Rudolph Joseph von Colloredo

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Rudolph Joseph Graf von Colloredo-Waldsee (also Wallsee ; * July 6, 1706 in Prague ; † November 1, 1788 in Vienna ), Imperial Prince of Colloredo since 1763, was Vice Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire .

family

His father was the imperial governor of Lombardy Hieronymus Graf von Colloredo -Waldsee. The mother was Johanna Caroline, the daughter of the Austrian State and Conference Minister Wenzel Norbert Graf Kinsky von Wchinitz and Tettau. He himself married Maria Gabriela, the daughter of the Austrian State and Conference Minister Gundaker Thomas Graf von Starhemberg . The marriage resulted in 18 children. His four sons, who reached adulthood, were Franz Gundaker , successor to his father as Vice Chancellor, Hieronymus , Prince-Bishop of Salzburg, Joseph , General and Grand Prior of Bohemia, and Wenzel , President of the Court War Council and Imperial Field Marshal .

Life

Rudolph Joseph studied in Milan , Prague and Vienna . With the support of his father-in-law, Colloredo-Waldsee made a rapid career in imperial service. At the age of 22 he became a real Reichshofrat . From 1731 to 1734 he was Comitial Envoy for the Kingdom of Bohemia at the Reichstag in Regensburg . He was also the imperial envoy to various princes of the empire, as well as authorized minister in the imperial circles and commissioner in the election of bishops in Augsburg . From 1735 he was a Privy Councilor and from 1737 substitute for the Reich Vice Chancellor Johann Adolf von Metsch . After his death in 1740, he headed the business of the Reichshof Chancellery. Maria Theresa commissioned him with the electors to win the vote for her husband Franz Stephan in the upcoming emperor election.

After the accession to the throne of Emperor Charles VII from the House of Wittelsbach , he had to resign. He remained an envoy in Austrian service.

After the early death of the emperor, Colloredo-Waldsee signed the Peace of Füssen on behalf of Austria in 1745 . At the election of Emperor Franz I, he was present as the electoral emissary. After the election, the emperor appointed him imperial vice-chancellor and in 1763 elevated him to the rank of prince. He had been conference minister since 1743 and played an important role in the conference.

Maria Theresa was less attached to Colloredo. Colloredo criticized Wenzel Anton Kaunitz and continued to see France as the real enemy of Austria and the empire. Therefore he advocated an alliance with England as well as with the princes of the empire. The Empress decided against Colloredo-Waldsee on this issue. Maria-Theresia personally disapproved of the count's passion for women and gambling, as well as the count's wastefulness. In addition, despite his cleverness, there was his unwillingness to work and insufficient knowledge of state affairs.

Prince Colloredo lost influence under Joseph II , and the emperor had tried to make changes to the Reichshof chancellery.

In 1756 he acquired Sierndorf Castle in Lower Austria, and in 1775 Opočno Castle in Eastern Bohemia came to him. Of his sons, the elder Franz de Paula Gundakar also became Vice Chancellor. This became the founder of the princely line Colloredo-Mannsfeld .

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personal data
SURNAME Colloredo, Rudolph Joseph von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Colloredo-Waldsee, Rudolph Joseph Graf von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Imperial Vice Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire
DATE OF BIRTH July 6, 1706
PLACE OF BIRTH Prague
DATE OF DEATH November 1, 1788
Place of death Vienna