The House of Festetics (singular, not plural) or Feštetić in Croatian is the name of a historic family which dates back to 1566 of Hungarian counts and princes of Croatian origin. A prominent family during the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

, they are mostly known for the baroque

Festetics Palace The Festetics Palace is a Baroque palace located in the town of Keszthely, Zala County, Zala, Hungary. The building now houses the Helikon Palace Museum. The palace's construction, started by Kristóf Festetics family, Festetics in 1745, lasted mo ...

and the Viennese prince

Tasziló Festetics Prince Tasziló Festetics de Tolna (5 May 1850 – 4 May 1933) was a member of the Hungarian noble family of Festetics. Early life He was born in Vienna, the son of Count György Festetics de Tolna, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs ...

Counts Festetics of Tolna

On 8 August 1746, Josef and Kristof Festetics (the two sons of the second marriage of Paul Festetics) added ''de Tolna'' to their surname (''von Tolna'' in Austria). On 5 November 1766, Josef's eldest son Pal Festetics de Tolna (1725–1782) was made a count by Queen

Maria Theresa Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position ''suo jure'' (in her own right). ...

of Hungary. On 24 February 1772, Kristof's eldest son Pal Festetics de Tolna (1722–1782) was made a count by Queen Maria Theresa of Hungary, who was also Archduchess of Austria and Holy Roman Empress. The title of count was inheritable by all male-line descendants.

Princes Festetics of Tolna

On 21 June 1911, Count Tassilo Festetics de Tolna (1850–1933) was made a prince (''

Fürst ' (, female form ', plural '; from Old High German ', "the first", a translation of the Latin ') is a German word for a ruler and is also a princely title. ' were, since the Middle Ages, members of the highest nobility who ruled over states of ...

'') with the style Serene Highness (''Durchlaucht'') by King Francis Joseph I of Hungary. His grandson, prince Georg (born 1940) is the current head of the house and third Fürst.

Dutch nobility incorporation

In 1973, Count Dénes Festetics de Tolna (1943) was incorporated in the

Dutch nobility The Dutch nobility is a small elite social class constisting of individuals or families recognized as noble, and with or without a title of nobility in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The existence of nobility was established in the Constitution ...

with the title of count; the title of count(ess) is inheritable by all male-line descendants.

Notable members

Among the other prominent members of the family are: *

Antal Festetics Antal Festetics, exactly german: Antal-Erwin Graf Festetics von Tolna ( hu, _) (born June 12, 1937, Budapest, Hungary), is a Hungarian-Austrian biologist, zoologist and behavioural researcher. A student of Konrad Lorenz, in 1973 he became a univer ...

(born 1937), Austrian biologist *

Andor Festetics Count Andor Festetics de Tolna (17 January 1843 – 16 August 1930) was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Agriculture between 1894 and 1895. He was married to Lenke Pejacsevich de Verőcze. One of his three sons was Sándor Fe ...

(1843–1930), Hungarian politician * György Festetics (1815–1883), Hungarian politician *

Leo Festetics Leo or Léo may refer to: Acronyms * Law enforcement officer * Law enforcement organisation * ''Louisville Eccentric Observer'', a free weekly newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky * Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Arts an ...

(1800–1884), Hungarian composer *

Sándor Festetics Count Sándor Ágost Dénes Festetics de Tolna (31 May 1882 – 12 September 1956) was a Hungarian nobleman and cabinet minister who later became an advocate of Nazism in Hungary. Background Coming from one of Hungary's leading families (his fa ...

(1882–1956), Hungarian politician * Tassilo Festetics de Tolna (1813-1883), Austrian general Festetics may also refer to: * the

, located in Keszthely, Hungary * the

Festetics String Quartet The Festetics Quartet (pronounced "fesh-tat-itch") are a string quartet from Budapest, Hungary. The members are Istvan Kertesz, first violin; Erika Petoefi, second violin; Péter Ligeti, Kriszta Véghelyi, viola; and Rezső Pertorini, cello. The q ...

, from Budapest, Hungary

Counts Festetics of Tolna

Princes Festetics of Tolna

Dutch nobility incorporation

Notable members

See also

Further reading