House of Schwarzenberg

House of Schwarzenberg

Arms of the Princes of Schwarzenberg
Titles
Style(s) Serene Highness
Founded 12th century
Founder Erkinger of Seinsheim
Current head Karel VII of Schwarzenberg
(Princely) County of Schwarzenberg
(Gefürstete) Grafschaft Schwarzenberg
State of the Holy Roman Empire
←
1429–1806


Coat of arms

Capital Schwarzenberg Castle, Scheinfeld;
Český Krumlov (de facto since 1670s)
Government Principality
Historical era Late Middle Ages
Early Modern Era
 • Acquired by the lords of Seinsheim 1405 – 1421
 •  Imperial immediacy 1429
 • Raised to
    Imperial County		 1599
 • Raised to
    Princely County		 14 July 1670
 • Raised to Princely
    Landgraviate		  
1671
 •  German Mediatisation 1806

Schwarzenberg (formerly in Czech also: Švarcenberk) is the name of a Czech (Bohemian) and German (Franconian) aristocratic family, and it was one of the most prominent European noble houses. The Schwarzenbergs are members of the Bohemian nobility and German nobility and achieved the rank of Princes of the Holy Roman Empire. The family traces its roots to the lords of Seinsheim during the Middle Ages.[1]

The current head of the family is Karel Schwarzenberg, the 12th Prince of Schwarzenberg, a Czech politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The family owns properties and lands across Austria, Czech Republic and Germany.

History

The family stems from the lords of Seinsheim, who had established themselves in Franconia during the Middle Ages.[2] 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.

In 1599, the Schwarzenbergs were elevated to Imperial Counts, and the family was later raised to princely status in 1670.[3] 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 the Czech Republic).

At the beginning of the 19th century, the House of Schwarzenberg was divided into two princely-titled lines (majorats).[4] The senior branch 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 was established by Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg, at Orlík, Murau and Vienna, and this branch continues to the present day.

The two branches have now been re-united under the current head of the family, Karl VII of Schwarzenberg, who is the 12th Prince of Schwarzenberg. He is a Czech politician and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Coat of arms

The ancestral arms of the lords of Seinsheim consisted of vertical stripes in silver and blue.[5]

The family became Freiherren (Barons) of Schwarzenberg in 1429, and a silver tower on a black hill was added to their coat of arms to represent Schwarzenberg.[6]

In 1599, Adolf von Schwarzenberg became an Imperial Count, and he added a quarter showing the head of a Turk being pecked by a raven. This was to commemorate the conquest on 19 March 1598 of a Turkish-held fortress in Hungary that was known in German as Raab ('Raven').[7][8][9]

In 1670, the Schwarzenbergs were raised to princely status. Their coat of arms was subsequently augmented, with quarters added for the domains of Sulz, Brandis (canting arms: a brand) and the Landgraviate of Klettgau.[10][11]

Notable family members

The House of Schwarzenberg produced many military commanders, politicians, church dignitaries (including a Cardinal), innovators and patrons of the arts.[12] 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:

Property and residences

Bohemia

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.[13]

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.[14]

Castles and palaces

The Schwarzenberg property holdings included the following residences:


Titles of the family

Town of Seinsheim (ancestral origin)
Coat of arms of the town of Seinsheim

Lords of Seinsheim

The House of Seinsheim regarded Erchanger, Duke of Swabia (died 917), as their ancestor.[15]

Barons of Schwarzenberg

In 1599, the barony was raised to an Imperial county.

Counts of Schwarzenberg

On 14 July 1670, the county was raised to an Princely county and, the following year, to a Princely landgraviate.

Arms of the princes of the senior branch
Arms of the princes of the Orlík branch
Orlík Castle

Princes of Schwarzenberg

Primogeniture (branch of Krumlov and Hluboká)

  • 1789–1833: Joseph II (eldest son of Johann I), Duke of Krumlov
  • 1833–1888: Johann Adolf II
  • 1888–1914: Adolf Joseph
  • 1914–1918: Johann II

Secundogeniture (branch of Orlík)

  • 1789-1820: Karl Philipp (younger son of Johann I), Count of Sulz and Princely Landgrave of Klettgau
  • 1820-1858: Karl II
  • 1858-1904: Karl III
  • 1904-1913: Karl IV
  • 1913-1914: Karl V
  • 1914-1918: Karl VI

In November of 1918, the Austro-Hungarian Empire ceased to exist.

Heads of the House of Schwarzenberg (after 1918)

Primogeniture

  • 1918–1938: Johann II
  • 1938–1950: Adolph Schwarzenberg, childless,
    adopted Heinrich, Duke of Krumau (died 1965),
    younger brother of his cousin
  • 1950–1979: Joseph III (died 1979), cousin of Johann II

Secundogeniture

  • 1918-1986: Karel VI (died 1986)

The Dynasty

The names hereby presented are those of all the direct successors of the Prince John I of Schwarzenberg (1742-1789). They have been respectively divided into the two brenches of Krumlov and Orlik, including the contemporary generations. For the genealogy to be easier to consult, the male successors alone are listed, and they are accompanied with remarkable informations whether necessary. In bold the names of the members of the eldest part of the family.

Title of the head of the Schwarzenberg family

Styles of
The Prince of Schwarzenberg
Reference style His Serene Highness
Spoken style Your Serene Highness
Alternative style Sir

The other members of the Schwarzenberg family are not referred to as Dukes of Krumlov, and they should be addressed without the word "The" in front of their title of Prince or Princess. In the German language, the princely title of the head of the family is "Fürst", whereas other members of the family are titled as "Prinz" or "Prinzessin". The eldest son of the head of the family would be addressed with the title of "Erbprinz".

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to House of Schwarzenberg.
Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article about Schwarzenberg.


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