Paul II Anton Esterházy
Encyclopedia
Prince Paul II Anton Esterházy de Galantha (22 April 1711 – 18 March 1762) was a prince of the Esterházy family. He had a distinguished career as a soldier and patron of music.
, he studied in Vienna
and Leiden and had a strong interest in culture. In August 1733, in London, he became a freemason:
As the previous members of the Esterházy family, he supported the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
in the War of the Austrian Succession
. In this war (1741–1748), he led a regiment of hussar
s which he had raised himself. Because of his many successes on the battlefield, he was appointed Fieldmarschal-Lieutenant in 1747 and was sent after the war as imperial envoy to Naples
, where he stayed between 1750 and 1753.
At the outbreak of the Seven Years' War
in 1756, he fought as a General of the Cavalry and was promoted to Field Marshal
in 1758. He retired from military service that year.
From then on he was involved in humanitarian and cultural activities. Of particular interest was his 1761 project of reorganizing the musical staff at his court. He brought in new players, reassigned his aging Kapellmeister
Gregor Werner
to cover just church music, and appointed the young Joseph Haydn
as Vice-Kapellmeister, in charge of the orchestra. Since this provided Haydn with his own orchestra, with ample opportunities to compose symphonies for it to perform, the appointment was of great consequence for the growing status of the symphony
and thus for the history of music.
When Paul Anton died in Vienna in 1762 without children, he was succeeded by his brother Nikolaus
.
Life
Born in EisenstadtEisenstadt
- Politics :The current mayor of Eisenstadt is Andrea Fraunschiel ÖVP.The district council is composed as follows :* ÖVP: 17 seats* SPÖ: 8 seats* Austrian Green Party: 2 seats* FPÖ: 2 seats- Castles and palaces :...
, he studied 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...
and Leiden and had a strong interest in culture. In August 1733, in London, he became a freemason:
On Tuesday last Prince Anthony Esterhazy, lately arrived here, and another german Nobleman, a Relative to the Elector of Mentz, were admitted Free and Accepted Masons, at the French Lodge, held the first and third Tuesday of every Month, at the Duke of Lorraine's head in Suffolk Street.
(Daily Advertiser, (London), 9 August 1733).
As the previous members of the Esterházy family, he supported the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
in the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
. In this war (1741–1748), he led a regiment of hussar
Hussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
s which he had raised himself. Because of his many successes on the battlefield, he was appointed Fieldmarschal-Lieutenant in 1747 and was sent after the war as imperial envoy to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, where he stayed between 1750 and 1753.
At the outbreak of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
in 1756, he fought as a General of the Cavalry and was promoted to Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
in 1758. He retired from military service that year.
From then on he was involved in humanitarian and cultural activities. Of particular interest was his 1761 project of reorganizing the musical staff at his court. He brought in new players, reassigned his aging Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
Gregor Werner
Gregor Werner
-Career:Werner was born in Ybbs an der Donau. He served from 1715 to either 1716 or 1721 as the organist at Melk Abbey. During the 1720s he was in Vienna, where he may have studied with Johann Fux and was married on 27 January 1727....
to cover just church music, and appointed the young Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
as Vice-Kapellmeister, in charge of the orchestra. Since this provided Haydn with his own orchestra, with ample opportunities to compose symphonies for it to perform, the appointment was of great consequence for the growing status of the symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
and thus for the history of music.
When Paul Anton died in Vienna in 1762 without children, he was succeeded by his brother Nikolaus
Nikolaus Esterházy
Nikolaus Esterházy was a Hungarian prince, a member of the famous Esterházy family. His building of palaces, extravagant clothing, and taste for opera and other grand musical productions led to his being given the title "the Magnificent"...
.