Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg
Encyclopedia
Prinz Felix zu Schwarzenberg (2 October 1800 – 5 April 1852) was an Austrian
statesman who restored the Habsburg
Empire as a European power following the disorders of 1848.
Felix was born at Český Krumlov Castle
in Bohemia
, the son of Joseph, Prince of Schwarzenberg, and brother of Johann Adolf II, Prince of Schwarzenberg. The nephew of Prince Karl Philipp zu Schwarzenberg
, the commander of the Austrian armies in the last phases of the Napoleonic wars, Schwarzenberg entered the diplomatic service, where he became a protégé of Prince Klemens von Metternich and served in several Austrian embassies. During his time in London and Paris he had an affair with Jane Digby, whom he deserted after causing her husband to divorce her, and making her pregnant. This episode led to the nickname of "Prince of Cadland" being applied to him in London.
In the Revolutions of 1848
, he helped Josef Radetzky defeat rebel forces in Italy. For his role as a close advisor to Radetzky, as well as his status as brother-in-law to Marshal Windischgrätz, who had suppressed the revolution in Prague
and Vienna
, Schwarzenberg was appointed minister-president foreign minister of Austria in November 1848. In this role, which he held until his premature death in 1852, his first step was to secure the replacement of Emperor Ferdinand
by Francis Joseph
. Together with the new Emperor, Schwarzenberg called in a Russian army to help suppress the Hungarian revolt
and thus free Austria to attempt to thwart Prussia's drive to dominate Germany. He undid democratic reforms and re-established monarchist control in Austria with the Constitution of 1849 that transformed the Habsburg empire into a unitary, centralized state, and imposed the Punctation of Olmütz
on Prussia, forcing Prussia to abandon, for the moment, its plan of unifying Germany under its own auspices, and to acquiesce in the reformation of the old German Confederation
. He died in office at Vienna, suffering a stroke in the early evening of 5 April 1852.
Schwarzenberg was widely respected in Europe as an able statesman, although not much trusted (his own statement following the Russian intervention in Hungary that Austria would "shock the world by the depth of its ingratitude" may have played a part in this), and his early death has generally been seen by historians as a grave setback to Austria, as none of his successors possessed his stature or skill.
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
statesman who restored the Habsburg
House of Lorraine
The House of Lorraine, the main and now only remaining line known as Habsburg-Lorraine, is one of the most important and was one of the longest-reigning royal houses in the history of Europe...
Empire as a European power following the disorders of 1848.
Felix was born at Český Krumlov Castle
Český Krumlov Castle
Český Krumlov Castle is located in the city Český Krumlov. It dates back to 1240 when the first castle was built by the Witigonen family, the main branch of the powerful Rosenberg family. By the 17th century the Rosenbergs had died out and the dominion of Krumau was given to Hans Ulrich von...
in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, the son of Joseph, Prince of Schwarzenberg, and brother of Johann Adolf II, Prince of Schwarzenberg. The nephew of Prince Karl Philipp zu Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg (or Charles Philip, Prince of Schwarzenberg (April 18, 1771 – October 15, 1820) was an Austrian field marshal.- Life :...
, the commander of the Austrian armies in the last phases of the Napoleonic wars, Schwarzenberg entered the diplomatic service, where he became a protégé of Prince Klemens von Metternich and served in several Austrian embassies. During his time in London and Paris he had an affair with Jane Digby, whom he deserted after causing her husband to divorce her, and making her pregnant. This episode led to the nickname of "Prince of Cadland" being applied to him in London.
In the Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
, he helped Josef Radetzky defeat rebel forces in Italy. For his role as a close advisor to Radetzky, as well as his status as brother-in-law to Marshal Windischgrätz, who had suppressed the revolution in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Schwarzenberg was appointed minister-president foreign minister of Austria in November 1848. In this role, which he held until his premature death in 1852, his first step was to secure the replacement of Emperor Ferdinand
Ferdinand I of Austria
Ferdinand I was Emperor of Austria, President of the German Confederation, King of Hungary and Bohemia , as well as associated dominions from the death of his father, Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, until his abdication after the Revolutions of 1848.He married Maria Anna of Savoy, the sixth child...
by Francis Joseph
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
. Together with the new Emperor, Schwarzenberg called in a Russian army to help suppress the Hungarian revolt
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
and thus free Austria to attempt to thwart Prussia's drive to dominate Germany. He undid democratic reforms and re-established monarchist control in Austria with the Constitution of 1849 that transformed the Habsburg empire into a unitary, centralized state, and imposed the Punctation of Olmütz
Punctation of Olmütz
The Punctation of Olmütz , also called the Agreement of Olmütz, was a treaty between Prussia and Austria, dated 29 November 1850, by which Prussia abandoned the Erfurt Union and accepted the revival of the German Confederation under Austrian leadership....
on Prussia, forcing Prussia to abandon, for the moment, its plan of unifying Germany under its own auspices, and to acquiesce in the reformation of the old German Confederation
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
. He died in office at Vienna, suffering a stroke in the early evening of 5 April 1852.
Schwarzenberg was widely respected in Europe as an able statesman, although not much trusted (his own statement following the Russian intervention in Hungary that Austria would "shock the world by the depth of its ingratitude" may have played a part in this), and his early death has generally been seen by historians as a grave setback to Austria, as none of his successors possessed his stature or skill.