Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg

Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg (1568 – October 18, 1634), was an Austrian statesman, a son of Siegfried von Eggenberg (died 1594).

He began life as a soldier in the Spanish service but around 1596 he became a trusted servant of the archduke of Styria, and later of the emperor Ferdinand II. He converted to Roman Catholicism and soon became the chancellor and chief adviser of Ferdinand, whose election as emperor he helped to secure in 1619.

He directed the imperial policy during the earlier part of the Thirty Years' War, and was in general a friend and supporter of Albrecht von Wallenstein, and an opponent of Maximilian I, duke of Bavaria, and of Spain. He was largely responsible for Wallenstein's return to the imperial service early in 1632, and retired from public life just after the general's murder in February 1634, dying at Laibach, on October 18, 1634.

Eggenberg's influence on Ferdinand was so marked that it was commonly said that Austria rested upon three hills ("Berge"): Eggenberg, Questenberg and Werdenberg. He was richly rewarded for his services to the emperor. Having received many valuable estates in Bohemia and elsewhere, he was made a prince of the Empire in 1623, and duke of Krumau in 1625.

In Austria, Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg has left a historical legacy behind. His masterpiece, the Eggenberg Palace, was the main motive of one of the most famous silver collectors coins: the 10 euro Eggenberg Palace coin minted in September 10 2002.

Built by himself, the castle reflects the current fascination in astronomy. The four massive towers represent the four elements, while the 365 windows are for the days of the year, the 24 reception rooms for the hours of a day, etc.. The construction began in 1625 and was completed 1642, only after Hans Ulrich’s death. The obverse of the coin shows a frontal view of the impressive structure.

References

* H. von Zwiedineck-Sudenhorst, "Hans Ulrich, Furst von Eggenberg" (Vienna, 1880)
* F. Mare's, "Beitrage zur Geschichte der Beziehungen des Fursten J. U. von Eggenberg" (Prague, 1893)
*1911