House of Lobkowicz

The Lobkowicz family (Lobkovicové in modern Czech, sg. "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.
* 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.
* Zdeněk Vojtěch Popel z Lobkowic 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), the patron of Beethoven. He was the dedicatee of some of the composer's greatest works, including the 3rd, 5th, and 6th symphonies and the 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, head of Křimice branch and the whole family (who would be the "Duke 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
* 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.
* William Lobkowicz, current heir and manager of the Lobkowicz lands in the Czech Republic.

External links

* [http://www.lobkowicz.org the Roudnice Lobkowiczs]
* [http://www.top.cz/lobkovlad/indexen.html the Křimice Lobkowiczs]
* [http://www.lobkowicz-melnik.cz the Mělník Lobkowiczs]
* [http://www.psp.cz/sqw/detail.sqw?id=91&o=3 Michal Lobkowicz]
* [http://www.psp.cz/sqw/detail.sqw?id=392&o=4 Jaroslav Lobkowicz]
* [http://www.doo.cz/view.php?cisloclanku=2006021501 František Václav Lobkowicz]
* [http://malte-liban.org Association Malte Liban]