Václav Eusebius František, Prince of Lobkowicz

Prince Wenzel Eusebius von Lobkowicz ( Czech Václav Eusebius z Lobkovic ) (* January 30, 1609, † April 22, 1677 in Raudnitz ) was a Bohemian nobleman and diplomat from 1646 and Duke of Sagan.

Life

The scion of the old Bohemian noble family of Lobkowicz and son of the supreme chancellor of Bohemia Zdeněk Vojtěch Popel of Lobkowicz and his wife Polyxena was a passionate advocate of Catholic doctrine. By skillful maneuvering he managed to amass a considerable fortune for the Roudnice branch of the family.

After a thorough training he joined in 1631 in the imperial army, then made a name for itself but as a politician and diplomat. In 1646 he acquired the Silesian Duchy of Sagan, which had been confiscated in 1634 after the assassination of the imperial commander Albrecht von Wallenstein by the Emperor Ferdinand II. He was a confidant of Emperor Leopold I (1640 - 1705), who in 1657 appointed him President of the Imperial War Council. Later, he even rose to the High Steward of the Privy Council ( First Minister ). As prime minister he could turn and unlimited exercise. Although his parents, especially his mother, a follower of the Spanish crown was Wenzel of Lobkowicz sought his allies at the French court, thus creating enemies in the Spanish supporters at the Viennese court. On whose intervention he fell out of favor with the emperor. On October 16, 1674 Kaiser Lobkowitz relieved of his duties, left his money and securities seize and banished him without public trial for treason to his estates in Raudnitz. An imperial commission of inquiry should have found that Lobkowitz should have the benefit of the French in 1673 asked the Archbishop of Mainz, the imperial troops to deny the crossing of the Rhine and has probably passed on secret letter from the Emperor Leopold I to the French. The avoidance of a process is likely seen as an act of grace of the Emperor, because in addition to the public exposure of one of the highest imperial officials of a death sentence would have been expected for high treason.

Marriages and descendants

Wenzel Eusebius married his first marriage on November 3, 1638 Johana Myšková ze Žlunic ( 1600-1650 ). The marriage remained childless.

His second wife was born on February 6, 1653 Auguste Sophie ( 1624-1682 ), daughter of the Count Palatine and Duke August von Sulzbach, with whom he had the following children:

• Son (* / † 1654)
• Ferdinand August (1655-1715), Prince of Lobkowicz, Duke of Sagan

• Philipp Ferdinand Adalbert (1656-1659)
• Marie Hedwig Sophie (1658-1660)
• Franz Wilhelm (1659-1698)