Mariano Hugo of Windisch-Graetz

Mariano Hugo Prince of Windisch-Graetz Coat of Arms of Prince Mariano Hugo as Head of the House of Windisch-Graetz. Head of House of Windisch-Graetz Period 1976 - present Predecessor Prince Maximilian Heir Prince Maximilian Hugo Spouse Sophie von Habsburg (Archduchess of Austria) Issue Prince Maximilian Hugo Prince Alexis (deceasd) Princess Larissa House Windisch-Graetz Father Maximilian, Prince zu Windisch-Graetz Mother Maria Luisa Serra di Gerace Born 27 July 1955 Trieste Occupation Ambassador Religion Roman Catholic

Styles of The Prince of Windisch-Graetz Reference style His Serene Highness[1] / His Excellency Spoken style Your Serene Highness / Your Excellency Alternative style Sir

Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz (German: Mariano Hugo, Fürst zu Windisch-Graetz, Italian: Mariano Ugo, Principe di Windisch-Graetz; born 27 July 1955) is the current head of the Austrian,^[2] or Italian,^[3] House of Windisch-Graetz. A former ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) to the Republic of Slovakia, he is currently ambassador of the SMOM to Slovenia.^[4]

Upbringing and family

Windisch-Graetz was born in Trieste^[5] as the elder son of Maximilian, Prince zu Windisch-Graetz and Maria Luisa (Marlise) Serra di Gerace. ^[6] His mother was the legitimatised daughter of Gian Battista Serra, 12th Principe di Gerace by Donna Maria Grazia Carafa d'Andria.^[3]

Windisch-Graetz was educated firstly in Rome at the school of the De La Salle Brothers^{[citation needed]} and then in England at the University College of Buckingham,^{[citation needed]} from which he graduated in 1975^{[citation needed]} with a degree in economics and political science.^{[citation needed]}

When his father died in 1976, Windisch-Graetz succeeded as head of a cadet branch of the House of Windisch-Graetz,^[2][7] a mediatised house whose members historically bear the style of Serene Highness.^[1]

On 11 February 1990 in Salzburg, Austria, Windisch-Graetz married Archduchess Sophie of Austria, daughter of Archduke Ferdinand and Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach.^[5][7]. The Countess was a grand niece of Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians and daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark, making her a first cousin of the current Duke of Kent. The couple had three children: Prince Maximilian Hugo, Prince Alexis Ferdinand (who died at Sant'Angelo d'Alife in a car accident in 2010)^[8]), and Princess Larissa Maria Grazia Helen Leontina Maria Luisa.^[5] Windisch-Graetz and his family reside in Italy when he is not abroad on diplomatic appointment, maintaining a home in Rome and Il Palazzo in Sant'Angelo d'Alife.^[5]

Activities and appointments

The business activities of Windisch-Graetz include the food production industry, notably biscuits and mozzarella cheese, and entrenprenuial finance.^[3] In the early 1990s, he was a major shareholder in the Banco di Napoli and a holding company, Sogesco, of which he owned 82%, was capitalised at 10 billion lire.^[9]

On December 19, 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed Windisch-Graetz a Gentleman of His Holiness,^[10] a role which entails meeting visiting heads of state and ambassadors and escorting them to meet the pope.^[11] He is also a Knight of Honour and Devotion in Obedience of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.^[5]

In 2003 Windisch-Graetz was appointed Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of Slovakia;^[12] this appointment was renewed in 2006, until December 2009.^{[citation needed]} In March 2009 he was appointed Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of Slovenia.^[13]

Honours and awards

•  SMOM: Knight of Honour and Devotion in the Obedience of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta^[5]
•  SMOM: Knight Grand Officier of the Order pro merito Melitensi^{[citation needed]}
•  Holy See: Knight Grand Officer of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre^{[citation needed]}
•  Morocco: Grand Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite^{[citation needed]}
• House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: Knight of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George,^[5]
• House of Braganza: Knight Grand Officer of the Order of Saint Michael of the Wing^{[citation needed]}
• House of Habsburg: Knight of the Austrian Order of the Golden Fleece.^[5]
• House of Petrović-Njegoš: Knight Commander of the Order of Prince Danilo I^{[citation needed]}
• House of Savoy: Knight of the Collar of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation^[5][14]
• House of Savoy: Knight of Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus^[15][14]

References

Serra di Gerace family tree

1. ^ ^{a b} Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX, "Windisch-Graetz" (Limburg an der Lahn: C.A. Starke, 2011), 431.
2. ^ ^{a b} Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX, "Windisch-Graetz" (Limburg an der Lahn: C.A. Starke, 2011), 434.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Les Manuscrits du CEDRE V, Le Royaume d'Italie I. Cercle d'Etudes des Dynasties Royales Europėennes (CEDRE), Paris, 1992, ISSN =0993-3964 p. 196-197
4. ^ Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of Slovenia
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX, "Windisch-Graetz" (Limburg an der Lahn: C.A. Starke, 2011), 436.
6. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX, "Windisch-Graetz" (Limburg an der Lahn: C.A. Starke, 2011), 435.
7. ^ ^{a b} Willis, Daniel. The Descendants of Louis XIII, Chapter 6: The Imperial Family of Austria (Clearfield Co., 1999), 508-509.
8. ^ "Nel Casertano Funerali Secondogenito del Principe d'Hasburg", Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (11 February 2010)
9. ^ "Grandi Battaglie tra ricchezza e nobilta", (in Italian), Corriere della Sera, 19 February 1994 (accessed 29 April 2011)
10. ^ Annuario Pontificio 2011 (Città del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2011), 2320.
11. ^ Hyginus Eugene Cardinale, The Holy See and the International Order (Gerrards Cross: Colin SMythe, 1976), 208.
12. ^ Grand Master Greets the President of the Republic of Slovakia
13. ^ Presentation of the Letters of Credencials
14. ^ ^{a b} Leadership of the Savoy Orders
15. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX, "Windisch-Graetz" (Limburg an der Lahn: C.A. Starke, 2011), plate facing page 436.

Persondata
Name	Windisch-Graetz, Mariano Hugo Of
Alternative names	Ugo, Principe di Windisch-Graetz
Short description
Date of birth	27 July 1955
Place of birth	Trieste
Date of death
Place of death