August David zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein

August Graf David Sayn-Wittgenstein -Hohenstein, in the literature Count August Wittgenstein ( * April 14, 1663; † August 27, 1735 ), comes from the noble Sayn-Wittgenstein and was from 1723 until his death in 1735, Regent of the county Sayn -Wittgenstein -Hohenstein, based in Wittgenstein Castle near Bad Laasphe in present-day North Rhine -Westphalia. ( † February 24, 1705 * 1634); His parents were the Count Gustav of Sayn (* 14 April 1633 † June 22, 1700 ) and his wife Helena Auguste de la Place.

He was also from December 1701 until December 27, 1710 Lord Chamberlain at the court of King Frederick I.. On January 19, 1703, he was named a Knight of the Black Eagle.

There he formed together with the Prussian Prime Minister Count Wartenberg (1643-1712) and the Privy Council of War and Governor of Berlin Count Wartensleben the "Three - Count - cabinet", also known as "The Three bad woe ". This trio specific for 8 years ( 1702-1710 ) the Prussian policy was largely, completely plundered as a consequence of Prussia and the bankruptcy was imminent.

Life and work

After the fall of the Prussian Prime Minister Danckelmann in 1697 by the machinations of him following Prime Minister Count Wartenberg, he tried to secure and expand its newly gained influence at the Berlin court, by putting him docile willing accomplices to the influential government positions. A particularly suitable tool he sought for the post of Oberhof Marshal of the financial and human dilapidated Imperial Count August von Wittgenstein. At the time Wittgenstein was totally in debt and involved in a variety of processes with all possible creditors.

In addition, a case against him before the Supreme Court of Appeal, in the alleged his own subjects was that they had withdrawn from the Count a loan repaid in full, but then not get back the promissory note from the Count. On December 23, 1701, the Count was found guilty in the matter. Rather than return the promissory note, he let it occupy his county of Prussian dragoons, the only withdrew after his own subjects were paid despite a valid judgment of their guilt at Count a second time.

In December 1701 Wittgenstein was appointed Marshal of the Court. His debt and destitution ensured that he was a loyal servant and wants to loose his patron Wartenberg. As Chamberlain defeated him the management of domains and fire funds, from which he misappropriated funds for themselves. The special abilities of Count Wittgenstein were in obtaining money. His methods were generally the procuring of loans and extortion. Wittgenstein's talent predestined him in the eyes of the Prime Minister Wartenberg for the management of the Prussian government finances, which was transferred to him later.

In the following years also a variety of types of tax was introduced, which were often far from reality. ( Carriage control, coffee tax, tax on tea, chocolate tax, Wig tax, taxation of unmarried women under age 40 ( Virgin tax), stamp duty) These special taxes were desperate fundraising measures to remedy the lack of ostentation Frederick I..

Wittgenstein also set up a " fire Checkout ", which coercion contributions to them led, that real estate prices fell. The dizziness came on suddenly, when the city Crossen burned down in August 1708, and the Feuerkasse was empty. Wittgenstein rejected all Bittklagen the injured back hard. The Crown Prince, later King Friedrich Wilhelm I, was on August 25, 1710 finally set up an investigation commission to investigate the financial management in the state of Prussia. The impending danger deliberately, put Wittgenstein on September 24, 1710 memorandum ago that highlighted the merits of his own administration. That helped a little, as the Commission of Inquiry on December 23, 1710 laid bare her damning report on public finances. The severely disappointed and deceived king had Wittgenstein put under house arrest on December 27 in 1710 and knew him the Black Eagle. On December 29, Wittgenstein was brought to the Spandau Citadel. The plundered the people ran together while the coach with Wittgenstein and shouted, " To the gallows with fire and salt thief ." Only after payment of the sums embezzled from him, he was released from Spandau.

From 1719 he was made co-regent of the county of Sayn -Wittgenstein -Hohenstein his brother aside. During his reign from 1723 he ran a strict religious policies which resulted in many people fled as religious refugees from the county, multiplied in the neighboring county of Sayn -Wittgenstein- Berleburg, in which, unlike a tolerant religious policy was operated.

Family

He was married twice. His first wife was Concordia Frederike von Sayn -Wittgenstein- Hohenstein- Vallendar (* 1679, † June 6, 1709 ). She was the daughter of Count Friedrich Wilhelm zu Sayn -Wittgenstein -Hohenstein (1647-1685) and Charlotte Luise Gräfin zu Leiningen- Dabo - Hartsburg. The couple had the following children:

• Friedrich ( * January 19, 1708, June 9, 1756 ) ∞ Princess Auguste Albertine Nassau- Siegen, daughter of Friedrich Wilhelm I to Adolf of Nassau-Siegen
• Sophie Polyxena (* May 28, 1709, December 15, 1781 ) ∞ Frederick William II of Nassau - Siegen ( 1706-1734 )