Maximilian Ulrich von Kaunitz

Count Maximilian Ulrich von Kaunitz-Rietberg (Czech: Maxmilián Oldřich z Kounic-Rietbergu; March 27, 1679 in Vienna – September 10, 1746 in Brno) was an Austrian diplomat, politician and also a Governor of Moravia from 1720 to 1746.[1] His older brother was Franz Karl von Kaunitz (1676–1717), a canon in Olomouc (German: Olmütz) and Bishop of Ljubljana (Laibach).

Maxmilian Oldrich Kounic

Life

He was born in Vienna to a wealthy Moravian noble family. His parents were Dominik Andreas I von Kaunitz, baron of Šlapanice and Maria Eleonora of Sternberg (daughter of Adolph Wratislaw of Sternberg, the Highest Burgrave of Bohemian Kingdom). On 6 August 1699, he groomed a German countess, Marie Ernestine Francisca von Rietberg (daughter of Ferdinand Maximilian von Rietberg and his wife, the Countess Johanette Elisabeth Franziska von Manderscheid-Blankenheim). At the time of marriage, Kaunitz had twenty years, while his wife had just thirteen. With this important marriage, her family came to the County of Rietberg, and then taking the name Kaunitz-Rietberg. The marriage produced 11 children (6 sons, 5 daughters) including:

Career

He inherited the County of Rietberg at an early age, until they reach the age of 18 remained under protection. Waged the civil service career in Habsburg Monarchy, in 1706 managed to be appointed Imperial Chamberlain, and by 1721 was the Imperial Ambassador to the papal court in Rome.

Since 1718 he was awarded the title of count, while continuing to reside with his family mainly in Vienna, ruling the County of Rietberg by proxy. From 1720 until his death, he was governor general of the Moravia where, among other things, he tried to make navigable the river Morava (March). He created an academy in Olomouc Corporate and built a road to quick connection between Brno and Olomouc. Also, he enforced partial reforms of the provincial administration.[3] It was then the imperial emissary in the conclave of 1724 that saw the election of Pope Benedict XIII.

For his services was honoured with the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1744.

References
  1. Kolektiv autorů: Brněnské paláce. Stavby duchovní a světské aristokracie v raném novověku; Brno, 2005 ISBN 80-7364-016-3
  2. Kroupa, Jiří: Alchymie štěstí; Brno, 2006 s. 87 ISBN 80-7366-063-6
  3. Kolektiv autorů: Brněnské paláce. Stavby duchovní a světské aristokracie v raném novověku; Brno, 2005 ISBN 80-7364-016-3

Further reading
  • Heribert Sturm, Biographisches Lexikon zur Geschichte der böhmischen Länder. herausgegeben im Auftrag des Collegium Carolinum (Institut). Band II, R. Oldenbourg Verlag, München 1984, ISBN 3-486-52551-4, S. 121 und 122.
  • Roman von Procházka: Genealogisches Handbuch erloschener böhmischer Herrenstandsfamilien. Neustadt an der Aisch 1973, ISBN 3-7686-5002-2, S. 138: Stammfolge Kaunitz (z Kunicz, Kaunitz-Rittberg, Kaunitz-Rietberg-Questenberg)
  • Alfred von Arneth: Biographie des Fürsten Kaunitz: Ein Fragment. In: AÖG. 88, 1900, S. 8–10.
  • Grete Klingenstein: Der Aufstieg des Hauses Kaunitz. Studien und Herkunft und Bildung des Staatskanzlers Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz. Göttingen 1975, ISBN 3-525-35906-3.
Political offices
Preceded by
Dominik Andreas I von Kaunitz		 Baron of Šlapanice
1705–1746		 Succeeded by
Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg
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