The House of Windisch-Graetz, also spelled Windisch-Grätz, is an

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

Slovenia Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...

n aristocratic family, descending from Windischgraz in

Lower Styria Styria ( sl, Štajerska), also Slovenian Styria (''Slovenska Štajerska'') or Lower Styria (''Spodnja Štajerska''; german: Untersteiermark), is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy o ...

(present-day Slovenj Gradec,

). The noble dynasty serving the

House of Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

achieved the rank of ''

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 ...

en'' in 1551, of Imperial Counts in 1682 and of

Princes of the Holy Roman Empire Prince of the Holy Roman Empire ( la, princeps imperii, german: Reichsfürst, cf. ''Fürst'') was a title attributed to a hereditary ruler, nobleman or prelate recognised as such by the Holy Roman Emperor. Definition Originally, possessors o ...

in 1804. The family belongs to

high nobility Traditional rank amongst European royalty, peers, and nobility is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and among geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to another's grand duk ...

History

Vischer - Topographia Ducatus Stiriae - 484 Windisch Graz - Slovenj Gradec

According to the

Almanach de Gotha The ''Almanach de Gotha'' (german: Gothaischer Hofkalender) is a directory of Europe's royalty and higher nobility, also including the major governmental, military and diplomatic corps, as well as statistical data by country. First publish ...

, the family was first recorded in 1242. They temporarily served as ''

ministeriales The ''ministeriales'' (singular: ''ministerialis'') were a class of people raised up from serfdom and placed in positions of power and responsibility in the High Middle Ages in the Holy Roman Empire. The word and its German translations, ''Minist ...

'' of the

Patriarchs of Aquileia The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and in certai ...

, owners of Slovenj Gradec until the mid 14th century. One Conrad of Windischgracz (d. 1339) acted as a Habsburg administrator in the Habsburg Duchy of Styria from 1323 onwards. The family owned

Thal, Styria Thal () is a village in the Austrian state of Styria, about west from the edge of Graz, Austria's second largest city. Its population in the 2014 census was 2,240. Thal is the birthplace of bodybuilder, actor and politician Arnold Schwarzene ...

a former

Von Graben Herren von Graben, also named ''von (dem) Graben'', ''vom Graben'', ''Grabner'', ''Grabner zu Rosenburg'', ''Graben zu Kornberg'', ''Graben zu Sommeregg'', ''Graben von (zum) Stein'', and ''ab dem Graben'' was the name of an old Austrian noble fa ...

possession, between 1315 and 1605. In 1574 the dynasty obtained '' Inkolat'' in Bohemia; later, however, several members converted to

Lutheranism Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

and lost their estates in the course of the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battle ...

. The Austrian diplomat Gottlieb of Windisch-Graetz (1630–1695) again converted to Roman Catholicism in 1682 and was elevated to the rank of Count of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...

by Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, in the same year. In 1693 his son Ernest Frederick (1670–1727) acquired

Červená Lhota Castle Červená Lhota (German: ''Roth-Lhotta'') a château in Červená Lhota village of the Pluhův Žďár municipality, in the South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic. It lies about north-west of Jindřichův Hradec. It stands at the middle of a lake ...

in Southern Bohemia, which his descendant Joseph Nicholas of Windisch-Graetz (1744–1802) had to sell in 1755. Tachov-Schloss

In 1781 the family bought their new main seat, the West Bohemian

Tachov Tachov (; german: Tachau) is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Mže River. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone. Administrative parts ...

. Count Alfred Candidus Ferdinand zu Windisch-Graetz (1787–1862) became the representative of the emperor at the Reichstag and was elevated to the rank of '' Fürst'' (

Prince of the Holy Roman Empire Prince of the Holy Roman Empire ( la, princeps imperii, german: Reichsfürst, cf. ''Fürst'') was a title attributed to a hereditary ruler, nobleman or prelate recognised as such by the Holy Roman Emperor. Definition Originally, possessors o ...

) in 1804. In order to obtain

imperial immediacy Imperial immediacy (german: Reichsfreiheit or ') was a privileged constitutional and political status rooted in German feudal law under which the Imperial estates of the Holy Roman Empire such as Imperial cities, prince-bishoprics and secular pri ...

(and be himself a voting member of the Imperial Diet), he acquired the small imperial territories of Siggen and Eglofs in Southern Germany. This principality however was

mediatized Mediatization or mediatisation may refer to: * German mediatisation German mediatisation (; german: deutsche Mediatisierung) was the major territorial restructuring that took place between 1802 and 1814 in Germany and the surrounding region by ...

to the

Kingdom of Württemberg The Kingdom of Württemberg (german: Königreich Württemberg ) was a German state that existed from 1805 to 1918, located within the area that is now Baden-Württemberg. The kingdom was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which existe ...

only two years later, when the

Confederation of the Rhine The Confederated States of the Rhine, simply known as the Confederation of the Rhine, also known as Napoleonic Germany, was a confederation of German client states established at the behest of Napoleon some months after he defeated Austria an ...

was established. Prince Alfred I later became a Field Marshal in the Austrian army. Alfred and his brother Weriand were both created Princes of the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central-Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence ...

in 1822, with Alfred and his successors being the first line of Princes of Windisch-Graetz (), and Weriand and his successors being the second line ().Almanach de Gotha, 1910 edition, pp 245-248, Justus Perthes Alfred acquired the former monastery at

Kladruby (Tachov District) Kladruby (german: Kladrau) is a town in Tachov District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,600 inhabitants. Administrative parts Villages of Brod u Stříbra, Láz, Milevo, Pozorka, Tuněchody and Vrbice u Stříbra are adm ...

. His grandson

Alfred III, Prince of Windisch-Grätz Alfred III, Prince of Windisch-Grätz (german: Alfred August Karl Maria Wolfgang Erwin Fürst zu Windisch-Grätz; 31 October 1851, Prague – 23 November 1927, Tachov) was a Bohemian nobleman and Austro-Hungarian statesman. He served as the 11th ...

, was an influential politician. He was succeeded by his nephew Ludwig Aladar, the owner of

Sárospatak Sárospatak (german: Potok am Bodroch; la, Potamopolis; sk, Šarišský Potok or ; ) is a town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, northern Hungary. It lies northeast from Miskolc, in the Bodrog river valley. The town, often called simply ''Pa ...

Castle, Hungary. Weriand, with the help of the rich dowry of his mother, Maria Leopoldine of

Arenberg Arenberg, also spelled as Aremberg or Ahremberg, is a former county, principality and finally duchy that was located in what is now Germany. The Dukes of Arenberg remain a prominent Belgian noble family. History First mentioned in the 12 ...

, acquired numerous castles in what is now

. After World War II, the estates in the Czechoslovak Republic as well as in Hungary and Yugoslavia were confiscated by communist regimes. The estate of Siggen is still owned by the elder line. File:Štěkeň castle3.jpg, Štěkeň Castle File:Kladruby 2014 02.JPG, Kladruby Abbey File:Sárospatak - Castle.jpg,

Castle, Hungary File:Palais Windisch-Graetz Vienna April 2007 panorama.jpg, Palais Windisch-Graetz, Vienna Great Britain's

Princess Michael of Kent Princess Michael of Kent (born Baroness Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, 15 January 1945) is a member of the British royal family of German, Austrian, Czech and Hungarian descent. She is married to Prince Michael of Kent, ...

is descended from this family through her maternal grandmother, while her husband

Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent, (Michael George Charles Franklin; born 4 July 1942) is a member of the British royal family, who is 51st in the line of succession to the British throne as of September 2022. Queen Elizabeth II and Michael were firs ...

is a first cousin once removed of Archduchess Sophie Franziska of Austria, Princess of Windisch-Graetz.

(Mediatized) Princes of Windisch-Graetz

Joseph Nicholas of Windisch-Graetz (1744–1802) was the father of both of the men whose lines are given below.

Elder Line

Alfred Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...

(1787–1862), Count 1802–1804, 1st Prince 1804–1862 ** Alfred (1819–1876), 2nd Prince 1862–1876 ***

(1851–1927), 3rd Prince 1876–1927 ** ''Prince Ludwig (1830–1904)'' *** Ludwig Alfred (1882–1968), 4th Prince 1927–1968 **** Ludwig Aladar (1908-1990), 5th Prince 1968-1990 ***** Prince Alfred (b. 1939) – renounced his succession rights in 1966 ***** Anton (born 1942), 6th Prince 1990–present ** ''Prince Joseph (1832–1906)'' *** ''Prince Franz (1867–1947)'' **** ''Prince Otto (1913–2011)'' ***** Prince Johann-Nepomuck (b. 1953)

Younger Line

* Weriand (1790–1867), 1st Prince 1822–1867 ** Hugo (1823–1904), 2nd Prince 1867–1904 *** Hugo (1854–1920), 3rd Prince 1904–1920 **** Hugo (1887–1959), 4th Prince 1920–1959 ***** Maximilian (1914–1976), 5th Prince 1959–1976 ****** Mariano Hugo (born 1955), 6th Prince 1976–present, married 1990

Archduchess Archduke (feminine: Archduchess; German: ''Erzherzog'', feminine form: ''Erzherzogin'') was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within ...

Sophie Franziska of Austria ******* Maximilian Hugo, Hereditary Prince of Windisch-Graetz (b. 1990) ******* ''Prince Alexis Ferdinand (1991-2010)'' ******* Larissa Maria Grazia Helen Leontina Maria Luisa (b.1996) ****** Prince Manfred (b. 1963) ******* Prince Nicolò (b. 1997) ******* Prince Brando (b. 2008) **** Prince Alfred Weriand (1890–1972), married Princess Marie Isabella zu

Hohenlohe-Langenburg Hohenlohe-Langenburg () was a German county and later principality in the Holy Roman Empire. It was located in the current northeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, around Langenburg. Since the medieval times this small state was ruled by the Hous ...

***** Christiane Anna ***** Gottfried Maximilian ***** Hugo Weriand Antonius Franziskus Thomas Maria, married Caroline Knott ****** Constantin Weriand Alfred Maria (b. 1962) ******* Leopold Weriand ******* Otto Atticus ****** Franz Karl Weriand Gottlieb Albrecht Maria (b. 1964) ******* Maximiliana Anastasia Christiane Isabella (b. 2004) ******* Augustin George Veriand Franziskus Ferdinand (b. 2006) *** Princess Marie (1856–1929) ** Ernst Ferdinand of Windisch-Graetz (1827–1918), married Princess Kamilla Amalia Caroline Notgera zu

Oettingen-Spielberg The House of Oettingen was a high-rank noble Franconian and Swabian family. It ruled various estates that composed the County of Oettingen between the 12th century and the beginning of the 19th century. In 1674 the house was raised to the rank of p ...

*** Karl Otto Hugo Weriand of Windisch-Graetz *** Otto Weriand of Windisch-Grätz, married

Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria hu, Erzsébet Mária Henrietta Stefánia Gizella , house = Habsburg-Lorraine , father = Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria , mother = Princess Stéphanie of Belgium , spouse = , issue = , religion = Roman Catholicism , birth_place = Fr ...

*** Marie Gabriele of Windisch-Graetz

Coat of arms

Gules, a wolf's head couped argent. File:CoA Windisch-Graetz Family.svg, Original

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

of the family File:Wolves' heads (AP4D0187 1PS) (50237873421).jpg File:Habsburger BSB Cod icon 330 fol 07r.jpg

Notable family members

* Joseph Nicholas of Windisch-Graetz (1744-1802), chamberlain of Marie Antoinette *

Alfred I, Prince of Windisch-Grätz Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...

(1787–1862), Austrian field marshal *

(1851–1927), Austrian statesman *

Princess Marie of Windisch-Graetz Princess Marie of Windisch-Graetz (11 December 1856 – 9 August 1929) was an Austrian noblewoman and a noted archaeologist. Early life and ancestry Princess Marie Gabriele Ernestine Alexandra was born in Vienna in 1856 as the daughter of Hug ...

(1856–1929), married

Duke Paul Frederick of Mecklenburg Duke Paul Frederick of Mecklenburg (german: Herzog Paul Friedrich zu Mecklenburg; 19 September 1852 – 17 May 1923) was a member of the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and general of the Mecklenburg cavalry. Life Duke Paul Frederick was born i ...

in 1881 * Prince Otto Weriand of Windisch-Graetz (1873–1952), married

Princess Stephanie of Windisch-Graetz Princess Stephanie of Windisch-Graetz (9 July 1909 in Ploskovice, Bohemia – 7 September 2005 in Uccle, Belgium) was the daughter of Prince Otto Weriand of Windisch-Graetz (1873–1952) and Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria (1883–196 ...

(1909–2005), daughter of Prince Otto Weriand of Windisch-Graetz * Stéphanie Windisch-Graetz (b. 1939), daughter of Prince Franz Joseph of Windisch-Graetz (son of Prince Otto Weriand) *

Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz (German: ''Mariano Hugo Fürst zu Windisch-Graetz'', Italian: ''Principe Mariano Ugo di Windisch-Graetz''; born 27 July 1955) is the current head of the Austrian''Les Manuscrits du CEDRE V, Le Royaume d'Ita ...

(b. 1955), married

Sophie Franziska of Austria in 1990 * Prince Arnold zu Windisch-Graetz (1929-2007), Lutheran pastor * Princess Katalin zu Windisch-Graetz (b. 1947), Hungarian designer

Former family estates in present-day Slovenia

File:HaasbergCastle-Slovenia.JPG, Haasberg Mansion ruins File:LUEG.jpg, Luegg - Predjama Castle, Postojna File:Grad Podsreda.jpg, Podstreda Castle File:Bogenšperk vhodna stran.JPG, Bogenšperk Castle File:Trebnik dvorec1.jpg, Trebnik Mansion,

Slovenske Konjice Slovenske Konjice ( or ; german: Gonobitz, in older sources also ''Gannobitz'') is a town in northeastern Slovenia. It is the seat of the Municipality of Slovenske Konjice. The area is part of the traditional region of Styria. History and town s ...

File:Oplotnica Mansion.jpg, Oplotnica Mansion,

Oplotnica Oplotnica (; german: Oplotnitz) is a small town in eastern Slovenia. It is the seat of the Municipality of Oplotnica. It lies on the Oplotniščica River, a left tributary of the Dravinja River, to the north of Slovenske Konjice. The area is par ...

File:Žiče Charterhouse 2015 159.JPG, Žiče Charterhouse File:Logatec Castle.jpg, Logatec Mansion File:Bizeljsko Castle 01.JPG, Bizeljsko Castle File:Grad Strmol.JPG, Strmol Mansion,

Rogatec Rogatec (; german: RohitschSuppan, Arnold. 1996. ''Jugoslawien und Österreich 1918–1938: Bilaterale Außenpolitik im Europäischen Umfeld.'' Vienna: Verlag für Geschichte und Politik, p. 663.) is a small town in eastern Slovenia, on the border ...

References

External links

* {{Authority control Austrian noble families