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 language, German word for a ruler as well as a princely title. ' were, starting in the Middle Ages, members of the highest nobility who ...

'') of Dietrichstein zu

Nikolsburg Mikulov (; ) is a town in Břeclav District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 7,600 inhabitants. From the 16th to the 19th century, it was the cultural centre of the Jewish community of Moravia. The historic centr ...

, Count of Proskau-Leslie, Baron (''

Freiherr (; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , ) and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in ...

'') of Hollenburg, Finkenstein and Thalberg.

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 nobility, Austrian and Bohemian nobility. There is one princely and several count, comital branches of the family. The princely branch of the fami ...

(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 House of Hohenzollern#Swabian branch, Swabian branch of the House of Hohenzollern, Hohenzollern dynasty. History The County of Hohenzollern- ...

(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 (armed forces), 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 ...

of General

Karl Mack von Leiberich Karl Freiherr Mack von Leiberich (25 August 1752 – 22 December 1828) was an Austrian officer. 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 ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

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

Ulm Ulm () is the sixth-largest city of the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with around 129,000 inhabitants, it is Germany's 60th-largest city. Ulm is located on the eastern edges of the Swabian Jura mountain range, on the up ...

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

Duke of Reichstadt Napoleon II (Napoléon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte; 20 March 181122 July 1832) was the disputed Emperor of the French for a few weeks in 1815. He was the son of Emperor Napoleon I and Empress Marie Louise, daughter of Emperor Francis I of ...

(

Napoleon II Napoleon II (Napoléon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte; 20 March 181122 July 1832) was the disputed Emperor of the French for a few weeks in 1815. He was the son of Emperor Napoleon I and Empress Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, Marie Louise, d ...

) 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 ( ; 15 May 1773 – 11 June 1859), known as Klemens von Metternich () or Prince Metternich, was a Germans, German statesman and diplomat in the service of the Austrian ...

politics.

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...

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

Imperial Court Library The Austrian National Library (, ) 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 Vienna. Since 2005, some of the collection ...

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 () is an independent public institution, located in Munich. It appoints scholars whose research has contributed considerably to the increase of knowledge within their subject. The general goal of th ...

(''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 his wife, 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 business ...

(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 The House of Potocki (; plural: Potoccy, male: Potocki, feminine: Potocka) was a prominent Polish noble family in the Kingdom of Poland and magnates of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Potocki family is one of the wealthiest and ...

(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-Wallerstein The House of Oettingen was a high-ranking 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 ...

(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 (''NDB''; Literal translation, literally ''New German Biography'') is a Biography, biographical reference work. It is the successor to the ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB, Universal German Biography). The 27 volumes published thus far co ...

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

Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB; ) 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 Academy of Sciences between 1875 and 1912 in 56 volumes, printed in Lei ...

'', vol. 5, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1877, . * Franz Carl Weidmann: ''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 Austrian ...

'', 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 18th-century people from the Holy Roman Empire