John Wenceslau Wratislaw von Mitrowitz
Encyclopedia
Count Johann Wenzel Wratislaw von Mitrowitz was the High Chancellor of Bohemia
.
. In his early years he was a lawyer and travelled through Europe
. With the support of his uncle Count Count Franz Ulrich Kinsky he became a member of the chancery of the Austrian
court in 1695. At the beginning of the 18th century he worked as a diplomat in London
and The Hague
, where he participated in the formation of the alliance against France, and on 7 September 1701 was one of the signatories of the Treaty of The Hague
, after establishing himself during the preceding negotiations as a realist, who saw that it was impractical for Austria to take over the whole legacy of Spain. At this time he became the friend of Prince Eugene of Savoy
, to whom he gave advice in foreign affairs. Before the Battle of Blenheim
he supported Eugene by sending Marlborough
to join him in South Germany him and thereafter helping to coordinate their activities. After the fall of Bavaria however it was not Wratislaw who was appointed governor, although that was what Eugene proposed, but Count Löwenstein, a court favourite in Vienna
.
When Emperor Leopold I
died in 1705 Wratislaw was appointed Chancellor of Bohemia and Joseph I
's adviser in foreign affairs. His life was made more difficult however by Joseph's tutor, Karl Theodor von Salm, who saw him as a rival and took pains to put obstacles in his path. Subsequently Wratislaw advised Eugene against accepting the high command on the Spanish front, on the basis that although it was possible to rule Austria and Italy jointly, it was impossible to rule Austria and Spain jointly, and that therefore any military action there, even if successful, made little sense.
After Joseph's death on 17 April 1711 Wratislaw, as a minister, became a member of the council advising his widow as Regent, Eleonore-Magdalena
, which brought about the withdrawal of Joseph's brother Karl from Catalonia
. When Karl was crowned as Emperor Charles VI
he confirmed Wratislaw in his offices, who remained from then on in Vienna, where, badly overweight, he died on 21 December 1712 of dropsy.
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...
.
Biography
Count Johann Wenzel Wratislaw von Mitrowitz was born into a noble family of BohemiaBohemia
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...
. In his early years he was a lawyer and travelled through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. With the support of his uncle Count Count Franz Ulrich Kinsky he became a member of the chancery of the Austrian
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
court in 1695. At the beginning of the 18th century he worked as a diplomat in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, where he participated in the formation of the alliance against France, and on 7 September 1701 was one of the signatories of the Treaty of The Hague
Treaty of The Hague (1701)
The Treaty of Den Haag was signed on September 7, 1701 between England, the Holy Roman Empire, and the United Provinces. The accord was negotiated by William III of England and signed by Emperor Leopold I and delegates of the United Provinces...
, after establishing himself during the preceding negotiations as a realist, who saw that it was impractical for Austria to take over the whole legacy of Spain. At this time he became the friend of Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
, to whom he gave advice in foreign affairs. Before the Battle of Blenheim
Battle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
he supported Eugene by sending Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
to join him in South Germany him and thereafter helping to coordinate their activities. After the fall of Bavaria however it was not Wratislaw who was appointed governor, although that was what Eugene proposed, but Count Löwenstein, a court favourite in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
When Emperor Leopold I
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
died in 1705 Wratislaw was appointed Chancellor of Bohemia and Joseph I
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
's adviser in foreign affairs. His life was made more difficult however by Joseph's tutor, Karl Theodor von Salm, who saw him as a rival and took pains to put obstacles in his path. Subsequently Wratislaw advised Eugene against accepting the high command on the Spanish front, on the basis that although it was possible to rule Austria and Italy jointly, it was impossible to rule Austria and Spain jointly, and that therefore any military action there, even if successful, made little sense.
After Joseph's death on 17 April 1711 Wratislaw, as a minister, became a member of the council advising his widow as Regent, Eleonore-Magdalena
Eleonore-Magdalena of Neuburg
Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg was Holy Roman Empress as the spouse of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. Through her marriage, she was also Queen of Bohemia and Hungary, German Queen, and Archduchess of Austria. She served as Interim Regent in 1711...
, which brought about the withdrawal of Joseph's brother Karl from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
. When Karl was crowned as Emperor Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
he confirmed Wratislaw in his offices, who remained from then on in Vienna, where, badly overweight, he died on 21 December 1712 of dropsy.
Sources
- Herre, Franz, nd: Eugen von Savoyen Europas heimlicher Herrscher