Gundakar, Prince of Liechtenstein
Encyclopedia
Gundakar of Liechtenstein (30 January 1580 – 5 August 1658) (Prince from 1623) was a member of the House of Liechtenstein
and as such the owner of a large estate. He also served the Habsburg
dynasty.
He himself was married twice. In the first marriage, he married Agnes, a daughter of Count Enno III of East Frisia and in the second marriage Elizabeth Lucretia, a daughter of Duke Adam Wenceslaus of Cieszyn and herself a ruling Duchess of Cieszyn. He was the founder of the so-called Gundakar line of the House of Liechtenstein. In 1606, the brothers signed a famility treaty stipulating that the first-born of the eldest surviving line would be head of the House of Liechtenstein.
. Gundaker wrote a vindication, entitled "`Motives that moved me to accept the Catholic faith".
His conversion facilitated his ascent at the imperial court. He served under Emperors Matthias
, Ferdinand II
and Ferdinand III
. He began his career at court in 1599 as chamberlain. In the following years he accompanied Archduke Matthias on military expeditions to Hungary and was present at the siege of Buda. In 1606, he served several times as an ambassador and in 1608, he accompanied Matthias on his campaign in Bohemia against Rudolf II
. He became a councillor at the Exchequer
in 1606 and he led the department from 1613. As early as 1608, he appears to have acted as Vice Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was also a councillor in the Chamber of Lower Austria. Between 1614 and 1617, he held various positions, including Land Marshal of Lower Austia, Chief Hofmeister
to Archduke Charles John and Chief Hofmeister to the Empress Consort Anna of Tyrol
.
His real political rise coincided with the beginning of the Thirty Years' War. In 1618 he led a delegation to the Estates
of Silesia
. His task was to prevent Silesia from joining the Bohemian revolt. This attempt, however, failed. Then, at the beginning of the year 1619, he was sent as an ambassador to various princes, electors and prince-bishops to formally notify them of the death of Emperor Matthias. Informally, he would discuss the Bohemian revolt. Secretly, he negoatiated with Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria and other Catholic princes about military assistance to the Catholic League
, in view of the impending war. In the same year, he undertook a second mission, to the spiritual electors, to prepare the election of Ferdinand II as the next Emperor. He also visited Elector Palatine Frederick V
, even though the court in Vienna already knew that Frederick was about to play an important role in the Bohemian revolt. Gundakar was present when Ferdinand was elected and continued to accompany him. He negatiated with the Upper Austrian Estates about their position with regards to the Bohemian revolt. The Austrians did no formally break with Bohemia. After the Imperial victory, Gundakar was tasked with punishing the supporters of the rebellion in Upper Austria.
From 1621, he was a secret councillor and a close political adviser to the Emperor. Especially in the period before 1626, he was influential as the leader of the Privy Council. After 1625, he was Chief Hofmeister. However, he was displaced from that position by Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg
, who was a supporter of Wallenstein and leader of the "Spanish" party at the court. This turned Gundakar into an enemy of Wallenstein.
He has authored several studies and has two "Mirrors for princes". He proposed the creation of a Knight academy
and argued for a reform of the administration. He also demanded that the state should promote the economy, in the sense of the early mercantilism
, in order to increase tax revenue. This was apparently inspired by Giovanni Botero
and other contemporary political theorists. Besides his official writings, he also published a work on the bridling of horses.
In 1623, he was raised to the rank of hereditary Imperial Prince.
. He donated gift to many churches and moasteries and imposed Catholicism on his possessions. He created a staged surveillance apparatus to control the faith in his lands. This allowed him to displace Protestantism
from his eastern Moravian possessions, despite resistance of the population.
Like his two brothers, he contributed to the increase of his family's possessions. Like other Catholic noblemen loyal to the Emperor, he profited from the redistribution in 1619 of the dispossessed fiefs of the supporters of the Bohemian revolt. He was enfeoffed by Ferdinand II with the Lordship of Uherský Ostroh
, as a reward for services rendered. In 1622, he purchased the Lordships of Ostrava
and Moravský Krumlov
. However, he paid with bad currency. Instead of , the actual value of his money was less than . The possessions he purchased were valued at about one million guilders.
However, further attempts to increase the property failed. He laid a claim on the County of Rietberg, which had been owned by his first wife, Agnes of East Frisia. He was defeated, however, by Maximilian Ulrich von Kaunitz in a drawn-out legal battle. His second wife was a ruling Duchess of Cieszyn and he tried to pressure her into transferring Cieszyn to him. She retired to Silesia and informed her husband that if he was interested in continuing the marriage, he had to come to Cieszyn. After her death, Cieszyn reverted to the Bohemian crown
as a completed fief.
Wilfersdorf was his favorite abode. He therefore had Wilfersdorf Castle converted into a water castle.
After the death of his first wife, he married in 1618 Elizabeth Lucretia, Duchess of Cieszyn (born: 1 June 1599; died: 19 May 1653). They had three children:
Princely Family of Liechtenstein
The Liechtenstein dynasty, from which the principality takes its name, is the family which reigns by constitutional, hereditary right over the nation of Liechtenstein...
and as such the owner of a large estate. He also served the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
dynasty.
Family
He was the youngest son of Hartmann II (1544–1585). His mother was Anna Maria (née Countess of Ortenburg). His brothers were Karl I and Maximilian. He received a careful education.He himself was married twice. In the first marriage, he married Agnes, a daughter of Count Enno III of East Frisia and in the second marriage Elizabeth Lucretia, a daughter of Duke Adam Wenceslaus of Cieszyn and herself a ruling Duchess of Cieszyn. He was the founder of the so-called Gundakar line of the House of Liechtenstein. In 1606, the brothers signed a famility treaty stipulating that the first-born of the eldest surviving line would be head of the House of Liechtenstein.
In Habsburg service
His father was a Lutheran and he had rasised his children as Lutherans. At the beginning of the 17th Century, Gundakar and his brothers converted to CatholicismCatholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
. Gundaker wrote a vindication, entitled "`Motives that moved me to accept the Catholic faith".
His conversion facilitated his ascent at the imperial court. He served under Emperors Matthias
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
, Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
and Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
. He began his career at court in 1599 as chamberlain. In the following years he accompanied Archduke Matthias on military expeditions to Hungary and was present at the siege of Buda. In 1606, he served several times as an ambassador and in 1608, he accompanied Matthias on his campaign in Bohemia against Rudolf II
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
. He became a councillor at the Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
in 1606 and he led the department from 1613. As early as 1608, he appears to have acted as Vice Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was also a councillor in the Chamber of Lower Austria. Between 1614 and 1617, he held various positions, including Land Marshal of Lower Austia, Chief Hofmeister
Hofmeister (office)
In medieval Europe, a Hofmeister was a house tutor, also responsible for the care of his students beyond their education....
to Archduke Charles John and Chief Hofmeister to the Empress Consort Anna of Tyrol
Anna of Tyrol
Anna of Tyrol was the wife of Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor. By this marriage she was Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Queen of Bohemia and Queen of Hungary. Her parents were Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria and Anne Juliana Gonzaga.-Marriage:On 4 December 1611 in Vienna, Matthias and Anna were...
.
His real political rise coincided with the beginning of the Thirty Years' War. In 1618 he led a delegation to the Estates
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
of Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. His task was to prevent Silesia from joining the Bohemian revolt. This attempt, however, failed. Then, at the beginning of the year 1619, he was sent as an ambassador to various princes, electors and prince-bishops to formally notify them of the death of Emperor Matthias. Informally, he would discuss the Bohemian revolt. Secretly, he negoatiated with Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria and other Catholic princes about military assistance to the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
, in view of the impending war. In the same year, he undertook a second mission, to the spiritual electors, to prepare the election of Ferdinand II as the next Emperor. He also visited Elector Palatine Frederick V
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, even though the court in Vienna already knew that Frederick was about to play an important role in the Bohemian revolt. Gundakar was present when Ferdinand was elected and continued to accompany him. He negatiated with the Upper Austrian Estates about their position with regards to the Bohemian revolt. The Austrians did no formally break with Bohemia. After the Imperial victory, Gundakar was tasked with punishing the supporters of the rebellion in Upper Austria.
From 1621, he was a secret councillor and a close political adviser to the Emperor. Especially in the period before 1626, he was influential as the leader of the Privy Council. After 1625, he was Chief Hofmeister. However, he was displaced from that position by Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg
Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg
Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg was an Austrian statesman, a son of Seyfried von Eggenberg and great-grandson of Balthasar Eggenberger of the House of Eggenberg.- Biography :...
, who was a supporter of Wallenstein and leader of the "Spanish" party at the court. This turned Gundakar into an enemy of Wallenstein.
He has authored several studies and has two "Mirrors for princes". He proposed the creation of a Knight academy
Knight academy
Knight academies were developed by the German aristocracy in the late seventeenth century to facilitate the ascent of Prussia as a European power. They prepared aristocratic youth for state and military service. It added to the hitherto rudimentary education of the German aristocracy natural...
and argued for a reform of the administration. He also demanded that the state should promote the economy, in the sense of the early mercantilism
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...
, in order to increase tax revenue. This was apparently inspired by Giovanni Botero
Giovanni Botero
Giovanni Botero was an Italian thinker, priest, poet, and diplomat, best known for his work Della ragion di Stato . In this work, he argued against the amoral political philosophy associated with Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince, not only because it lacked a Christian foundation but also because...
and other contemporary political theorists. Besides his official writings, he also published a work on the bridling of horses.
In 1623, he was raised to the rank of hereditary Imperial Prince.
Counter-Reformation
His ideology was anti-Machiavellian and he was influence by the Catholic Counter-ReformationCounter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
. He donated gift to many churches and moasteries and imposed Catholicism on his possessions. He created a staged surveillance apparatus to control the faith in his lands. This allowed him to displace Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
from his eastern Moravian possessions, despite resistance of the population.
Possessions
When his father's inheritance was divided in 1598, he received the lordships Wilfersdorf and Ringelsdorf. In 1601, he issued an regulation for his subjects. He was so wealthy that he could grant loans to the state.Like his two brothers, he contributed to the increase of his family's possessions. Like other Catholic noblemen loyal to the Emperor, he profited from the redistribution in 1619 of the dispossessed fiefs of the supporters of the Bohemian revolt. He was enfeoffed by Ferdinand II with the Lordship of Uherský Ostroh
Uherský Ostroh
Uherský Ostroh is a town in the Uherské Hradiště District, Zlín Region, Czech Republic, located about 11 km southwest of Uherské Hradiště. It lies in the ethnographic Slovácko region....
, as a reward for services rendered. In 1622, he purchased the Lordships of Ostrava
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
and Moravský Krumlov
Moravský Krumlov
Moravský Krumlov is a town in the Znojmo District, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic. It has about 6,023 inhabitants .The city is named Moravský Krumlov to differentiate it from Český Krumlov , which is further west.The castle of Moravský Krumlov is home to the series of paintings by Alphonse...
. However, he paid with bad currency. Instead of , the actual value of his money was less than . The possessions he purchased were valued at about one million guilders.
However, further attempts to increase the property failed. He laid a claim on the County of Rietberg, which had been owned by his first wife, Agnes of East Frisia. He was defeated, however, by Maximilian Ulrich von Kaunitz in a drawn-out legal battle. His second wife was a ruling Duchess of Cieszyn and he tried to pressure her into transferring Cieszyn to him. She retired to Silesia and informed her husband that if he was interested in continuing the marriage, he had to come to Cieszyn. After her death, Cieszyn reverted to the Bohemian crown
Lands of the Bohemian Crown
The Lands of the Bohemian Crown , also called the Lands of the Crown of Saint Wenceslas or simply the Bohemian Crown or Czech Crown lands , refers to the area connected by feudal relations under the joint rule of the Bohemian kings...
as a completed fief.
Wilfersdorf was his favorite abode. He therefore had Wilfersdorf Castle converted into a water castle.
Marriage and issue
Gundakar von Lichtenstein was twice married. He first married in 1603 with Countess Agnes of East Frisia (born: 1 January 1584; died: 28 February 1616). They had the following children:- Caesar (1609–1610)
- Hartmann (born: 9 February 1613; died: 11 February 1686), Prince of Liechtenstein, married on 27 October 1640 with Sidonie Elisabeth of Salm-Reifferscheidt (born: 6 September 1623; died: 23 September 1688)
- Juliana (1605–1658), married in 1636 Count Nikolaus Fugger of Nordendorf (1596–1676)
- Elizabeth (1606–1630)
- Maximiliana Constanza (born: 3 January 1608; died: 1642), married in 1630 Count Matthias of Thurn and Valsassina
- Johanna (1611-1611)
After the death of his first wife, he married in 1618 Elizabeth Lucretia, Duchess of Cieszyn (born: 1 June 1599; died: 19 May 1653). They had three children:
- Maria Anna (born: 13 August 1621; died: 1655), married in 1652 Wilhelm Heinrich Schlik, Count of Passaun and Weisskirchen (d. 1652)
- Ferdinand John (1622–1666), married Countess Dorothea Anna of Lodron (1619–1666)
- Anna (1625–1654)