Moritz, Prince of Dietrichstein (''Moritz Joseph Johann''; 19 February 1775 – 29 August 1864), was a German prince member of the House of Dietrichstein, 10th and last 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 ...

'') of Dietrichstein zu

Nikolsburg Mikulov (; german: Nikolsburg; yi, ניקאלשבורג, ''Nikolshburg'') is a town in Břeclav District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 7,400 inhabitants. The historic centre of Mikulov is well preserved and i ...

, Count of Proskau-Leslie, Baron (''

Freiherr (; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , literally "free lord" or "free lady") and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire ...

'') of Hollenburg, Finkenstein and

Thalberg Thalberg or Talberg is a surname of German origin, which means "valley hill". It may refer to: *Irving Thalberg (1899–1936), American film producer * Irving Thalberg Jr. (1930–1988), American philosopher * Norma Thalberg (1902–1983), Canadian ...

Early life

Born in Vienna, he was the seventh child and fourth (but third surviving) son of Karl Johann Baptist, 7th Prince of Dietrichstein, and Countess Maria Christina Josepha of

Thun und Hohenstein The House of Thun und Hohenstein, also known as Thun-Hohenstein, belonged to the historical Austrian and Bohemian nobility. There is one princely and several comital branches of the family. The princely branch of the family lived at Děčín (Te ...

(1738-1788), eldest daughter of Count Jan Josef Franz Anton of Thun-Hohenstein (1711-1778) and his wife, Countess Maria Christiana of

Hohenzollern-Hechingen Hohenzollern-Hechingen was a small principality in southwestern Germany. Its rulers belonged to the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty. History The County of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was created in 1576, upon the partition of the Coun ...

(1715-1749).

Biography

Being the third son of his family and in consequence without expectations to inheritance, since 1791 Moritz entered in the Austrian military service. In 1798 was named

Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

of General

Karl Mack von Leiberich Karl Freiherr Mack von Leiberich (25 August 1752 – 22 December 1828) was an Austrian soldier. He is best remembered as the commander of the Austrian forces that capitulated to Napoleon's ''Grande Armée'' in the Battle of Ulm in 1805. Early ...

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

, where he was captured with his master by the French, and after his release he participated the campaign in

Ulm Ulm () is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Danube on the border with Bavaria. The city, which has an estimated population of more than 126,000 (2018), forms an urban district of its own (german: link=no, ...

(1805). In 1815 Moritz was appointed tutor of the

Duke of Reichstadt , house = Bonaparte , father = Napoleon I, Emperor of the French , mother = Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma , birth_date = , birth_place = Tuileries Palace, Paris, French Empire ...

(

Napoleon II , house = Bonaparte , father = Napoleon I, Emperor of the French , mother = Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma , birth_date = , birth_place = Tuileries Palace, Paris, French Empire ...

) and later was named Director of the Imperial Court Theatre (''Burgtheater'') and Library (''Kaiserlichen Bibliothek''), in 1845 was named ''Oberstkämmerer'' until 1848, when he retired from public offices. Like his older brother, Prince Franz Joseph, he was an opponent of

Metternich Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar, Prince of Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein ; german: Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein (15 May 1773 – 11 June 1859), known as Klemens von Metternich or Prince Metternic ...

politics.

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...

was very encouraged by him. In 1838 Moritz acquired for the

Imperial Court Library The Austrian National Library (german: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek) is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg in center of V ...

the autograph score of Mozart's ''Requiem''. Even as a Director of the Coins and Antique Cabinets (''Münz- u. Antikenkabinetts'') during 1833-1848 he rendered great services, composing songs, dances and minuets. In 1834 he was elected an honorary member of the

Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities The Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (german: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften) is an independent public institution, located in Munich. It appoints scholars whose research has contributed considerably to the increase of knowledg ...

(''Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften''). After the death of his nephew, Joseph Franz on 10 July 1858, Moritz succeeded him as 10th Prince of Dietrichstein. Moritz died in Vienna aged 89, and was buried at Hietzinger cemetery, grave 06, no. 15. Because his only son died before him and without issue, with Moritz ended the Dietrichstein family in male line. Four years later, in late 1868, Count Alexander of Mensdorff-Pouilly (husband of Moritz' grand-niece), obtained from the Emperor the title of Prince of Dietrichstein-Nikolsburg, thus reviving the title of his wife's family.

Marriage and issue

In Vienna on 22 September 1800, Moritz married with Countess Maria Theresia of Gilleis (16 January 1779 – 3 September 1860), a daughter of Johann Christoph Julius, Count of Gilleis (d. 1782) and Countess Maria Anna von

Spindler Spindler or Špindler (English, German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a spindle maker) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Amy Spindler (1963–2004), American journalist * Angela Spindler, British businesswoma ...

(d. 1802). They had five children, of whom only two survive adulthood: * Moritz Johann (4 July 1801 – 15 October 1852), married on 16 June 1842 to Countess Sophia Potocka (1820-1882). They didn't have children. * Karl (1802 – 1803). * Ida (24 August 1804 – 15 April 1822). * Alexander (10 June 1806 – 6 September 1806). * Julie Franziska Leopoldina Cara (12 August 1807 – 22 April 1883), married on 18 May 1831 to Prince Karl of Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Wallerstein (1796-1871). They had five children (one son: Moritz, and four daughters: Therese, Eleonore, Anna and Sophie). https://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00089436&tree=LEO

Notes

Sources

* Karl Otmar Freiherr von Aretin
''Dietrichstein, Moritz Johann Carl Joseph Georg Graf von''
n:''

Neue Deutsche Biographie ''Neue Deutsche Biographie'' (''NDB''; literally ''New German Biography'') is a biographical reference work. It is the successor to the ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB, Universal German Biography). The 26 volumes published thus far cover ...

'', vol. 3, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1957,
online
* Franz Philipp von Sommaruga
''Dietrichstein, Moritz Graf von''
n:''

Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB, german: Universal German Biography) is one of the most important and comprehensive biographical reference works in the German language. It was published by the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Aca ...

'', vol. 5, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1877, . *

Franz Carl Weidmann Franz Carl Weidmann (1787 or 1788 – 28 January 1867) was an Austrian writer, actor and journalist. Life and work Born in Vienna, Weidmann was the son of the actor and writer Joseph Weidmann (1742–1810) and nephew of the playwright Paul W ...

: ''Moriz Graf von Dietrichstein. Sein Leben und Wirken, aus seinen hinterlassenen Papieren dargestellt'', Braumüller, Vienna 1867 *

Constantin von Wurzbach Constantin Wurzbach Ritter von Tannenberg (11 April 1818 – 17 August 1893) was an Austrian biographer, lexicographer and author. Biography He was born in Laibach, Carniola (present-day Ljubljana, Slovenia).He later went on to complete a cou ...

''Dietrichstein-Proskau-Leslie, Moritz I. Graf von''
n:''

Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich ''Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich'' (English, ''Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire'') (abbreviated ''Wurzbach'' from the author's surname) is a 60-volume work, edited and published by Constantin von Wurzbach, cont ...

'', vol. 3 (1858), .
''Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg Moritz I. Josef Johann Fürst''
n:''

Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 The ''Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950'' (''ÖBL''), ''Austrian Biographical Lexicon 1815-1950'', is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Austria, published by the Austri ...

'', vol. 1, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1957, . {{DEFAULTSORT:Moritz, Prince of Dietrichstein 1775 births 1864 deaths Dietrichstein family Knights of the Golden Fleece of Austria Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II Chamberlains of the Emperor of Austria Great Chamberlains of the Emperor of Austria