Maximilian Maria, 7th Prince of Thurn and Taxis

Maximilian Karl Maria Joseph Gabriel Lamoraal of Thurn and Taxis (* June 24, 1862 at Schloss Taxis in Oberdischingen, † June 2, 1885 in Regensburg ) was the seventh Prince of Thurn and Taxis.

Life

He was the elder of the two sons of Maximilian Anton von Thurn und Taxis and Helene in Bavaria. After the death of his father, the designated crown prince in 1867 Maximilian Maria was among a generation skipping the next entitled to inherit. With the death of his grandfather Maximilian Karl von Thurn und Taxis in 1871 Maximilian Maria was already at the age of nine years, the official head of the family, but stood as his siblings up to the age of majority under the tutelage of his mother.

To prepare for his future took office Baron Carl von Geyr - Schweppenburg the line by Maximilian Mary's education. Maximilian Maria visited no public high school, but received private lessons. From the autumn of 1880, he studied at the universities of Bonn, Strasbourg and Göttingen, where he took philosophy, law and economics. Since his youth he was interested not only for riding and hunting, but also for the promotion of the arts and sciences. He urged his archivist to write a science-based history of the House of Thurn and Taxis.

On the occasion of reaching the age of majority on 24 June 1883, the official acquisition of the business of the house of Thurn and Taxis he made generous endowments for the poor of the city of Regensburg and the surrounding areas, as well as for the restoration of the house church of St. Emmeram.

Since 1882 he planned an extension to the royal castle of St. Emmeram and decided in 1883 to demolish part of the former monastery and to let newly built under supervision of Max Schultze the south wing in the historicist Neo-Renaissance style.

Death and consequences

Maximilian Maria fell seriously ill, when he returned from a visit to his uncle, the Emperor Franz Joseph in Vienna and associated hunting grouse. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue his furnished apartment in the library wing the progress of the new palace building.

Maximilian Maria, who in his youth was suffering from a heart defect since a scarlet fever remained unmarried and died on June 2, 1885 with nearly 23 years in a " paralysis of the heart ." He was buried in the crypt chapel of the castle of St. Emmeram in Regensburg. The new building of the palace was completed by his successor and is considered a " significant monument of historicism in Germany ". Empress Elisabeth wrote her prematurely deceased nephew Maximilian Maria, nicknamed " Bubi ":

" While we have pale On the cold sarcophagus Increases the wreath of joy sincerely On the lichtumfloss'nen day. And the youngest angel above Takes him smiling at reception Faith, Hope, firmly interwoven, It sends back as much. "

As a result of his early death was his brother Albert head of the family and the eighth Prince of Thurn and Taxis.

Orders and Awards (selection)

• Grand Cross of St Gregory, awarded by Pope Leo XIII. November 23, 1881.
• Bavarian House Order of St. Hubertus occasion of his coming of age