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House of Schwarzenberg

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House of Schwarzenberg
Arms of the Princes of Schwarzenberg
Founded12th century
FounderErkinger of Seinsheim
Current headKarel VII of Schwarzenberg
Titles
Style(s)Serene Highness
(Princely) County of Schwarzenberg
(Gefürstete) Grafschaft Schwarzenberg
1429–1806
Coat of arms of Schwarzenberg
Coat of arms
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire
CapitalSchwarzenberg Castle, Scheinfeld;
Český Krumlov (de facto since 1670s)
GovernmentPrincipality
Historical eraLate Middle Ages
Early Modern Era
• Acquired by the lords of Seinsheim
1405 – 1421
1429
• Raised to
    Imperial County
1599
• Raised to
    Princely County
14 July 1670
 
1671
1806
Preceded by
Franconia Franconia

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]

  • Conrad
  • ...
  • Apollonius d. Ä. (died 1311)
  • ...
  • Hildebrand (IV.) (died 1386)
  • Michael (I.) (died 1399)
  • Erkinger (VI.) (1362–1437) founded Astheim Charterhouse in 1409 with his first wife Anna von Bibra, acquired Schwarzenberg in 1420, became baron of Schwarzenberg in 1429 and bought Hohenlandsberg (49°35′42″N 10°17′53″E / 49.595034°N 10.297960°E / 49.595034; 10.297960) in 1435.[16] All Schwarzenbergs descend from Erkinger and his two wives, Anna von Bibra (died 1418) and Barbara von Abensberg (died 1448).[17]

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)

Secundogeniture (branch of Orlík)

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

Heads of the House of Schwarzenberg (after 1918)

Primogeniture

Secundogeniture

  • 1979–present: Karel VII, son of Karl VI, adopted by Heinrich, thus unifying both lines

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.

  • Jan I Nepomuk (1742–1789), 5th Prince of Schwarzenberg, 10th (3rd of his line) Duke of Krumlov
    • A1. Josef II Jan (1769–1833), 6th Prince of Schwarzenberg, 11th (4th of his line) Duke of Krumlov (1789–1833), founder of the main branch of the family (that of Frauenberg-Krummau)
      • B1. Jan Adolf II (1799–1888), 7th Prince of Schwarzenberg, 12th (5th of his line) Duke of Krumlov (1833–1888)
        • C1. Adolf Josef (1832–1914), 8th Prince of Schwarzenberg, 13th (6th of his line) Duke of Krumlov (1888–1914)
          • D1. Jan II Nepomuk (1860–1938), 9th Prince of Schwarzenberg, 14th (7th of his line) Duke of Krumlov (1914-1938)
            • E1. Adolph Jan (1890–1950), 10th Prince of Schwarzenberg, 15th (8th of his line) Duke of Krumlov (1938–1950)
            • E2. Karl (1892–1919)
            • E3. Edmund Černov (1897–1932) - Called "Black Sheep" as a consequence of the refusal of his surname
          • D2. Alois (1863–1937)
          • D3. Felix (1867–1946)
            • E1. Josef III (1900–1979), 11th Prince of Schwarzenberg (1950-1979), last member of the eldest side of the dynasty
            • E2. Heinrich (1903–1965), 16th (9th of his line) Duke of Krumlov (1950–1965) (adopted G1. Karel (VII/I))
          • D4. Georg (1867–1952)
          • D5. Karel (1871–1902)
        • C2. Cajus (1839–1941)
      • B2. Felix (1800–1852), Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire
      • B3. Friedrich (1809–1885), Archbishop of Prague
    • A2. Karel I Philipp (1771–1820), Prince of Schwarzenberg, founder and chief of the second line of the family (Orlík)
      • B1. Friedrich (1800–1870), Who renounced his right of majorat in favour of his brother
      • B2. Karel II (1802–1858), Prince of Schwarzenberg
        • C1. Karel III (1824–1904), Prince of Schwarzenberg
          • D1. Karel IV (1859–1913), Prince of Schwarzenberg
            • E1. Karl V (1886–1914), Prince of Schwarzenberg
              • F1. Karel VI (1911–1989), Prince of Schwarzenberg
                • G1. Karel (VII / I) Schwarzenberg (* 1937), 12th Price of Schwarzenberg (from 1979), 17th (10th considering his original line) Duke of Krumlov (from 1965), Former Minister of the Foreign Affairs and candidate to the Presidence of Czech Republik in 2013. He unified the two lines of the family.
                  • H1. Jan Nepomuk (* 1967)
                • G2. Friedrich (* 1940–2014)
                  • H1. Ferdinand (* 1989)
              • F2. Franz Friedrich Maria (1913–1992)
                • G1. Hugo Tiberius (* 1936)
                  • H1. Lukas (* 1963)
                    • I1. Egon Hildebrand (* 1996)
                • G2. Jan Nepomuk (* 1957)
                  • H1. Alexander Holden (* 1984)
            • E2. Ernst (1892–1979)
            • E3. Josef (1894–1894)
            • E4. Jan Nepomuk (1903–1978), Austrian Embassador
              • F1. Erkinger (* 1933)
                • G1. Jan (* 1963)
                • G2. Alexandr (* 1971)
                  • H1. Karl Philipp (* 2003)
          • D2. Friedrich (1862–1936)
      • B2. Leopold (1803–1873), Austrian Marshal

Title of the head of the Schwarzenberg family

Styles of
The Prince of Schwarzenberg
Reference styleHis Serene Highness
Spoken styleYour Serene Highness
Alternative styleSir
  • H.S.H. The Prince of Schwarzenberg, Duke of Krumlov, Count of Sulz, Princely Landgrave of Klettgau (German: S.D. der Fürst von und zu Schwarzenberg, Herzog von Krummau, Graf von Sulz, gefürsteter Landgraf im Klettgau)

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

  1. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  2. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  3. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  4. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  5. ^ Heraldry of the House of Schwarzenberg
  6. ^ Heraldry of the Schwarzenbergs
  7. ^ The Schwarzenberg arms
  8. ^ Sugar, Peter F.; Hanák, Péter; Frank, Tibor, eds. (1990). A History of Hungary. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 97.
  9. ^ Slater, Stephen (2013). The Illustrated Book of Heraldry: An International History of Heraldry and Its Contemporary Uses. Wigston, Leicestershire: Lorenz Books. pp. 234, 240–241. ISBN 978-0-7548-2659-0.
  10. ^ The Schwarzenberg Coat-of-arms
  11. ^ The Schwarzenbergs
  12. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  13. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  14. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  15. ^ Heraldry of the House of Schwarzenberg
  16. ^ History of the Schwarzenberg family
  17. ^ Family tree of the House of Schwarzenberg
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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