Czernin von und zu Chudenitz
Encyclopedia
The Czernin family is one of the oldest and most important dynasties originating in Bohemia
, present-day Czech Republic.
in western Bohemia
which was in their possession from the 13th century until 1945.
On May 18, 1607 the Czernin family was elevated to the Reichsfreiherrenstand
with the title "Freiherr von Chudenitz" (Baron of Chudenitz, svobodný pán z Chudenic) and on March 15, 1623 to the Reichsgrafenstand with "Reichsgraf von Chudenitz" (Count of Chudenitz, hrabě z Chudenic).
In 1716, Franz Josef, Count Czernin von und zu Chudenitz received permission from the emperor to call himself and his firstborn descendants "Regierer des Hauses Neuhaus und Chudenitz" (Ruler of the House of Neuhaus
and Chudenitz).
Today most members of the Czernin family live in the Czech Republic
, Austria
, and the United Kingdom
.
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, present-day Czech Republic.
History
The family is descended from the clan of "Drslavice", like several other Bohemian families. The first known bearer of the family name was "Comes" and Camerarius regis (1199–1212) Cyrnin de Chudenic (11?? - 12??). The name of the family refers to the town of ChudeniceChudenice
Chudenice is a market town in Klatovy District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.The town covers an area of , and has a population of 670 ....
in western Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
which was in their possession from the 13th century until 1945.
On May 18, 1607 the Czernin family was elevated to the Reichsfreiherrenstand
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
with the title "Freiherr von Chudenitz" (Baron of Chudenitz, svobodný pán z Chudenic) and on March 15, 1623 to the Reichsgrafenstand with "Reichsgraf von Chudenitz" (Count of Chudenitz, hrabě z Chudenic).
In 1716, Franz Josef, Count Czernin von und zu Chudenitz received permission from the emperor to call himself and his firstborn descendants "Regierer des Hauses Neuhaus und Chudenitz" (Ruler of the House of Neuhaus
Jindrichuv Hradec
Jindřichův Hradec is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 22,700 inhabitants.- History :The first written mention of the town is in 1220. Before that, it was probably a Slavic settlement. At the end of the 12th century more people arrived...
and Chudenitz).
Today most members of the Czernin family live in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Legend
It is said that about 1000 years ago, the King had a conflict with a Bohemian nobleman. He was so angry with him, that he sent his troops into the nobleman's castle. The soldiers murdered the whole family except a baby boy, whom his nurse had hidden in a kettle in the kitchen. When the soldiers withdrew, people found the little child in the kettle and they praised God for this miracle. They called the boy Czernin which means "The Black" in Czech, because he was black all over his face after having lain in the kettle. The king was so impressed by the peoples loyalty, that he pardoned the little Czernin.Notable family members
- Count Ottokar Czernin von und zu Chudenitz (* 1872; † 1932), diplomat and Austro-Hungarian politician
- Count Otto Czernin von und zu ChudenitzCount Otto von CzerninOtto Graf Czernin von und zu Chudenitz , was an Austro-Hungarian diplomat during the time of World War I.- Life :...
(* 27 August 1875; † 14 June 1962) Austrian diplomat and brother of Count Ottokar - Czernin, Count Manfred BeckettCzernin, Count Manfred BeckettManfred Beckett Czernin was a World War II Royal Air Force Pilot and later in the war was an operative with the Special Operations Executive.-Early Life:...
(1913–1962) Otto's son; World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
pilotAviatorAn aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and spySpecial Operations ExecutiveThe Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local... - Count Johann Rudolf Czernin von und zu ChudenitzJohann Rudolf Czernin von und zu ChudenitzJohann Rudolf Graf Czernin von und zu Chudenitz was a k. u. k. Austrian civil servant and theater director. He descended from the old Bohemian noble family Czernin von und zu Chudenitz...
- Franz Josef Czernin (* 1951), Austrian poet
- Hubertus CzerninHubertus CzerninHubertus Czernin was an Austrian investigative journalist....
(* 1956; † 2006), Austrian journalist and publisher - Jacquie Czernin von und zu Chudenitz und Morzin (Countess Jacqueline Valerie Caroline Czernin von und zu Chudenitz und Morzin) (* 1956) Radio host, CBC Radio 1, Quebec City, Canada.
- Lukia Czernin Von und zu Chudenitz und Morzin (Countess Lukia Alexis Georgina Czernin von und zu Chudenitz und Morzin) (* 1958) Motion Picture Production Coordinator, Vancouver, Canada.
- Michelle Czernin von und zu Chudenitz und Morzin (Countess Michelle Leoma Alexandra Czernin von und zu Chudenitz und Morzin) (* 1969) Producer and Publicist, Los Angeles, California.