Waldstein family

The Waldstein (Czech - "Valdštejn") family is a Bohemian noble family. It acquired large properties in Bohemia and Moravia and (especially during the 16th century) produced many statesmen and civil servants. In 1628 the family was one of the first in the Bohemian nobility to be promoted to "graf" status, then to Reichsgraf two years later. After uniting with the line of the lords of Wartenberg, the family title today is "Reichsgrafen von Waldstein, Herren von Wartenberg". Its most famous members include Albrecht von Wallenstein, who was both duke of Friedland and Mecklenburg and Fürst (prince) of Sagan, and Count Ferdinand Ernst Gabriel von Waldstein, the patron of Beethoven. Valdštejn Castle was their main family property.

History

Arms

Branches

Pirnitz branch (Brtnice)

Dobrowitz branch (Dobrovice)

Dux branch (Duchcov)

Jettenitz branch (Dětenice)

Lomnitz branch (Lomnice)

tephanitz branch (Štěpanice)

Notable family members

*Johann (Jan) (died 15 June 1576) was supreme Landrichter in Bohemia from 1554 to 1570 (and, until 1576, in the upper Kämmerer). He was a follower of the utraquistist Glaubens.

*His son, Burggraf Adam the Younger von Waldstein auf Komorní Hrádek, Sasau, Lobositz, Dobrowitz, Rožďalovice and Trebitsch (8 June 1570 - 24 August 1638), was appointed supreme Landrichter in 1611 and was Obersthofmeister in the years 1611-1619. A faithful supporter of the Holy Roman Emperor, for that he was granted more lands and posts in 1621. In 1628 he was appointed Reichsgraf, and in 1627-1638 the highest Markgraf. He received these distinctions with mixed feelings - as a Bohemian "Adeliger" or nobleman, he represented the old Bohemian Königsrechte, which only had the ranks of Herr and Ritter. With the support of other Bohemian noblemen, he brought about the abandonment of increasing the number of Reichsgrafen. He also wished to be allowed to die as a Bohemian "Herr".

*Karl Ernst (Karel Arnošt) (4 May 1661, Vienna - 7 January 1713, Vienna) was the Austrian ambassador in Spain, Savoy and Brandenburg. When in 1703 he returned from a diplomatic mission to France and Portugal on a Portuguese ship, he was captured by the French and held at Vincennes for nearly a year. His release came as a prisoner exchange for the French marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy.

*Emmanuel Ernst von Waldstein was Bishop of Leitmeritz.

*Burian Ladislaus (Burian Ladislav) (1591 - 8 October 1645, Prague) was a general.

Bibliography

*Pavel Koukal: Duchcov v zrcadle dějin (Dux im Spiegel der Geschichte). Duchcov: Kapucín, 2005. ISBN 80-86467-10-4.

External links

* [http://www.waldsteinerbildergalerie.com/katalogy/Waldsteiner_Bildergalerie.pdf Stanislav Kasík: Die Waldsteiner. from: Waldsteiner Bildergalerie im Egerer Museum - Katalog zur ständigen Ausstellung. Eger 1999]