Philipp Ferdinand of Limburg Stirum
Encyclopedia
Philipp Ferdinand von Limburg Stirum (born 1734, died 1794), Count of Limburg
, lord of Styrum
, was the fourth reigning count from the branch Limburg-Styrum-Styrum
. He is known for his very extravagant and fastuous lifestyle, which caused his bankrupcy and for having been the lover of princess Tarakanova.
. He was the fifth son of Christian Otto count of Limburg Stirum
and his wife, née Carolina Juliana princess of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst
.
After the death of his mother in 1758, he inherited the herrschaft
of Wilhermsdorf
. Philipp Ferdinand was megalomaniac, and led a fastuous life in his palace of Wilhermsdorf, inspired by the court of Versailles
. He had his own court theatre, music chapel and even an own corps of hussar
. In 1760, after his elder brother's death, he inherited Styrum
. Because of his very extravagant life, he soon had huge debts and was forced to sell Wilhermsdorf in 1769, he then moved to his possessions of Oberstein. Despite of selling lots of his goods (tens of farms and castles), his debt kept rising. He also gave money to the Jesuits to create a Catholic school and a Catholic parish in Protestant Mülheim. The emperor Joseph II
, tried to control the Church and didn't approve of these actions. When he heard about the enormous debts of the count, he sent a fiscalist to Styrum to take action in order to avoid future problems.
Despite of this reprimand, Philipp Ferdinand kept on living a very extravagant life. In order to raise money he created two orders of chivalry (the Order of St Philip of the Lion of Limburg
and the Order of the Four Emperors
), which he gave to prominent figures, but usually against a fee. He also tried to claim territories, like the herrschaft of Pinneberg in the County of Holstein, that should have become his possession through heritage. This involved him in huge and expensive trials. He also claimed the title of Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, which Joseph II
refused to give him.
In 1766 he was made prince by the French parliament, but in 1789 Joseph II
forbid him to wear this title.
In 1770 Philipp Ferdinand was put into prison for not paying his debts. A letter of his brother Ernst Maria to the emperor, in which he insisted on all the services the House of Limburg-Stirum
had given to the Empire
, was enough to have Philipp Ferdinand released.
In 1772 princess Tarakanova, who had left Paris
after a scandal, settled in Frankfurt am Main. The court marshal of Philipp Ferdinand, count de Rochefort-Valcourt, told him about this womand who pretended to be the daughter of Elizabeth I of Russia and grand-daughter of Peter the Great. Philipp Ferdinand invited her and immediately fell in love with her. She promised to marry him, if he could be surety for all her debts which she had accumulated in Paris. He accepted everything his mistress asked. But in 1774, she left Oberstein for Venice
. Despite his own difficult financial situation, Philipp Ferdinand gave her a great sum of money for her trip and also gave her the right to wear the title princess of Limburg Stirum after his death.
Philipp Ferdinand had two natural children (a son and a daughter) from his relationship with Marie Therese Satori. These children were illegitimate and couldn't inherit his rights and possessions.
He died on September 10, 1794 in Bartenstein. His brother Ernst Maria inherited Oberstein and Styrum
.
House of Limburg-Stirum
The house of Limburg-Stirum, which adopted its name in the 12th century from the castle of Limburg an der Lenne in what is now Germany, descends from the Ezzonen dynasty in the 9th century, making it one of the oldest families in Europe....
, lord of Styrum
Styrum
Styrum was an immediate lordship in the Holy Roman Empire, located in Mülheim an der Ruhr in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It held no seat in the Diet, and was totally circumvened by the lordship of Broich....
, was the fourth reigning count from the branch Limburg-Styrum-Styrum
Limburg-Styrum-Styrum
Limburg-Styrum-Styrum was a County of medieval Germany, based in the Lordship of Styrum in modern North Rhine-Westphalia. Limburg-Styrum-Styrum was a partition of Limburg-Styrum in 1644...
. He is known for his very extravagant and fastuous lifestyle, which caused his bankrupcy and for having been the lover of princess Tarakanova.
Life
Philipp Ferdinand was born on August 21, 1734 in SchillingsfürstSchillingsfürst
Schillingsfürst is a municipality in the district of Ansbach, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 12 km southeast of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and 23 km west of Ansbach.-Notable people:...
. He was the fifth son of Christian Otto count of Limburg Stirum
Christian Otto of Limburg
Christian Otto von Limburg Stirum, count of Limburg Bronkhorst and Stirum, was born in 1694 and died in 1749. He was a member of the House of Limburg-Stirum and the third reigning monarch from the branch of Limburg-Styrum-Styrum...
and his wife, née Carolina Juliana princess of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst
Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst
Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst was a County in northeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst was a partition of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst, and was mediatised to Württemberg in 1806....
.
After the death of his mother in 1758, he inherited the herrschaft
Herrschaft
Herrschaft may be:*Herrschaft , a concept introduced by Max Weber in his Economy and Society; the term has no English equivalent and is usually left untranslated, but roughly means institutionalized authority inducing obedience...
of Wilhermsdorf
Wilhermsdorf
Wilhermsdorf is a municipality in the district of Fürth in Bavaria in Germany. As of 2006 it has a population of 5,073. It is twinned with Feld am See in Austria and Jahnsdorf, also in Germany.-Neighboring municipalities:Wilhermsdorf borders*Emskirchen...
. Philipp Ferdinand was megalomaniac, and led a fastuous life in his palace of Wilhermsdorf, inspired by the court of Versailles
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles , or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. In French it is the Château de Versailles....
. He had his own court theatre, music chapel and even an own corps 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....
. In 1760, after his elder brother's death, he inherited Styrum
Styrum
Styrum was an immediate lordship in the Holy Roman Empire, located in Mülheim an der Ruhr in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It held no seat in the Diet, and was totally circumvened by the lordship of Broich....
. Because of his very extravagant life, he soon had huge debts and was forced to sell Wilhermsdorf in 1769, he then moved to his possessions of Oberstein. Despite of selling lots of his goods (tens of farms and castles), his debt kept rising. He also gave money to the Jesuits to create a Catholic school and a Catholic parish in Protestant Mülheim. The emperor Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
, tried to control the Church and didn't approve of these actions. When he heard about the enormous debts of the count, he sent a fiscalist to Styrum to take action in order to avoid future problems.
Despite of this reprimand, Philipp Ferdinand kept on living a very extravagant life. In order to raise money he created two orders of chivalry (the Order of St Philip of the Lion of Limburg
Order of St Philip of the Lion of Limburg
The Order of St Philip of the Lion of Limburg , is an old order of knighthood established in 1700 by the Counts of Limburg Stirum, sovereign rulers of the counties of the same name in Westfalia...
and the Order of the Four Emperors
Order of the Four Emperors
The Order of the Old Nobility, also called Order of the Four Emperors , is an old family order of knighthood, established on 6 December 1768, of the Counts of Limburg Stirum, sovereign rulers of the counties of the same name in Westfalia.With this Order were honoured the four Emperors of the Holy...
), which he gave to prominent figures, but usually against a fee. He also tried to claim territories, like the herrschaft of Pinneberg in the County of Holstein, that should have become his possession through heritage. This involved him in huge and expensive trials. He also claimed the title of Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, which Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
refused to give him.
In 1766 he was made prince by the French parliament, but in 1789 Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
forbid him to wear this title.
In 1770 Philipp Ferdinand was put into prison for not paying his debts. A letter of his brother Ernst Maria to the emperor, in which he insisted on all the services the House of Limburg-Stirum
House of Limburg-Stirum
The house of Limburg-Stirum, which adopted its name in the 12th century from the castle of Limburg an der Lenne in what is now Germany, descends from the Ezzonen dynasty in the 9th century, making it one of the oldest families in Europe....
had given to the Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, was enough to have Philipp Ferdinand released.
In 1772 princess Tarakanova, who had left Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
after a scandal, settled in Frankfurt am Main. The court marshal of Philipp Ferdinand, count de Rochefort-Valcourt, told him about this womand who pretended to be the daughter of Elizabeth I of Russia and grand-daughter of Peter the Great. Philipp Ferdinand invited her and immediately fell in love with her. She promised to marry him, if he could be surety for all her debts which she had accumulated in Paris. He accepted everything his mistress asked. But in 1774, she left Oberstein for Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. Despite his own difficult financial situation, Philipp Ferdinand gave her a great sum of money for her trip and also gave her the right to wear the title princess of Limburg Stirum after his death.
Philipp Ferdinand had two natural children (a son and a daughter) from his relationship with Marie Therese Satori. These children were illegitimate and couldn't inherit his rights and possessions.
He died on September 10, 1794 in Bartenstein. His brother Ernst Maria inherited Oberstein and Styrum
Styrum
Styrum was an immediate lordship in the Holy Roman Empire, located in Mülheim an der Ruhr in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It held no seat in the Diet, and was totally circumvened by the lordship of Broich....
.
Sources
- De takken Gemen en Styrum van het geslacht van Limburg Stirum; Dr. A.J. Bonke; Stichting van Limburg Stirum; 's-Gravenhage, 2007
- Iconografie van het Geslacht van Limburg Stirum; C.J. Graaf van Limburg Stirum; Walburg Instituut, Amsterdam, 1994
- A. Giraud, M. Huberty, F. et B. Magdelaine, "L'Allemagne Dynastique, Tome VII"