House of Schwarzenberg
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The House of Schwarzenberg is a German (Franconian) and Czech (Bohemian) aristocratic family, formerly one of the most prominent European noble houses. The Schwarzenbergs are members of the German and Czech nobility, and they once held the rank of Princes of the Holy Roman Empire. The family belongs to the high nobility and traces its roots to the Lords of Seinsheim during the Middle Ages.[1]
The current head of the family is Prince Johannes (born 1967), son and heir of the late Karel, 12th Prince of Schwarzenberg (1937–2023), a Czech politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The family owns properties and lands across Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Switzerland.
History
[edit]Origin
[edit]The family stems from the Lords of Seinsheim, who had established themselves in Franconia during the Middle Ages.[1] A branch of the Seinsheim family (the non-Schwarzenberg portion died out in 1958) was created when Erkinger of Seinsheim acquired the Franconian territory of Schwarzenberg and the castle of Schwarzenberg in Scheinfeld during the early part of the 15th century. He was then granted the title of Freiherr (Baron) of Schwarzenberg in 1429. At that time, the family also possessed some fiefdoms in Bohemia.
Ascent and expansion
[edit]In 1599, the Schwarzenbergs were elevated to Imperial Counts, and the family was later raised to princely status in 1670.[1] In 1623 came the Styrian Dominion of Murau into the Schwarzenberg family due to the marriage of Count Georg Ludwig of Schwarzenberg (1586–1646) with Anna Neumann von Wasserleonburg (1535–1623). Furthermore, the House of Schwarzenberg acquired extensive land holdings in Bohemia in 1661 through a marriage alliance with the House of Eggenberg. In the 1670s, the Schwarzenbergs established their primary seat in Bohemia and, until 1918, their main residence was in Český Krumlov, Bohemia (now in Czech Republic).
Schwarzenberg/Sulz family unification
[edit]Due to the absence of a male heir and his only daughter Maria Anna married to Prince Ferdinand of Schwarzenberg, Johann Ludwig II Count of Sulz proposed a family unification between the Counts of Sulz and Princes of Schwarzenberg at the Imperial Court. His request was granted, which not only transferred all legal and property rights upon his death in 1687 from the Sulz family to the Schwarzenberg family, but assured that the Sulz family continues in the Schwarzenberg family. The visible affirmation of this bond was the merging of the coat of arms.
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Alliance crest on Jinonice castle -
Ferdinand & Maria Anna -
Alliance crest on Schwarzenberg Ducat, which was the own currency issued by the House of Schwarzenberg
Two princely lines
[edit]At the beginning of the 19th century, the House of Schwarzenberg was divided into two princely-titled lines (majorats).[1] This division was already foreseen in the will of Prince Ferdinand (1652-1703). However, the absence of two male heirs until Joseph II and Karl I Philipp inhibited the execution. The senior branch, which held not only the Palais Schwarzenberg in Vienna, but also the Dominions of Scheinfeld, Krumlov, Frauenberg and Murau, died out in the male line in 1979 upon the death of Joseph III of Schwarzenberg, who was the 11th Prince of Schwarzenberg. The cadet branch, which was established by Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg at Orlík Castle, continues to the present day.
The two branches have now been re-united under the father of the current head of the family, Karl VII of Schwarzenberg, who was the 12th Prince of Schwarzenberg. He was a Czech politician and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
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The three last Princes of the primogeniture: Adolf (l.), Johann II (m.) and Josef III (r.) -
The heir of both lines: Karl VII/I -
The last Prince of the secundogeniture: Karl VI (m.)
Present time
[edit]Due to the unification of the family-headship under Karl VII Schwarzenberg, the fidei commissa of both the primogeniture / Hluboka line and the secundogeniture / Orlik line came under the single ownership of the last-mentioned prince. Karl VII created in the 1980s the current structure of the family belongings. The German and Austrian properties from the primogeniture were embedded (with some exceptions) into the Fürstlich Schwarzenberg'sche Familienstiftung (Princely Schwarzenberg Family-Foundation) based in Vaduz. The art collection, which includes the painting The Abduction of Ganymede by Peter Paul Rubens or an important collection of works by Johann Georg de Hamilton, is held in the separate Fürstlich Schwarzenberg'sche Kunststiftung (Princely Schwarzenberg Art-Foundation). The Czech property of the secundogeniture was held until 2023 privately. These properties were in their vast majority also transferred into the Fürstlich Schwarzenberg'sche Familienstiftung. The members of the family follow careers in the private or military sector.
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RUBENS: The Abduction of Ganymede (between 1611 and 1612) -
Hunting scene with the Princely family in front of Hluboká Castle in 1865 -
HAMILTON: Hirschhetze (1710)
Frisian and Prussian line
[edit]Michael II Baron zu Schwarzenberg (†1469), oldest son of Erkinger I (1362–1437), was married twice. First with Gertrud (Bätze) von Cronberg (†1438), from whom the princely line descends. His second marriage was with Ursula (Frankengrüner) Grüner (†~1484), from whom the Frisian and later the Prussian line originates. The children of Michael's and Ursula's alliance were never recognized by their half-siblings, as their first born son was born out of wedlock and the legitimisation only took place with the subsequent wedding.
Johann Onuphrius (1513–1584), a great-grandson of Michael II and Ursula, is considered to be the progenitor of the Frisian Line. His marriage with Maria von Grumbach (†1564) ensured Groot Terhorne Castle until 1879 as the family seat in the Netherlands. The Frisian line was made a member of the Dutch nobility by a Royal decree of King William I of the Netherlands on August 28, 1814. Henceforth, the Dutch version thoe Schwartzenberg en Hohenlansberg was applied for this branch of the family.
The Prussian Line was established as a cadet branch of the Frisian line with Georg Baron thoe Schwartzenberg en Hohenlansberg (1842–1918), who served as a Rittmeister in the Imperial German Army. He and his descendants were made members of the Prussian nobility by an Imperial decree, issued by Emperor Wilhelm II, and are entitled to carry the German title Freiherr.
Imperial immediate estates
[edit]The Schwarzenberg family held three Imperial Immediate Estates in the Holy Roman Empire.
| Name | Timespan | Map | Coat of Arms | Historic Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princely County of Schwarzenberg Gefürstete Grafschaft Schwarzenberg | 1429 - 1806 - Acquired by the Lords of Seinsheim 1405 – 1421 - Imperial immediacy 1429 - Raised to Imperial County 1599 - Raised to Princely County 14 July 1670 - German Mediatisation 1806 |   Schwarzenberg Schwarzenberg (Germany) |   |  |
| Princely Landgraviate of Klettgau Gefürstete Landgrafschaft Klettgau | 1410 – 1806 - Transition of the Landgraviate of Klettgau from the Habsburg family to the Sulz family 1410 - Schwarzenberg / Sulz family unification 1687 - Raised to Princely Landgraviate 1687 - German Mediatisation 1806 | Klettgau Klettgau (Germany) |  .svg) |  |
| County of Gimborn Grafschaft Gimborn | 1550 – 1782 - Imperial immediacy 1631 | Gimborn Gimborn (Germany) | .svg) |  |
By coincidence the coat of arms of the Princely Landgraviate of Klettgau and the Earldom of Buchan in Scotland are the same. The Klettgau coat of arms can be found in the left heart shield of the Schwarzenberg coat of arms.
Notable family members
[edit]The House of Schwarzenberg produced many military commanders, politicians, church dignitaries (including a Cardinal), innovators and patrons of the arts.[1] They were related to a number of European aristocratic families, notably the Lobkowicz (Czech: Lobkovicové) family. Some of the most noteworthy members of the Schwarzenberg family are:
| Name | Portrait | Arms | Office(s) | Marriage(s) Issue | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erkinger VI of Seinsheim, 1st Baron of Schwarzenberg 1362 – 11 December 1437 |  |   | Grand Master of the Hunt at the Court of the Bishopric of Würzburg | I. Anna von Bibra 1348 – 1408 Six children II. Barbara von Abensberg 1383 – 2 November 1448 Eleven children | Founder of the Schwarzenberg family Member of the Imperial Council Military commander in the Hussite Wars |
| Johann, Baron of Schwarzenberg Johann the Strong 25 December 1463 – 21 October 1528 |  | .svg) | Judge of the episcopal court at Bamberg | Kunigunde, Countess of Rieneck 28 September 1469 – 18 October 1502 twelve children | Friend of Martin Luther, and author of the Constitutio Criminalis Bambergensis, which was the basis for the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina |
| Wilhelm I, Baron of Schwarzenberg 1486 – KIA 1526 | | Field marshal | Katharina Wilhelmina von Nesselrode ? – 6 December 1567 two sons | Field marshal of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Charles V in: German Peasants' War Guelders Wars | |
| Otto Heinrich, Count of Schwarzenberg Known among his contemporaries as inter viros sui temporis illustres illustrissimus 1535 – 11 August 1590 |  | .svg) | President of the Aulic Council Hofmarschall of the HRR by his Imp. Maj. decreed Guardian and Governor in Baden | Elisa Margareta von Wolff Metternich ? – 6 February 1624 one son | Guardian and Governor in Baden for Margrave Philip II of Baden President of the Aulic Council and Hofmarschall of the HRR under Maximilian II and Rudolf II |
| Melchior, Baron of Schwarzenberg ca. 1536 – KIA 29 June 1579 | | Military Commander Military Governor | Anne de Merode-Houffalize ca. 1530 – 1580 | Commander of the Dutch States Party military forces in the Siege of Maastricht and Military Governor of Maastricht | |
| Adolf, Count of Schwarzenberg ca. 1547 – 29 July 1600 | .jpg) | .svg){kind=small} | Field marshal | Elisa Margareta von Wolff Metternich ? – 6 February 1624 one son | Field marshal of the Holy Roman Empire and liberator of Raab, Hungary |
| Adam, Count of Schwarzenberg 1583 – 14 March 1641 |  | | Herrenmeister (Grand Master) Political advisor | Margareta, Freiin von Palant von Larochette und Moestroff ? – 29 September 1615 two sons | Advisor of George William, Elector of Brandenburg, Herrenmeister (Grand Master) of the Order of Saint John Son of Adolf, Count of Schwarzenberg |
| Georg Ludwig, Count of Schwarzenberg 24 December 1586 – 22 July 1646 | | Statesman | I. Anna Neumann von Wasserleonburg 25 November 1536 – 18 December 1623 no issue II. Maria Elisabeth Countess of Sulz 1587 – 12 December 1651 two sons | Austrian statesman during the Thirty Years War Through his marriage with Anna Neumann came the Dominion of Murau into the Schwarzenberg family | |
| Ferdinand, 2nd Prince of Schwarzenberg The Plague King 23 May 1652 – 22 October 1703 |  |  | Oberhofmarschall Oberhofmeister | Maria Anna Countess of Sulz ca. 1660 – 18 July 1698 eleven children | Oberhofmarschall and Oberhofmeister, known as the Plague King (Pestkönig) |
| Adam Franz, 3rd Prince of Schwarzenberg Duke of Krumlov 25 September 1680 – 11 Juni 1732 |  | .svg) | Obersthofmarschall (1711–1722) Oberstallmeister (1722–1732) | Eleonore Princess of Lobkowicz 20 June 1682 – 5 May 1741 two children | First Duke of Krumlov, Count of Sulz and Princely Landgrave of Klettgau in the Schwarzenberg family Initiator of the Schwarzenberg Navigational Canal Killed accidentally by Emperor Charles VI during a driven shoot |
| Joseph I, 4th Prince of Schwarzenberg Duke of Krumlov 15 December 1722 – 17 February 1782 |  | | Obersthofmeister | Maria Theresia Princess von und zu Liechtenstein 28 December 1721 – 19 January 1753 nine children | Obersthofmeister of Empress Maria Theresia, Minister of State, receives the Order of the Golden Fleece at the age of ten |
| Joseph II, 6th Prince of Schwarzenberg Duke of Krumlov 27 June 1769 – 19 December 1833 |  | | Ambassador | Pauline Princess of Arenberg-Aarschot 2 September 1774 – burned to death in the night of 1–2 July 1810 nine children | Ambassador of the Austrian Empire in Paris Last Prince of Schwarzenberg, who possessed the imperial immediacy Founder of the Schwarzenberg Primogeniture |
| Karl Philipp Prince of Schwarzenberg 15 April 1771 – 15 October 1820 |  | .svg) |  Field marshal Ambassador | Maria Anna Countess von Hohenfeld widowed Princess Esterházy 20 May 1768 – 2 April 1848 three sons | Austrian field marshal during the Napoleonic Wars and ambassador in St.Petersburg and Paris, Generalissimo of the Sixth Coalition in the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig Founder of the Schwarzenberg Secundogeniture |
| Ernst Prince of Schwarzenberg 29 May 1773 – 14 March 1821 | |  Bishop | - | Canon of Cologne, Liège, Salzburg, Passau, Esztergom and Bishop of Győr | |
| Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg The Austrian Bismarck 2 October 1800 – 5 April 1852 |  | | Minister-President Minister of Foreign Affairs  Field Marshal Lieutenant | Two children with Jane Digby, Lady Ellenborough | Minister-President of the Austrian Empire between 1848 and 1852 |
| Friedrich Prince of Schwarzenberg The Lansquenet 30 September 1800 – 6 March 1870 |  | |  Major General Writer | - | Major general of the Austrian Empire, Colonel of the General Staff in the Spanish First Carlist War, officer in the Swiss Sonderbund War and author, known as der Landsknecht (the Lansquenet) |
| Karl II Prince of Schwarzenberg The Governor 21 January 1802 – 25 June 1858 |  | |  General of the branch (Military) Governor | Josephine Countess Wratislaw of Mitrovic 16 April 1802 – 17 April 1881 one son | General of the branch of the Austrian Empire, Military Governor of Milan and Governor of the Principality of Transylvania (today Romania), known as der Gouverneur (the governor) |
| Edmund Prince of Schwarzenberg 18 November 1803 – 17 November 1873 |  | | Field marshal | - | Last Austrian field marshal in the 19th century |
| Friedrich Prince of Schwarzenberg 6 April 1809 – 27 March 1885 |  |  |  Cardinal Archbishop Primas Germaniae Prince of the Church | - | Cardinal and Archbishop of Salzburg, then Archbishop of Prague |
| Felix Prince of Schwarzenberg 8 June 1867 – 18 November 1946 | | Major general | Anna Princess zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 28 September 1873 – 27 June 1936 five children | Major general in World War I, one of only two recipients of the Golden Medal of Bravery for Officers by Emperor Charles I | |
| Heinrich Prince of Schwarzenberg Duke of Krumlov 29 January 1903 – 18 June 1965 | | Public servant | Eleonore Countess zu Stolberg-Stolberg 8 August 1920 – 27 Dezember 1994 one daughter | Austrian public servant and survivor of the Buchenwald concentration camp | |
| Johannes Prince of Schwarzenberg 31 January 1903 – 26 May 1978 | | Public servant | Kathleen Vicomtesse de Spoelberch 19 May 1905 – 26 May 1978 two children | Austrian ambassador in Italy (1947–1955), to the Holy See (1955–1966) and Ambassador to the Court of St James's (1966–1969), Director and Delegate of the Red Cross and member of the Governing Board | |
| Karel VI. Schwarzenberg 5 July 1911 – 9 April 1986 |  | | .svg){kind=small} Officer Regent Author | Antonia Princess zu Fürstenberg 12 January 1905 – 24 December 1988 four children | Czech resistance fighter in World War II, Regent of the Grand Priory of Bohemia of the Order of Malta, historian and author |
| Karl, 12th Prince of Schwarzenberg 10 December 1937 - 12 november 2023 |  | | President of the Council of the European Union Minister of Foreign Affairs Vice prime minister Senator | Therese Countess zu Hardegg auf Glatz und im Machlande 17 February 1940 two children | Czech politician, former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic) and head of the House of Schwarzenberg |
Property and residences
[edit]Germany
[edit]The Schwarzenberg family holding included the following residences in Germany:
| Name | Image | Location | Map | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwarzenberg Castle |  |  Scheinfeld, Franconia | Scheinfeld Scheinfeld (Germany) | Ancestral seat Held to present |
| Stephansberg Castle |  |  Kleinlangheim, Franconia | Stephansberg Stephansberg (Germany) | Acquired in 1243 through Apollonius The Older von Seinsheim. Sold through Siegismund von Schwarzenberg zu Hohenlandsberg in 1502 Destroyed in 1525 during the German Peasants' War. |
| Hohenlandsberg Castle |  |  Weigenheim, Franconia | Weigenheim Weigenheim (Germany) | Acquired in 1436. Later main seat of the Schwarzenberg-Hohenlandsberg line Reconstructed in 1511 - 1524 Destroyed in 1554 during the Second Margrave War. |
| Palais Schwarzenberg (Frickenhausen am Main) |  |  Frickenhausen am Main, Lower Franconia | Palais Schwarzenberg Palais Schwarzenberg (Germany) | |
| Wässerndorf Castle |  |  Wässerndorf in Seinsheim, Lower Franconia | Wässerndorf Wässerndorf (Germany) | In the 12th centruty, the family (still known as Seinsheim / de Sovensheim) served as the ministerialis in Wässerndorf. From 1263, it served as the main seat of the Seinsheim family. After the line Seinsheim-Westerndorf died out, the castle came in 1550 in full possession of Count Friedrich zu Schwarzenberg, who rebuilt the castle from 1555 onwards. From 1910 onwards, the family ′′′von Pölnitz′′′ lived in the castle. The castle was burned down by American troops on 5 April 1945. |
| Seehaus Castle |  |  Markt Nordheim, Middle Franconia | Seehaus Seehaus (Germany) | Acquired in 1655. Held until the German land reform in 1947. |
| Schnodsenbach Castle |  | Scheinfeld, Franconia | Schnodsenbach Schnodsenbach (Germany) | Held from 1789 - 1816 |
| Gimborn Castle |  |  Marienheide, North Rhine-Westphalia | Marienheide Marienheide (Germany) | From 1631 on the residence in the imperial immediate Dominion of Gimborn of the Schwarzenberg Family Sold in 1782 to Johann Ludwig, Reichsgraf von Wallmoden-Gimborn |
| Hückeswagen Castle |  |  Hückeswagen, North Rhine-Westphalia | Hückeswagen Hückeswagen (Germany) | Received in 1631 as a fief 1653 loss of control due to occupation 1675 waiver of the fief by compensation |
| Haus Lay Water Castle |  |  Lay in Engelskirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia | Ley Ley (Germany) | Acquired in 1654 1695 Reconstruction of the castle Sold in 1782 |
| Neuenberg Castle |  |  Scheel in Lindlar, North Rhine-Westphalia | Scheel Scheel (Germany) | Acquired in 1629 1640 conquered and destroyed by the Swedes in the Thirty Years' War Ultimately demolished in 1663 Sold in 1782 |
| Linzenich Castle | .jpg) |  Bourheim in Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia | Bourheim Bourheim (Germany) | Acquired in 1606 Reconstruction of the castle chapel by the Schwarzenberg family Sold in 1645 |
| Tiengen Castle |  |  Waldshut-Tiengen, Baden-Württemberg | Waldshut-Tiengen Waldshut-Tiengen (Germany) | Acquired in 1687 Sold in 1812 |
| Küssaburg Castle |  |  Küssaberg, Baden-Württemberg | Küssaburg Küssaburg (Germany) | Acquired in 1497 through the Sulz ancestors Destroyed but kept as a ruin in 1634 Sold in 1812 |
| Jestetten Castle Oberes Schloss |  Jestetten, Baden-Württemberg | Jestetten Castle Jestetten Castle (Germany) | Acquired in 1488 through Count Alwig X. von Sulz Second main residence of the Sulz family after Tiengen Became a part of the Schwarzenberg property through the family-unification Sold together with the entire Principality | |
| Jestetten Fortress Unteres Schloss Greuthsches Schlösschen | Jestetten, Baden-Württemberg | Jestetten Castle Jestetten Castle (Germany) | Acquired in 1707 Sold together with the entire Principality | |
| Willmendingen Castle |  |  Wutöschingen, Baden-Württemberg | Willmendingen Castle Willmendingen Castle (Germany) | Acquired in 1801 Sold in 1812 |
| Illereichen Castle |  |  Altenstadt, Bavarian Swabia | Illereichen Castle Illereichen Castle (Germany) | Herrschaft Schwarzenberg, Amt Illereichen Acquired in 1788 Sold in 1834 |
| Kellmünz Castle |  Kellmünz, Upper Swabia | Kellmünz Castle Kellmünz Castle (Germany) | Herrschaft Schwarzenberg, Amt Kellmünz; Kellmünz becomes "Bavarian" and the Schwarzenberg family become Barons of the Empire of Kellmünz; Castle removed in 1809; Acquired in 1788; Sold in 1834 | |
| Michelbach Castle |  |  Michelbach an der Lücke, Schwäbisch Hall | Michelbach Castle Michelbach Castle (Germany) | Given to Georg Ludwig by Ferdinand II in 1631; Destroyed in the Thirty Years War and rebuilt until 1709; Lost in 1806 with the Rheinbundakte. |
| Papenburg Castle Papenborch Castle Papenborg Castle | _12_ies.jpg) |  Papenburg, Emsland | Papenburg Castle Papenburg Castle (Germany) | Given by Sybille von Plettenberg to her second husband Friedrich Freiherr von Schwarzenberg in 1620. Sold by him in 1630 to Drost Dietrich von Velen. |
Bohemia
[edit]
The Schwarzenberg land holdings in Bohemia included the Duchy of Krumlov, the town of Prachatice and Orlík Castle. The family also acquired the property of the House of Rosenberg (Czech: Rožmberkové). On their lands, the Schwarzenbergs created ponds, planted forests and introduced new technologies in agriculture.[1]
Upon the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in 1939, the possessions of Prince Adolph of Schwarzenberg were seized by the Nazi authorities. He managed to flee, but his cousin, Heinrich, Duke of Krumlov, was arrested and deported. After World War II, the Czechoslovakian government stated, by law No. 143/1947 from August 13, 1947 (Lex Schwarzenberg), that the assets of the Schwarzenberg-Hluboká primogeniture passed to the Land of Bohemia.[1]
The Schwarzenberg family holding included the following residences in Bohemia:
| Name | Image | Location | Map | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krumlov Castle Krumau Castle |  |  Český Krumlov, South Bohemia |  Český Krumlov Český Krumlov (Czech Republic) | Held from 1719 until the expropriation in 1947 UNESCO World Heritage Site One of the largest castles in the world |
| Hluboká Castle Frauenberg Castle |  |  Hluboká nad Vltavou, South Bohemia | Hluboká nad Vltavou Hluboká nad Vltavou (Czech Republic) | Acquired by Johann Adolf I of Schwarzenberg in 1661 Held until the expropriation in 1947 One of the finest examples of Neo-Tudor architecture in Historicism |
| Vimperk Castle Winterberg Castle |  |  Vimperk, South Bohemia | Vimperk Vimperk (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1698 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Třeboň Castle Wittingau Castle |  |  Třeboň, South Bohemia | Třeboň Třeboň (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1698 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Protivín Castle |  |  Protivín, South Bohemia | Protivín Protivín (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1711 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Kratochvíle Castle Kurzweil Castle | .jpg) | Netolice, South Bohemia | Kratochvíle Kratochvíle (Czech Republic) | Inherited in 1719 from the Princes of Eggenberg Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Červený Dvůr Castle Rothenhof Castle |  |  Chvalšiny, South Bohemia | Chvalšiny Chvalšiny (Czech Republic) | Inherited in 1719 from the Princes of Eggenberg Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Borovany Castle Forbes Castle |  |  Borovany, South Bohemia | Borovany Borovany (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1789 in exchange for the Dominion of Vlčice (German: Wildschütz) Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Dříteň Castle Zirnau Castle |  |  Dříteň, South Bohemia | Dříteň Dříteň (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1698 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Drslavice Fortress Drislawitz Fortress |  | Drslavice, South Bohemia | Drslavice Drslavice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1698 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Kestřany Castle Kesterschan Castle | .jpg) |  Kestřany, South Bohemia | Kestřany Kestřany (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1700 Held until the First Land Reform in 1924 |
| Old Libějovice Castle | _(04).jpg) |  Libějovice, South Bohemia | Libějovice Libějovice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1801 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| New Libějovice Castle | _(25).jpg) | Libějovice, South Bohemia | Libějovice Libějovice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1801 Rebuilt 1816 – 1817 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Ohrada Castle Wohrad Castle |  | Hluboká nad Vltavou, South Bohemia | Hluboká nad Vltavou Hluboká nad Vltavou (Czech Republic) | Built 1708 – 1713 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Chýnov |  Chýnov, South Bohemian Region | Chýnov Chýnov (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1719 Held until the expropriation in 1947 | |
| Postoloprty Castle Postelberg Castle |  |  Postoloprty, North Bohemia | Postoloprty Postoloprty (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1692 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Nový Hrad Neuschloß Castle | .jpg) |  Jimlín, Ústí nad Labem Region | Nový Hrad Nový Hrad (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1767 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Lovosice Lobositz Castle |  |  Lovosice, Ústí nad Labem Region | Lovosice Lovosice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1783 Original seat of the Schwarzenberg Archives Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Cítoliby Zittolieb or Zitolib Castle |  |  Cítoliby, North Bohemia | Cítoliby Cítoliby (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1803 Held until the First Land Reform in 1924 |
| Domoušice Domauschitz Castle |  |  Domoušice, North Bohemia | Domoušice Domoušice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1802 Held until the First Land Reform in 1924 |
| Mšec Kornhauz Castle |  |  Mšec, North Bohemia | Mšec Mšec (Czech Republic) | Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Divice Fortress |  |  Vinařice (Louny District), Ústí nad Labem Region | Divice Divice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1802 Held until the First Land Reform in 1924 |
| Brodec Castle |  |  Brodec (Louny District), Ústí nad Labem Region | Brodec Brodec (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1802 Held until the First Land Reform in 1924 |
| Dobrš Castle Dobrž Castle Dobersch Castle |  | Dobrš, South Bohemia | Dobrš Dobrš (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1707 Sold in the 19th century. |
| Vlčice Castle Wildschütz Castle | ,_z%C3%A1mek.JPG) | _CoA_CZ.jpg) Vlčice (Trutnov District) | Vlčice Vlčice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1675 Held until 1789 Exchanged for Borovany |
| Břecštejn Castle Silberstein Castle |  | Hrádeček (Vlčice) | Břecštejn Břecštejn (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1675 Held until 1789 Exchanged for Borovany |
| Pravda Castle |  |  Pnětluky, Ústí nad Labem Region | Pnětluky Pnětluky (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1802 |
| Orlík Castle Worlik Castle |  |  Orlík nad Vltavou, South Bohemia | Orlík nad Vltavou Orlík nad Vltavou (Czech Republic) | Main residence of the Schwarzenberg Secundogeniture Restored in 1992 Held to present Publicly accessible |
| Čimelice Castle | .jpg) |  Čimelice, South Bohemia | Čimelice Čimelice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1840 through the marriage of Karl II Schwarzenberg with Josefina Marie Wratislaw of Mitrovic Spring and summer residence of the Schwarzenberg Secundogeniture Restored in 1992 Held to present |
| Karlov Castle | .jpg) |  Karlov (Smetanova Lhota), South Bohemia | Karlov Karlov (Czech Republic) | Restored in 1992 Held to present |
| Varvažov Castle Warwaschau Castle | .jpg) | Varvažov, South Bohemia | Varvažov Varvažov (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1847 from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Restored in 1992 Held to present |
| Rakovice Castle | .jpg) |  Rakovice, South Bohemia | Rakovice Rakovice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1840 through the marriage of Karl II Schwarzenberg with Josefina Marie Wratislaw of Mitrovic Restored in 1992 Held to present |
| Sedlec Castle Sedletz Castle |  |  Sedlec in the town of Kutná Hora, Central Bohemia | Sedlec Sedlec (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1819 from the Cistercians Restored in 1992 Held to present |
| Dřevíč Castle Grund Castle |  |  Sýkořice, Central Bohemian Region | Dřevíč Castle Dřevíč Castle (Czech Republic) | Built by Joseph Wilhelm Ernst, Prince of Fürstenberg in the first half of the 18th century Sold by Maximilian Egon II, Prince of Fürstenberg to Czechoslovakia Acquired by Karel Schwarzenberg in 1991 Held to present |
| Hunting lodge Tyrolský dům Tiroler Haus | _(9).JPG) | Květov, South Bohemia | Květov Květov (Czech Republic) | Restored in 1992 Held to present |
| Nový Dvůr Neuhof | Obora u Cerhonic, South Bohemia | Nový Dvůr Nový Dvůr (Czech Republic) | Acquired by Dr. Friedrich & Regula Schwarzenberg in the 1990's Held to present and main seat of Ferdinand Schwarzenberg | |
| Tochovice Castle |  |  Tochovice, South Bohemia | Tochovice Tochovice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1840 through the marriage of Karl II Schwarzenberg with Josefina Marie Wratislaw of Mitrovic Restored in 1992 Seat of Ernst Schwarzenberg's descendants Sold in 2022 |
| Zbenice Castle | .jpg) |  Zbenice, Central Bohemian Region | Zbenice Zbenice (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1805 through Karl I Schwarzenberg Held until 1948 |
| Bukovany Castle Schloss Bukowan |  |  Bukovany u Kozárovic, Central Bohemian Region | Bukovany Bukovany (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1816 through Karl I Schwarzenberg Held until the First Land Reform in 1925 |
| Zalužany Castle |  | Zalužany, South Bohemia | Zalužany Zalužany (Czech Republic) | Held until the First Land Reform in 1924 |
| Osov Castle |  |  Osov, South Bohemia | Osov Osov (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1840. Sold in 1927. |
| Zvíkov Castle Zwingenberg Castle |  |  Zvíkovské Podhradí, South Bohemia | Zvíkov Zvíkov (Czech Republic) | Held until 1948. In 1992 it was returned to the family and handed over to the care of the state. Publicly accessible |
| Starosedlský Hrádek Castle Altsattler Bürgel Castle |  |  Starosedlský Hrádek, Central Bohemia | Starosedlský Hrádek Starosedlský Hrádek (Czech Republic) | Held until 1948. |
| Palais Schwarzenberg Schwarzenberský palác |  |  Prague | Prague Prague (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1719 Held until the expropriation in 1947 Publicly accessible |
| Palais Salm Salmovský palác Small Palais Schwarzenberg |  | Prague | Prague Prague (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1811 Held until the expropriation in 1947 |
| Palais Deym Deymův palác |  | Prague | Prague Prague (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1845 Prague seat of the Schwarzenberg Secundogeniture Held to present |
| Palais Bissing Bissingenský palác Tatarkovic dům Schwarzenberský dům |  | Prague | Palais Bissing Palais Bissing (Czech Republic) | Acquired in 1850 Consisting of two buildings: No. 90/17 (larger building with Schwarzenberg CoA) and No. 91/19. |
Austria
[edit]The Schwarzenberg family holdings included the following residences in Austria:
| Name | Image | Location | Map | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palais Schwarzenberg Gartenpalais Schwarzenberg |  |  Schwarzenbergplatz, Landstraße, Vienna |  Vienna Vienna (Austria) | Acquired in 1716 In the James Bond movie The Living Daylights it served as a film set Held to present |
| Palais Schwarzenberg Winterpalais Schwarzenberg |  | Neuer Markt, Innere Stadt, Vienna | Vienna Vienna (Austria) | Acquired in 1688 1894 demolished |
| Hirschstetten Castle |  | Hirschstetten, Vienna | Vienna Vienna (Austria) | Acquired in 1713 Sold in 1750 |
| Neuwaldegg Castle Villa Schwarzenberg |  | Hernals, Vienna | Vienna Vienna (Austria) | Acquired in 1801 Sold in 1951 |
| Palais Schwarzenberg |  |  Laxenburg, Lower Austria | Laxenburg Laxenburg (Austria) | Acquired in 1703 Architect was Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt Sold in 1850 |
| Palais Schwarzenberg |  |  Graz, Styria | Graz Graz (Austria) | Acquired in 1775 Sold in 1853/54 |
| Murau Castle Obermurau Castle | .JPG) |  Murau, Styria | Murau Murau (Austria) | Publicly accessible on appointment Held to present |
| Grünfels Castle Old Castle |  | Murau, Styria | Murau Murau (Austria) | Held to present |
| Wintergrün Castle |  |  Ramingstein, Salzburg | Ramingstein Ramingstein (Austria) | Held to present |
| Schrattenberg Castle |  |  Scheifling, Styria | Schrattenberg Schrattenberg (Austria) | Acquired by Prince Ferdinand in 1704 Main residence of the Schwarzenberg family in the Murtal until its destruction Total destruction through a fire, which occurred during restoration works, in 1915 Held to present |
| Katsch Castle |  |  Teufenbach-Katsch, Styria | Katsch Katsch (Austria) | Acquired in 1697 Partial deconstruction in 1838 Total destruction in 1858 Held to present |
| Gusterheim Castle |  |  Pöls, Styria | Pöls Pöls (Austria) | Acquired in 1698 by Prince Ferdinand together with the Dominions Reifenstein and Offenburg. The daughter of Prince Heinrich, Elisabeth von Pezold, Princess of Schwarzenberg, inherited the castle. Held to present by the Pezold family |
| Ratzenegg Castle |  |  Moosburg, Carinthia | Moosburg Moosburg (Austria) | Seat of the descendants of Prince Erkinger Held to present |
| Tschakathurn Castle Schachenthurn Castle Schachenturm Castle |  | Scheifling, Styria | Tschakathurn Tschakathurn (Austria) | Acquired in 1740 Total destruction through a fire in 1792 The daughter of Prince Johann II, Countess Ida Revertera von Salandra, Princess of Schwarzenberg, inherited the castle. Held to present by the Revertera family |
| Goppelsbach Castle |  |  Stadl-Predlitz, Styria | Goppelsbach Goppelsbach (Austria) | Acquired in 1839 Sold in 1938 |
| Vöstenhof Castle |  |  Bürg-Vöstenhof, Lower Austria | Vöstenhof Castle Vöstenhof Castle (Austria) | Acquired in 1937 through HSH Princess Therese Schwarzenberg; Inherited in 1945 by her daughter Countess Josephine Czernin. |
| Hanfelden Castle |  |  Pölstal, formerly Unterzeiring in Oberzeiring, Styria | Hanfelden Castle Hanfelden Castle (Austria) | Acquired in 1783 through HSH Prince Johann Schwarzenberg; Sold in 1856. |
Slovakia
[edit]The Schwarzenberg family holding included the following residence in Slovakia, which was part of the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen:
| Name | Image | Location | Map | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marianka Castle |  | Marianka, Bratislava Region |  Marianka Marianka (Slovakia) | Purchased by Friedrich "The Landsknecht" in 1839 |
Belgium and Luxembourg
[edit]The Schwarzenberg family holding included the following residence in todays Belgium and Luxembourg, while their main residence and burial place was in the city of Liège. Back then, the Spanish Netherlands, Prince-Bishopric of Liège and Duchy of Luxemburg were states within the Holy Roman Empire. The Schwarzenberg family held in this region the titles of Seigneur de Bierset et de Champlon.
| Name | Image | Location | Map | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fischbach Castle |  Fischbach Castle, Fischbach |  Fischbach, Canton of Mersch |  Fischbach Fischbach (Luxembourg) | Inherited through the marriage of Johann Gerhard (1571 - 1635) with Dorothea de Naves (1629), heiress of Chiveri and Fischbach. |
| Hassonville Castle |  Hassonville Castle, Marche-en-Famenne |  Marche-en-Famenne, Luxembourg (Belgium) |  Hassonville Hassonville (Belgium) | 1603 Johann Gerhard acquired Humain and Hassonville. 1678: Sold to Etienne de Rossius de Liboy. |
| Raeren Castle |  Raeren Castle, Raeren |  Raeren, Liège Province | Raeren Raeren (Belgium) | Mathias de Flamige, married with Wilhelmina de Notomb, sold the castle to Jean-Henri de Schwarzenberg bought the castle on 27 January 1790. However Baron Charles-Henri de Broich who was an in-law of the seller, bought back the estate and later sold it again to Baron Philippe de Witte de Limminghe. |
Ecclesiastical buildings and places
[edit]The following religious places are linked to the Schwarzenberg family either as burial or memorial places:
| Name | Image | Location | Map | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astheim Charterhouse |  |  Volkach, Franconia | Volkach Volkach (Germany) | Founded by Erkinger, 1st Baron of Schwarzenberg in 1409 First burial site of the Schwarzenberg family |
| Schwarzenberg Monastery |  | Scheinfeld, Franconia | Schwarzenberg Monastery Schwarzenberg Monastery (Germany) | Founded in 1702 |
| St. Vitus Cathedral Schwarzenberg Chapel |  | Prague, Czech Republic | Prague Prague (Czech Republic) | Located in the St. Vitus Cathedral. |
| Schwarzenberg Crypt (Domanín) |  | _znak.jpg) Domanín (Jindřichův Hradec District), Czech Republic | Schwarzenberg Crypt (Domanín) Schwarzenberg Crypt (Domanín) (Czech Republic) | Constructed from 1874 – 1877. Burial site of the Schwarzenberg Primogeniture. In family possession Partially accessible to the public. |
| Schwarzenberg Crypt (Orlík nad Vltavou) | .jpg) | Orlík nad Vltavou, Czech Republic | Schwarzenberg Crypt (Orlík nad Vltavou) Schwarzenberg Crypt (Orlík nad Vltavou) (Czech Republic) | Burial site of the Schwarzenberg Secundogeniture. In family possession Active in use and not open to the public. |
| Sedlec Ossuary |  | Kutná Hora, Czech Republic | Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora (Czech Republic) | Part of the World Heritage Site Sedlec Abbey Large Schwarzenberg Secundogeniture coat of arms made out of human bones. |
| Zlatá Koruna Monastery Goldenkorn Monastery |  |  Zlatá Koruna, Czech Republic | Zlatá Koruna Monastery Zlatá Koruna Monastery (Czech Republic) | Founded by King Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1263. The Schwarzenberg family inherited in 1719 the Jus patronatus of the Eggenberg family. In 1785, the family acquired the monastery after its closure due to the Josephinist Reform. It was used as a manufacture until 1909. It was confiscated under the Lex Schwarzenberg in 1948. |
| Vyšší Brod Monastery Goldenkorn Monastery | .jpg) |  Vyšší Brod, Czech Republic | Vyšší Brod Monastery Vyšší Brod Monastery (Czech Republic) | Founded by Wok I von Rosenberg in 1259. The Schwarzenberg family inherited in 1719 the Jus patronatus of the Eggenberg family and kept it for more than a century until 1822. |
| St. Laurentius Church |  |  Weinheim, Germany | St. Laurentius Church St. Laurentius Church (Germany) | Tomb of Rittmeister Friedrich Prinz zu Schwarzenberg. |
| All Saints' Church, Wittenberg | .jpg) |  Wittenberg, Germany | All Saints' Church, Wittenberg All Saints' Church, Wittenberg (Germany) | World Heritage Site Site where the Ninety-five Theses were likely posted by Martin Luther in 1517. Schwarzenberg coat of arms on the balustrade of the organ to commemorate Johann of Schwarzenberg as one of Luther's first followers. |
| San Gian Church Sankt Johannes |  |  Celerina/Schlarigna, Switzerland |  San Gian Church San Gian Church (Switzerland) | The wooden ceiling from 1478, displaying the Brandis coat of arms, today embedded in the Schwarzenberg arms through the unification with Sulz, is considered on of the best preserved wooden church ceilings in Graubünden. It shows the Coat of Arms of Bishop Ortlieb von Brandis (1458-1491), Lord of Brandis in Maienfeld. |
Monuments and memorials
[edit]The following monuments are erected for the Schwarzenberg family and its members:
| Name | Picture | Map | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schwarzenbergplatz |  | Schwarzenbergplatz Schwarzenbergplatz (Austria) | Inaugurated in 1867 Commemorating the victory of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg at the Battle of the Nations in 1813 |
| Monument to the Battle of the Nations |  | Monument to the Battle of the Nations Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Germany) | Inaugurated in 1913 Commemorating the victory (of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg) at the Battle of the Nations in 1813 Length: 80 metres (260 ft) Width: 70 metres (230 ft) Height: 91 metres (299 ft) |
| Monument to Karl Philipp SchwarzenbergKarlovy Vary |  | Installed in 1818, reconstructed in 1891 and 1991. | |
| Schwarzenberg-Pálffy Monument |  |  Schwarzenberg-Pálffy Monument Schwarzenberg-Pálffy Monument (Hungary) | Inaugurated in 1998 Commemorating the victory at the Battle of Györ of Adolf Schwarzenberg in 1598 |
| Statue of Cardinal Friedrich Schwarzenberg | Prague Prague (Czech Republic) | Located in the St. Vitus Cathedral in the Prague Castle Memorial to Cardinal Friedrich Schwarzenberg | |
| Schwarzenberg Monument in Meusdorf (Leipzig) |  | Inaugurated in 1838 Commemorating the victory of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg at the Battle of the Nations in 1813 Commissioned by Karl Philipp's wife and his three sons | |
| Schwarzenberg Memorial on the peak of Plattenkogel Mountain |  | Plattenkogel Plattenkogel (Austria) | Commemorating the presence of Cardinal Friedrich Schwarzenberg |
| Walhalla Memorial Bust of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg | .jpg) Second from the right in the lowest row | Donaustauf Donaustauf (Germany) | Inaugurated in 1842 Commemorating the victory of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg at the Battle of the Nations in 1813 The original bust was created by Johann Nepomuk Schaller in 1821 |
| Ruhmeshalle (Munich) Bust of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg |  | Munich Munich (Germany) | Inaugurated in 1853 |
| Heldenberg Memorial Bust of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg | Heldenberg Memorial Heldenberg Memorial (Austria) | Inaugurated in 1849 One of four Schwarzenberg busts in the Heldenberg Memorial | |
| Heldenberg Memorial Bust of Edmund Schwarzenberg |  | Heldenberg Memorial Heldenberg Memorial (Austria) | Inaugurated in 1849 One of four Schwarzenberg busts in the Heldenberg Memorial |
| Heldenberg Memorial Bust of Adolf Schwarzenberg |  | Heldenberg Memorial Heldenberg Memorial (Austria) | Inaugurated in 1849 One of four Schwarzenberg busts in the Heldenberg Memorial |
| Heldenberg Memorial Bust of Felix Schwarzenberg |  | Heldenberg Memorial Heldenberg Memorial (Austria) | Inaugurated in 1849 One of four Schwarzenberg busts in the Heldenberg Memorial |
| Thorvaldsen Museum Bust of Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg |  |  Thorvaldsen Museum Thorvaldsen Museum (Denmark) | Created by Bertel Thorvaldsen |
| Capuchin Church Bust of Schwarzenberg Uhlans Memorial |  | Capuchin Church Capuchin Church (Austria) | The same church is used as the Imperial Crypt of the Habsburg family |
| Commemorative Obelisk Monument for Prince Karl II Schwarzenberg |  |  Dealu Frumos Dealu Frumos (Romania) | Inaugurated in 1858 Commemorating the decision of HSH Military-Governor Karl II to build a road between the districts Hermannstadt, Leschkirch, Agnetheln and Gross-Schenk. |
The Family
[edit]Heads of the family and title progression
[edit] Lords of Seinsheim |
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