House of Lobkowicz
The Lobkowicz family (Lobkovicové in modern Czech, sg. z Lobkovic; Lobkowitz in German) is one of the oldest still existing Bohemian noble families dating back to the 14th century. The first Lobkowiczs were mentioned as members of the gentry of north-eastern Bohemia.
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[edit] Members
- Mikuláš Chudý ("the Poor") z Újezda (later z Lobkovic) was an important politician of the 15th century.
- Bohuslav Hasištejnský z Lobkovic was an essayist and poet.
- His brother Jan Hasištejnský z Lobkovic was a diplomat and pilgrim to the Holy Land.
- Vilém mladší Popel z Lobkovic (ca. 22 July 1575–1 January 1647; William the Younger Popel of Lobkowicz, Royal councillor; Courtly justice, 1628-34; Highest hunter, 1634-47) inherited the lordship of Horšovský Týn on 15 June 1587, which had been purchased by his father John the Younger in 1546. Being Protestant he was dispossessed in favour of the Catholic Lokowicz line after the Battle of White Mountain in 1620. Vilém was through his daughter Anna Magdalene, Baroness Popel von Lobkowitz (20 July 1606–7 September 1668) father-in-law of Julius Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg since 18 August 1632.[1]
- Zdeněk Vojtěch Popel z Lobkovic was the head of the Catholic Party in early 17th century Bohemia and received Imperial as well as Bohemian princely title in 1620s.
- Georg Christian, Fürst von Lobkowicz was an Imperial Field marshal and founder of the Mělník-Lobkowicz branch.
- Jiří Kristián z Lobkowicz was a Bohemian politician and head of Bohemian Diet in the late 19th century.
Historically, the best known member of the Lobkowicz family is probably Joseph Franz Maximilian Lobkowicz (1772-1816), one of Haydn's and Beethoven's patrons. He was the dedicatee of some of these composers' greatest works, including Haydn's "Lobkowitz" quartets (Opus 77), and Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, and 6th symphonies and his Opus 18 string quartets.
In 1918/1919 both Austria and Czechoslovakia abolished nobility including its titles and other prerogatives.
Today, there are four main branches of family: the Roudnice Lobkowiczs, the Křimice Lobkowiczs, the Dolni Beřkovice Lobkowiczs, and the Mělník Lobkowiczs.
Well-known Lobkowiczs of today are:
- Michal Lobkowicz, MP 1992–2002, 1997-1998 Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic
- Jaroslav Lobkowicz, MP 1998–2006, 2010- , head of Křimice branch and the whole family (who would be the "Prince of Roudnice" bar abolition of nobility)
- František Václav Lobkowicz, O.Praem., Bishop of Ostrava and Opava
- Jiří Lobkowicz, businessman and politician, head of Mělník branch
- Mikuláš Lobkowicz, philosopher, rector of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, president of the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
- Prince Edouard Lobkowicz, businessman, in charge of charities of the Papal Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Lebanon, married to Princess Françoise of Bourbon-Parma, elected by the Fashion press as one of the World's most elegant woman on the famous International Best Dressed List among other Beauty Icons like Jackeline Kennedy, Aimee de Heeren or Audrey Hepburn. Central figure of the International High Society.
- William Lobkowicz, current heir and manager of the Lobkowicz lands in the Czech Republic.
[edit] Family seats
- Křimice
- Bilina
- Lobkovice
- Mělník
- Nelahozeves
- Roudnice nad Labem
- Ústí nad Labem
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Lobkowicz.com - Remembering Edouard de Lobkowicz
- the Mělník Lobkowiczs
- Michal Lobkowicz
- Jaroslav Lobkowicz
- František Václav Lobkowicz
- Association Malte Liban
[edit] Notes
- ^ Their son Julius Francis became the last Ascanian Duke of that duchy.
