Vilém Kinský

Wilhelm Graf Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau ( Czech Vilém z Kinský Vchynic a Tetova ) (* 1574 Eger, † February 25, 1634 ) was a Bohemian statesman and diplomat.

Life

Wilhelm von Kinsky came from a noble family Kinsky. He was the first from the Wchinitzer line, which changed the name Wchinitz in Kinsky. His parents were Johann the Elder. († 1590), Viscount of Charles Stein and Anna († 1598 ), daughter of Johann Pouzar of Michnitz. William was married to Elizabeth ( Alžběta / Eliska ), a subsidiary by Jan Rudolf Trček of Lipa. After the marriage of his brother Adam Erdmann Trček of Lipa in 1627 with Maximiliane von Harrach, William the Maximiliane sister Isabella von Harrach was related by Wallenstein, had to wife.

Wilhelm von Kinsky was since 1611, Colonel Jägermeister of the Kingdom of Bohemia. In 1618, he participated in the Bohemian uprising and was elected by the Stands representatives in the thirty -member Board of Directors, who was responsible for the country's government. Probably because he 1619 the legacy of his uncle Radislavs the Elder. took, he neglected the directorship, so this was transferred to his brother Radislav this year. In the election of a king on August 26, 1619 voted William and his brother Ulrich for the election of the Saxon Elector Johann Georg. Through the influence of his rich father- Orders Jan Rudolf Trček William estates were not confiscated after the Battle of White Mountain; Moreover, he was raised in 1628 in the rank of count. However, since he was not willing to convert to Catholicism, he had in the same year due to an imperial available the Kingdom of Bohemia leave. He emigrated to Pirna, from where he, after he Catholic officers employed on his possessions Teplitz, Rumburk, Hainspach and Kamnitz could manage his estates in Bohemia. After the battle of Breitenfeld in 1631, he returned back to Bohemia, but was captured by the Saxon troops and taken to Dresden. In the same year died in infancy, his eldest son, Johann Georg. In Dresden, William lived with his family at the Saxon court, where he played a significant role as a counselor and diplomat. Nevertheless, he remained in contact with Wallenstein and collected the Bohemian emigrants around. On behalf of Wallenstein he is said to have negotiated with knowledge of the imperial court, with the opposing Sweden. Later he was in contact with the French diplomat Feuquières. On a diplomatic mission he went on January 8, 1634 to Pilsen to Wallenstein, whom he accompanied on the subsequent flight to Eger. He was assassinated together with Wallenstein and his confidants Christian of Ilow and Adam Erdman Trček and his adjutant Captain Neumann on the evening of February 25, 1634. His body was first buried in the cemetery in Mies and later reburied in the St. Salvator Church in Prague.

Wilhelm von Kinsky's possessions were confiscated by imperial decree of March 14, 1634, including the Teplice Castle. Despite numerous efforts did not succeed in his sons Adolf, Ernst / Arnost, Ulrich / Oldrich and Philip-Moritz/Filip-Mořic to get to his paternal inheritance. It was only on July 16, 1648 was determined by imperial decree that her father's crimes should not be to the detriment of their position, their honor and their good name.

William's widow Elizabeth emigrated to the Netherlands, where they 1637 the Bohemian emigrants Zdeňek of Hodice ( Zdeněk Hodický z Hodic a Olramovic, † 1641) married, who was a colonel in Swedish service. A year later she died in Hamburg.