 1680 in Linz)
  • Maximilian Andreas (April 14, 1638; † December 4, 1692 in Prague ), ⚭ January 18, 1663 Countess Maria Justina von Schwarzenberg (* February 20, 1646; † April 21, 1696)
  • Maria Theresia (* 1639; † February 5, 1658), ⚭ November 8, 1654 Karl Adam Graf von Mansfeld -Vorder-Bornstädt (* 1629, † May 30, 1662)

literature

personal data
SURNAME Dietrichstein, Maximilian von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian diplomat
DATE OF BIRTH June 27, 1596
DATE OF DEATH November 5, 1655
Place of death Nikolsburg