Anton I, Prince Esterházy

Prince Anton (I.) Esterházy de Galantha ( born April 11, 1738 in Vienna, † January 22, 1794 ibid ) was the sixth of the entailed estate of magnate Esterházy family.

Anton was the son of Nicholas I. Joseph Esterházy de Galantha and Marie Elisabeth Ungnad Countess of White Wolf. On January 10, 1763 he married the Countess Maria Theresia Erdődy of Monyorókerek and Monoszló. She was the daughter of Count Nikolaus Erdődy of Monyorókerek and Monoszló and Maria Antonia, née Countess Batthyány Strattmann. Maria Theresa died already but on May 1, 1782 Vienna. On August 9, 1785 Anton closed his second marriage to the seventeen- year-old Countess Maria Anna of High Field, daughter of Count Otto Franz of High Field and Maria Anna, née Baroness of Stain to Jettingen.

Anton ( I) as his father Nicholas I embarked on a military career. In 1791 he became a captain in the Hungarian Life Guards and Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1792, he fought one last time for his Emperor in the first coalition war against France.

When Anton in 1790 succeeded his father as Heir, he was faced with a debt mountain of 3.8 million guilders. On one hand, he initiated a austerity which also brought the resolution of the court orchestra under the baton of Joseph Haydn with it. On the other hand, he led the integration of the main facade of the Esterházy Palace with a balcony supported by a colonnade and the construction of stables.

Anton was the Grand Cross of k.u. St. Stephen's order awarded.

His son Nicholas II succeeded him as head of the Forchtensteiner line.